New-York tribune., 1902-12-05
FOURTEEN DIE IN FIRE TRAP
MEN FALL IN RAILWAYS OF CHICAGO
HOTEL WHILE SEEKING ESCAPE.
FLAMES ENvELoP THE ONLY STAIRWAY
AND PARTLY FINISHED FIRE ESCAPE
BREAKs-ALTERATIoNs HAD
REEN ORDERED.
BEEN ORDERED,

ORDERED
Chicago. Dec 4-Fourteen persons among the
scores crowded into the Lincoln Hotel at NO
176 Madison-st met death early this morning
in a fire which viii long be remembered for the
horror of the scenes disclosed when IT was con-
ouered Death came suddenly to few out
with awful sIowness to others. who were penned
in and suffocated or burned to death Some
died in their rooms, some CHANGED all in jump
ing and lost while others found in the
Railways where they had expired with their
fingers dug into the cracks in the floors
An the bodies were recovered. as the hotel
was not destroyed
The building was a fire trap Of the worst kind
There were only two exits-a narrow stairway
leading down the four floors Of the building
and an uncompleted fire escape in the rear
The fire started on the second floor. presumably
from a lighted cigar dropped on the carpet
CHESTS. occupying the front upper rooms
aroused by the screams of woman, were able
10 escape down the stairway, and aoout thirlE
people reached safety by means OF the hIe
escape But this gave way while others were
attempting TO escape, and three men We're
dashed death on the pavement or the alieS
below.
For the occupants Of the rear rooms there
was now no escape save by jumping The starr.
v7sv was in flames. and the fire escape gone
Horror stricken faces appeared at the windows
a,5 there were frantic cries for help. The nre-
-oa, called back 70 wait until nets or mat
trasses could be brought. and those who dio, IN
most cases escaped with slight injuries fu'
some crazed with fright. jumped and were
either killed or badly hurt
With great difficulty the fire. though COM
,,arattx-el, a small one was subdued- 1t was
sor,e time before rescuers could enter the smoke
aues place Then an awful scene met thelr
living stretched on INC
4,ors or in some cases. on their beds some
na5 a+-e-npted 10 slip on a garment before max
inc for the street but most of them were IN
,heir night clothes Some few were found VINO
were vet alive and these were revived arter
much work
OF the injured II was necessary 10 TAKE o"iS
three to the hospital. Others. suffering from
slight cuts and bruises, from the 1nhaiauoh
or s-,ol,e were cared for at neighboring drug
stores Few who escaped saved any OF tIieh
c,otbing. and the stores and hotels in the neigh
f,o-hood gave shelter TO many men anu i
clad only in their night clothes
A smith proprietor of the hotel. says: L am
certainly not to blame for this awfui ca'as-
-ronhe Three weeks ago the agents OIL INC
h,,jlding were told to put a stairway IN the IeaI
of the building. and also 10 build hre WILL
around the freight elevator shaft IN the rear
The contractors came and looked the ouiioing
over. but nothing was done
Jas. night our seventy rooms were all hlleo
and should Judge that we had about 10 or Ii"
s,1,esfs From what ] can learn. the nre started
in +he rear of the building. on the second noor'
This probably accounts for the escape OF the
Guests urho occupied front rooms on the upper
aoors They had an opportunity to reach the
stairway before the flames reached that part OF
the building but the occupants OF 'he rear
rooms were cut off. Most of our guests last
night were persons who came TO Chicago to
visit the stock show, and knew little OF the
building"
Chief Musham of the Fire Department salo
that in some ways it was the worst fire he had
attended during his career as a freman- 80
dense was the smoke that il was impossible 10
reach the inprisoned guests. who died ike rats |
in a cage When the fremen did make their |
H-av into the rooms the sight that met thelr gaze
was appalling Men and boys lay apout the !
floors Of the rooms and the Railways where they |
had fallen when trying TO escape
The building" said the chief, was one OF the |
worst fire trans have ever seen The floors !
=, 1Iaces had cracks in them large enough TO !
droa a penny through. and the smoke Just sl1ted !
through and suffocated the inmates OF the rooms |
before they had time TO make their way to the |
halls
a Jury was irnpanelled this afternoon by Cor |
oner Traeger to ascertain the causes OF the dls-
aster and TO fix the guilt for negligence AFTER
viewing the bodies of the victims the jury went
TO the hotel. where an examination was mace
of the premises. The jurors We're then dls- !
missed until December i. After the inspection
Coroner Traeger said:
.aTbe fire undoubtedly was caused by the ex- |
plosion of an oil stove in the rear OF the thlrd
floor The building is very careessly con- |
structed. The fire escape is worthess. me |
rooms are outrageously small, and II is nothing |
short of a crime that such building should |
have been used housing place for human |
beings.