The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-02-22
FIERcE:FIGHT WITH BLAZE
Chief Croker Says the Death
List Win Be Large.
flames Originated In the Armory Of
the 7lst. Regiment, which
Was Destroyed, and Were
Communicated to the
Park Avensus Hotel.

New York, Feb. n.-Fire that broke
out early this morning in the armory Of
the list regiment, N. Y. N. g.. at Park
Avenue, Thirty-third and Thirty-fourth
Streets. spread to the Park Avenue
Hotel and at least four lives were lost
while the damage 10 roughly estimated
at over, s1,ooo0oo.
One woman. . guest OF the hotel. jump
ed from the NTH story and Is believed
to be fatally injured. Four bodies have
been taken out up to $50 this morning.
but only one Is so far identified. said to
be that OF Colonel Pepper Of Louisville.
Ky. The Park Avenue Hotel will 1t Ia
believed be total loss The list regi-
ment armory. magnificent granite
structure and one OF the finest in teh city.
was destroyed.
The car barns OF the Metropolitan
Street Railway on an adjoining corner,
were threatened with destruction. but the
good work OF the firemeni succeeded in
saving them. The armory occupied an
entire block and was occupied also by the
second battery and the first signal corps.
The fire was discovered burning from o
window Of the armory on the Thirty
fourth Street side. and by the time the
firemen arrived the flames had complete
ly enveloped the builsing and appeared
through the roof. Shortly after the car
tridges and ammunition exploded. Short
iy after. o'clock a thoussnd pounds Of
powder in the cellar expicdeA and the
walls Of the building were thrown out
ward. BY this time the psopss liyirs in
the nefsifborhood had Been driyen from
their homes by the heat.
The guests OF the Park Avenue Hotel,
numbering about 900. were aroused a.
quickly as possible, but not without panic
among the women and children. The
fremen poured eleven streams upon the
side of the hotel nearest the arnory, but,
In spite Of this. the third floor caught fire
and the flames. eating along the walls Of
the hotel. spread to the roof.
At O'Clock Fire Chief Croker an
nounced that he believes there are nifty
dead in the corridors and stairways Of
the Park Avenue Hotel.
A little after o'clock the four upper
floors Of the hotel were mass of flames
and the fire was spreading rapidly down
through the structure. 1t was then ap-
parent that the hotel was doomed.
Notwithstanding the fact that every
body in the hotel had ample time to get
out. large number of women were car
ried down the ladders by firemen, until
1t was thought everybody had been taken
out.
Just at this time a woman in her night
clothes appeared at a window in the fifth
floor. and before warning could reach
her, flung herself headlong to a portico
over the main entrance. 1t Is believed
that she will die. Two bodies were
found on the fifth floor by the fremen
and two more in another part OF the
building. 1t is feared several other bodies
will be found in other parts of the build
ing.
At 4 o'clock Chief Croker, who had
been inside the building, said that he
believed a large number Of dead were in
side In the halls and corridors.
Among those who escaped were Bishop
Ludden. Monsignor Kenny and a number
Of Catholic priests from Syracuse, N.
r., James NJ. Payne of Connecticut and
C. H. stockwell of Trow. N. Y.
At Ais the fire was under control.
Admiral Miller. U. 8. N. retired. who
had a room on the fifth floor of the
Park Avenue Hotel. fell unconscious in
his attempt to escape from the burning
building. 1t is stated that he cannot
recover. Admin al Miller went through
the Windsor Hotel fire and the Murray
Hill explosion unscathed.
Two men. whose names have not been
learned. attempted to escape from the
Park Avenue Hotel by going to the roof.
Both Of them jumped from the roof later
and one was instantly killed. The other
was fatally injured.