Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-02-22

arnory of the Seventy-first regiment
Park avenue and Thirty fourth street
and inflicted hundred thousand dol
lars damage to the Park avenue hotel
Fifty or more persons were injured
Tho Dead.
The dead are;
Col. Alexander P. Piper. U. S. A. (re-
tired)
Col. Charles L. Burdett Connecticut
w. A Horn. Denver.
-Iveson. Denver. both employees
OF the Claim Company.
William Walker, Tennessee.
w. c. Barhardt. Chicago.
Norman Arson. Alabama.
Mrs, Charlotte Bennett, Alabama.
Mrs. e. w. McGinnis. CASTOR.
A. Robbins.
Charles Underwood O'Connor.
Fred S. Hoby.
Miss Esther Schleninger, Chicago.
Mrs. McManus.
Five unidentified.
Tho Injured.
The injured are:
Harold Bennett Williams. Brokman,
Conn; Mrs. Breselman. Margaret Ben :
nett, empIoye; William A. Cove, en-
rloye; Charles E, Gregory, attorney;
Caroline r. Hall, Newark, N. j.; Anna
G. Hall, Newark; William B. Hall, Will
iamsville, Mass: II. II. Harms, Atlanta,
Ga; Charles Underwood O'Connell,
Joseph Peacu. William Stebbins, Lewis
G. Woodbury., Portland. Ore; Frank b.
Reed. proprietor hotel; Mrs. Reed,
Bridgeman. Lyons, Louis Barrick, Port
land. Maine, Mrs. S. Beach.
Details of the Disaster.
Shortly before / o'clock this morn
ing flames were discovered bursting
from the roof OF the armory and by the
time the firemen arrived it was impos-
sible to do anything toward saving the
magnificent building. Several times
the flames communicated to the car
barns of the Metropolitan Street Rail
way, but as often were extinguished.
About two, flames were discovered
running along the windows and wood
work of the fifth floor of the hotel, dag.
onally across the street from the ar
mory. This was entirely unexpected
and the police had up to that time
bent their efforts to removing the in
mates of the adjacent house on the
cross streets. The frightened occu-
cry window and many We're rescued by
means Of ladders. Most of the damage
rounding the elevator shaft, the fire
having reached the shaft In some un-
explainable manner.
Mar Suffocated.
The deaths, with one exception, were
caused by burns or suffocation. One
man jumped from fifth story win
dosv and was Instantly killed. The fire.
men rescued large number of persons
who were found In the rooms and hall
ways. overcome by smoke and fear. A
great many were hurt in their panic
stricken endeavor to escape. These
were taken from the windows by fire.
men, all slightly burned and suffering
from shock. During the fire large
quantity of cartridges together with
thousand pounds Of powder, stored in
the basement of the arinory exploded.
adding to the intense excitement al
ready prevailing. Fortunately no one
was Injured thereby, as warning
against the danger had been given.
Heavy Losses.
The loss to the hotel is estimated at
$780, 900, to the armory, which was to-
tai. s650,oOo.
When the fire started in the armory
scores of guests in the hotel We're
awakened by the clang of engines and
IIOMdeQ W llc IlOlci MihdoNS ~ ~ 'vsAc
about forty-five minutes after the
flames were discovered In the armory
before they spread to the hotel, but in
spite of this many guests were in their
ooms, in their night clothes, and some
Of them in bed. The firemen, as soon
az they learned the hotel was in dan
ger, devoted their efforts to the rescue
of it's occupants. Men and women ap-
peared at the windows of the Park av-
enue side of the hotel and called for
help. Mrs. Charlotte Bennett and hus-
band Harold, Of Alabama, stood on a
ledge on the fifth floor. just above the
Iortico over the main entrance to the
hotel. Mrs. Bennett was terror strick-
en- and screamed again and again for
some one to rescue her. Her husband
her and from the crowd of
gathered In the streets there
were shouted warnings not to jump.
When-it was seen that she was deter