The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-06-13

yeIous Manner.
Chicago. June 9.-Nine men and
one woman were killed and about thirty
persons were injured in a fire, which
this afternoon destroyed the SANTA
rum conducted by the st. Luke Society
at the corner of Wabash avenue and
Twenty-first street. The society occu-
pied the building, which was long
known as the Hotel Woodruff, n for
= brief period as the Hotel Lancaster.
Bv far the greater portion of the pa
tients received in the institution We're
those seeking cure from the drink habit
and those who were addicted to the use
Of drugs. When the fire broke out
there was on the fifth floor a number Of
patients suffering from delirium ire
mems, and some who were deranged by
drugs. Several of these were strapped
t. their bed and it was found impossi-
bit to save them. so rapidly did the fire
spread through the building. The list
as far as known at present, although it
Is possible that the list of dead viii be
increased later, number ten.
The fire originated in the basement OF
the building and spread rapidly to the
upper stories through the elevator
shaft. The blaze was discovered by
James Newell a grocer. who was driv-
ing through the alley in the rear Of the
building. He noticed smoke coming
from N of the basement windows. In
an instant the flames were caught by Il
draught in the elevator shaft. car
ried up with "A roar. Newell gave an
alarm. but in a few minutes the flames
had been carried to the roof. had eaten
through it and were leaping high in the
air.
As the cry of fire rang through the
building, patients sprang from their
beds q before they could be prevent
al several had jumped from the win
doWs to the pavement. a number of
people were carried down the ladders
by the firemen. but the fire gained such
Roadway 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 suffocated.
were killed or badly injured by leaping
from the windows.
Alderman Kent was in a room on the
HIIn HOOE WITH MS dlIelutnI. y. w.
Wattles. The alderman. who has been
totally blind for many years, was in a
strait jacket and his hands were
manacled to a belt that passed around
his waist When the alarm of fire was
sounded Wattles ran to investigate.
He found the elevator shaft a mass of
flames and ran back to help the alder
man who. blind and unable to do any
thing with his hands. was almost mad
with fear and was shouting like an in
sane person. He had grouped his way
TO the door and by the time his attend
ant had reached him had fallen to the
floor overcome with smoke. Wattle@
seized him and tried to drag him down
the hall to Il place of safety, but Kent
had become so craZed that it was al
most impossible to do anything with
him WattIes was finally compelled tn
run for his life as the flames were al
ready scOrchinG his clothing. He run
to q window on the south side of the
building across which were iron bars.
He managed to tear two of those from
their faStenings and with two other
men who had followed him climbed ont
on the sill. They were seen by the fire
men. who called TO them to remain
where they were and they would same
them. A ladder was run up as hig rs
possible and the two men with WattleS
were taken down. He became crazed
Will ANANCiAlCllI dAAu lIpN "SNANAAS AOA NHN
return of the firemen, sprang for a net
which some men were holding on the
sidewalk beneath. He fell partly in il
and partly on the sidewalk. sustaining
injuries which possibly will cause his
death in a sort time.
Kent who was left lying on the flood
of his room. evidently died of suffoca-
ton. His body was badly burned after
death. Three hours after the outbreak
OF the fire. it was found On the floor of
his room one leg burned to a crisp, nd
h head burned off. He was identified
by means OF his clothing.
A scene that wrought to the pitch nj
madness the great crowd that had
gathered around the building was en-
acted at 4 fourth story window on the
north side. Across this window was q
heavy iron screen. and on the outside
of the screen were iron bars Behind
them were gathered = crowd of mer
whose numbers were afterward founC
10 be between twenty-five and thirty
Escape in other directions was impos-
sible for the fire was steadily eating its
way toward the window. The one
chance for life for that crowd of mer
lay through that screen and barred win
dow. So fiercely did the prisoners pull
at the screen that from the street be-
low were plainly visible tiny streams OF
blood that trickled from l~acerated
fingers and hands and flowed over the
window sill. \ number of the men al
the windows were in strait jackets
and manacles.
The crowd in the street watching the
desperate situation of the men behind
the screen was simply an insane mob
They shouted all sorts of commands
and directions at the men and gave or
ders to the firemen who were doing al
that men could to get through the bars