The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-10
DIE BY FIRE.
Thirteen Fatalities in Chicago
Sanitarium.
Thirty Persons Injured in Eff
forts to Escape.
WERE DRINK VICTIMS.
Many Patients We're in Straight
Jackets and ManacIes.
Thrilling Escape of 25 From
Fourth Story.
Institution Managed by For
merly of Kansas Man.

Chicago, June 1O.-Twelve men and
one woman were killed and about 80
persons were injured in a fire which de-
stroyed the sanitarium conducted by the
St Luke's society, at Wabash avenue
and Twenty-flrst street, late yesterday
afternoon The society occupied the
building which was long known as the
Hotel Woodruff and for a brief period
as the Hotel Lancaster By far the
greater portion of the patients received
IN the institution were those seeking
cure from the drink habit and those
who were addicted to the use of drugs.
When the fire broke out there were on
the fifth floor a number of patients suf-
fering from delirium- tremens and some
who were deranged by drugs. Several
of these were strapped to their beds
and it was impossible to save them, so
rapidly did the fire spread through the
building. The list SO tar as known at
present. although it is possible that the
number of dead will be increased later
follows:
The dead:
S. ]. NEWELL.
WILLIAM KENT, alderman of the
Fourth ward, Chicago.
MICHAEL LUBY.
CARL A. CARLSON.
JOSEPH HARRINGTON.
SAMUEL DALZELL
DIR. J. T. STANTON.
J. B. BISHOP, St. Louis.
GEORGE A. RIBBEBECK. Hillsdale,
Mich.
6. 5. GOTT. Lavergne, Ill
JOHN B. KNAPMAN.
MRS. NJ BAUMANN.
3. H. BOYD, rs years of age, and
member of the medical staff of the in
stitution.
JUMPED FROM WINDOWS.
The fire origbnated 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 one of the basen ent windows and
ran into the engine room to discover its
cause Behind the boilers, in the center
Of the cellar. and within few feet of
the elevator shaft, he saw small
flame. The next instant the flames We're
caught by the draught in the elevator
shaft and carried up with roar
Newell shouted to several men in the
alley to give the alarm and to alarm
the inmates of the building. Several
hurried to 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 in the air
As the cry of fire rang through the
building patients sprang from their beds
and before they could be prevented sew
eral had jumped from the windows to
the pavement. The fire department ar
rived within a few minutes and as the
windows were nlleQ Win people SHE1ek-
ing for help the fremen devoted their
first efforts to saving lives and allowed
the fire to burn This gave the hre 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 fsuffocated
were killed or badly injured by leaping
from the windows.
A CHICAGO ALDERMAN.
Alderman Kent was in a room on the
xx-ifh hfC attendant A
Wattles. The alderman. who has been
totally blind for many years. was in a
straight 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 in flames and
ran back to help the alderman, who,
blind and unable to do anything with
his hands, was almost mad with fear
and was shouting like an insane person.
He had groped his way to the door, and
by the time his attendant had reached
him had fallen to the floor. overcome by
smoke. Wattles seized him and tried to
drag him down the hall to a place OF
safety, but Kent had become so crazed
that it was almost impossible to do any
thing with him.
Wattles was finally compelled to run for
his life. as the flames We're already scorch-
ing his clothing. He ran to a window on
the south side of the building cross which
were iron bars Wattles managed 10 tear
two or three of these from their fastenings
and with two other men who had follow
ed him. climbed out on the sill They
were seen by the firemen who called to
them to remain where they We're and they
would be rescued A ladder was run up
as high as possible and the two men who
were with Wattles were taken down, Wat
Ties became crazed with excitement and
NOT waiting for the return of the fremen,
sprang for a net. which men on the side
and partly on the sidewalk and sustained
Injuries which probably VIII cause his
Ken Kent N was left living on the floor of his
room and evidently died of suffocatiOn.
his body was badly burned. He was iden-
tined bv means of his clothing.
O. E. MILLER's GRAFT.
The Drink Cure Establishment Which