The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-12-09

Cn4CdSO, december per-
sons among the scores crowded into the
Lincoln hotel at 176 Madison street, met
Death shortly before G o'clock this
morning. in a fire which will pass into
local history as one of the most horri-
bic catastrophe ever experienced.
Death came suddenly TO a few, but with
awful sIoWness to others who were pen-
ned in the death trap and suffocatei o.
burned 10 ,!ca-h. SOM lied IN Their
rooms, some CHANGED all N uruplnG and
lost. while others We're found in the
hail ways where they had expired with
their fingers dug into the cracks Of the
floor.
All of the bodies were recovered us
the hotel was not destroyed. The lden-
tined dead.
Nj. NJ. Handy, GAINESVILLE, Wis.
Edward Toner, Milwaukee, Wis.
H. X. Wood. lebanon, Ind.
3. F. Boswell, Chicago.
Samuel l.. Yocum, Davenport, Iowa.
]. c. Yocum, Davenport, Iowa.
Z. l.. Ewing, Marietta, Ohio.
a. b. Coon, Marengo, Ill.
L. v. SlUcum, wayconda, Ill.
Ward Lowe, A1~i4nea poI4S.
G. Z. COWen, ST. Louis.
+. w. Carey, Bucyrusv, ohio.
w others Including one who died
on the way to the hospital have not
been Identified.
The victims were taken to R%ollston's
MOrgue and all DAY the place was filed
with anxious people interested in tue
dead or seeking to assure themselves of
the safety OF friend or relatives.
The DuliainS was a fire trap of the
worst kind. according to experts. There
We're out 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 drop
ped on the carpet. Guests occupying
upper rooms in the front part Of the
hotelsry aroused by the screams Of
a woman, were able to eScape from the
stairway, and about thirty people reach
ed safety by means of the fire escape.
To add to the horror, however, this gave
Wav while others were attempting D
escape, and three men We're dashed to
death IN the pavement of the alley be
low.
For the people still in the rear rooms,
there was now no escape ave by jump
ing. The stairway was in flames and
N-N N"~ONHN SOA'>'
faces appeared at the windows and
cried frantically for help. Firemen
cried to them to wait until nets or mat
tresses could be brought. and those -
did wait escaped with slight injuries.
But some crazed Will fright, jumped to
the pavement and were either killed OF
badly hurt.
With great difficulty. the fire, al
though comparatively a small one, was
Subdued. but it was some time before
reScuerS could penetrate the dense bank
OF smoke which filled the place. 1t was
an awful scene which met their gaze.
The dead or unconscious were lying
stretched or the floors, or in some cases
on their beds. Some had attempted &c
slip on g garment before making for
the street. but had been overcome. bat
most of them were in their night
clothes
Stores and other hotels in the vicinity
were filled with men and women 80
had escaped with only their night
gowns. An investigation will be made,
\ fire wall ground the elevator ana
other precautionary alterations had
been ordered some time ago, but
matter had been neglected.
Of the people injured. it was neces-
sary to take only three to the hospitals.
bruises, or from the inhalation of
smoke. were cared for at neiehhori W
drug stores n departed without th-.r
names Uring reported to the police.
In one instance. a fireman of Engine
Company No. ? saved a woman from
running 10 the rear Of the building 70
certain death on the fourth floor, only
t. be forced to drop her from the third
f-Dr to the roof Of the building at Is
Madison street. The woman held h.:
7-year old son in her arms. She was
Mrs. ]. Sheppard and her son is nam i
Frederick. She was then carried from
the roof of the building to the Brevoot
! ouse where a physician was
ed. 1t was found that their Injuries
were slight
T.. G. Weber. the night clerk was one
Of the first persons to discover smoke
on the second floor. II is believed that
the fire BEGAN in this section OF the
building. Weber refused TO make any
statement and after he had secured pos
session Of the hotel register he vas
being detained.
F. a. Smith proprietor of the hotel
says:
II am certainly not to blame for his
awful catastrophe. Three weeks ago
the agents OF this building were noti-
fed to place a stairway in the rear OF
the building. and also to build a fire
wall around the freight elevator shaft
J., the rear. The contractors came and
Looked the building over, but NJ 'NinS
as done. Last night our seventy
rooms were all filled and ] should iud-e
that We had about 125 or $50 guests.
mated in the rear Of the building on the
second floor. This probably accounts
for the escape Of guests who occupied