The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-10

were opened to the unfortunates and
they were given shelter from the biting
cold weather. 1t was one of the coolest
nights of the winter, the ground being
covered with ice and snow, and every
one suffered from exposure. The suffer-
ing ones We're put under the care of
physicians Harry Cline Walter John
son, Henry Robinson and an unknown
man, who died later, were taken to the
city hospital. Robinson recovered
enough to be taken home. The others
named will be laid up for some time.
After a short fight the firemen got the
flames under control and assisted by
The first body found was that of John
c. I4ueders, who was killed by jumping
from the third story. His head was
crushed in. The body of LuederS and
those of the others found later were
taken to the morgue, where friends and
relatives later identified them. Sarah
Harris was found on the first flour. Her
body had been burned. The remains
of the other victims were found in their
rooms, where they were suffocated or
burned.
J. ]. Lal1y, who managed the hotel for
his brother-in-law, J. w. Gillian, had
rooms on the first floor. He stated there
were four rooms on the first floor, nine
on the second and seven on the third.
If all the guests occupied their rooms,
Sc persons, including the colored porter
and chambermaid, We're in the building
when it burned. Lally said he had no
means of knowing just how many per-
sons were in the house at the time the
fire broke out. Some of them We're in
the habit of staying out late, and it is
possible all were not there then. He
was awakened by hearing Con Ryan,
one of the roomers, crying fire. Lally
said he grabbed his clothing and money
and hurried into the hall. which was
ablaze, and without stopping to dress
stepped out through the front door.
Both stairways were on fire, and he
barely had time to get out, being
scorched and spraining his back. Lane.
Ryan and a man named Nicely escaped
the same way. The only way for the
others who got out alive was through
the windows. the burning stairways
cutting off their escape that way.
Some jumped and sustained injuries
more or less serious, while others who
took time to improvise ropes from their
bed clothing got down safely.
r. A. WOolSey, a medical student
whose home is in Galesburg. ILL.,, had
room on the second floor Finding the
ground safely with the aid of two sheets
tied together.
Harry Cline. of Marion, ILL.,. who is a
student in the medical department OF
Washington university, had a narrow
escape from death. He rooned on the
second floor with Harry Thompson, of
Nashville. ILL.,, a student at the same
college. Cline was aroused by cries OF
fire. He awakened Thompson and to-
gether they attempted to escape
through the hall They found the stair
way on fire and the han filed with
smoke and flames which drove them to
the window in their room. Thompson
jumped first and hurt his ankle. but be-
fore Cline could get out the flames
burned him terribly about the hands
with which. he shielded his face He
is now at the hospital suffering from
burns and a badly sprained ankle. Both
lost everything
William Clark and Abraham Cowen
partners of Norris Vail. who was
burned to death, escaped uninjured.
They formerly lived in Chicago. Among
the others who got out unscathed were
James Mcmahon and Joseph ]. Hart,
of Corning, N Y, and E. M. Niesley,
of Chicago
Most of the guests have been account
ed for in the list of dead. injured and
escaped. Among those unaccounted for
is A Goldberg, an unknown stranger.
who came in late and went to bed
drunk without registering; two stu
dents, whose names are not known, and
f. p Contrand. 1t is not believed there
are any more bodies in the ruins. which