The St. Louis Republic., 1902-06-10
RESCUE OUT OF THE QUESTION.
Thirty Persons Injured Before the
Firemen Can Save All of
Those in Reach.
EFFORT Too LATE FOR OTHERS.
Several Men Jump From the Win
COWS in Terror. Z. Bishop
Of 81. Louis Is Among
the Injured.

Chicago. June 9.-Nine men and one WON
-. were killed and about thirty persons IN
jurel in a h-e this afternoon which lie
syrcyed the sanitariun connected with
=. Luke's Society. a. Wabash avenue and
Iwenty-lirst street.
The society occupied the building, which
vas long known az the Hotel woodruff. and
To- brief period as The Hotel Lancaster.
BY IA Tie greater portion Of the PATENTS
received in Tho institution We're those seek
ing cure from the drink habit and those
VINO We're adCirted TO the use OF drugs
DcIirious Pntients Helpless.
When the fir broke out th"-e We're on tho
NTH floor several patients suffering from
deli-ium ;remens. and some who were de-
ranged by drugs. Several Of these were
strapped TO their beds. and Il was found
impossible 70 save them. 50 rapidly did the
fire spread through the building. The dead
are.
S. J. Newell, William Kent Alderman Of
the Fourth Ward Chicago; Carl =. Carl
son, Joseph Harrington, Samuel DaIzell,
Doctor J. 7. Stanton, George a. Ribbeck,
Hillsdale. Mich; JOHN 2. Knapman. Mrs
VI. BauEnaHn, Z. Il. Boyd, IS years Of age,
and member Of the medical staff Of the in
st!tution.
J. Z. Bishop OF 81. Louis who was at first
reported dead - among the seriously in
1ured
Elevator shaft Carries FIRmes.
The fire Originated in the basement OF the
building ana spread rapidly to the upper
stories through the elevator shaft The
blaze was discovered by James Newell. d
grocer. who was driving through the alley
in the rear OF the building He noticed
smoke coming from one Of the basement
windows and ran into the eugine-room 10
discover its cause.
Behind the boilers in the center of the
cellar and within a few feet OF the elevator
shaft he saw small flame The next in
s,ant the flames were caught by the draft
in the elevator Shaft and carried up with a
roar
Newell shouted to several men in the alley
TO give the alarm and alarm the inmates
OF the building. Several hurried 10 do this,
but by the time they reached the first floor
of the building the flames had been carried
TO the roof. had eaten through It and were
leaping high f. the air.
Frantic Men Leaped From Windows.
As the cry OF fire rang through the build
ing patients spranE from their beds and be-
fore they could be prevented several had
jumped from the windows 10 the pavement.
The Fire Department was on the scene
within few minutes. and. as the windows
were filed with people shrieking for help.
the firetnen devoted their first efforts 10
saving lives. aud allowed the fire to burn.
While this was the means OF saving large
number Of persons, who were carried down
the ladders by the firemen. il gave the fire
such headway that there was almost no
chance for those on the upper floors OF the
building TO make their escape, and such OF
them as were not surocated were killed or
badly injured by Ieapng from the windows.
PcriIous swing 40 Fire Escape.
Clinton Osborne. q real estate dealer Of
Blind Alderman Meets His Doom.
Alderman Kent was in . room on the
fifth floor with his attendant a. ". Wat
ties. The Alderman, who had been totally
blind for many years. vas in a strait
jacket and his hands were manacled TO
belt that passed around his waist
When the alarm Of fire was sounded Wat
tles tried to help the Alderman who was
almost mad with fear. Wattles tried to
drag him down the hall to q place Of safe
II. but was finally compelled TO run for MS
life. as the flames were scorching his
clothing
lie ran TO 4 window the south side Of
the building across which were iron bars.
WattIes managed TO tear two or three OF
these from their fasteuings. and with TWO
other men who had followed him Climbed
ont on the sill a ladder was run UP and
the two men with WRttles were taken
down He became crazed with excitement
and sprang for net He fell partly in II
and partly on the sidewalk and sustained |
INJURIES which probably will cause his
death.
Frantic Men behind Iron Bars.
= scene that wrought to the pitch of mad |
ness the great crowd that had gathered |
around the building vas enacted at a !
foCrth-Story window
Across this window was a hea-y wire !
screen. and on the outside Of the screen I
were iron bars. close together
Behind these bars Were gathered twenty 1
five or thirty mon. Escape in other direc- (
ticus was impossible, for the fire filed all /
the halls and was steadily eating its way |
toward the window "a which the men We're |.
standing
The one chance for life for that crowd OF .
men lar through that screened and barred
window The men closest 10 the screen
tore and tuGged at II, and the men behind
them fought madly to get nearer So .
nerCely did the prisoners puli al the screen
that from the street below We're plainly
visible tiny streams of blood that tricklad