The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1902-06-11
Most Of the Patients Were Those
Seeking Cure of the Drink or Drug
Habit-Horrble Death Of Alderman
Kent - Two Doctors Amorg the
kilIed-ThriIIing Escapes.

the Hotel Lancaster. BY far the
greater portion Of the patients re-
ceived 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 was on the fifth floor a
number Of patients suffering from
delirium tremens, and some who
we're deranged by drugs.
Several of these were strapped to
their beds and it was found inpossi-
Dle to save them so rapidly did the
Dire spread through the building. The
list as far as known, although it Is
possible that the list of dead will be
increased later, is as follows:
The dead.
S. J. Newell.
Carl A. Carlson.
Joseph Harrington.
Samuel Dalzell.
DR.. j. T. Stanton.
George A. Ribbeck, Hillsdale, Mich,
William Kent, alderman of the 4th
ward. Chicago.
John B. Knapman.
Mrs. NJ. Baumann.
B. fl. Boyd rs years of age and
member of medical staff of the insti.
tuition.
The fire originated in the basement
of the building and spread rapidly
to the upper stories through the ele.
vator shaft The blaze was discovered
by James Newell, a 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 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 a small flame.
The next instant the flames were
caught by the draught in the elevator
shaft and carried up with a 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 carrie
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 prevent.
ed, several had jumped from the win.
iows to the pavement. The fire de-
partment was on the scene within a
few minutes and as the windows
we're filled with people shirelSing for
help, the firemen devoted their first
efforts to save lives and allowed the
fire to burn. While this was the
means of saving a large number of
people who were carried down ladders
by the firemen, 1t 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 suffo.
Gated, were killed or badly injured
by leaping from the windows.
Alderman Kent was in room OH
the fifth floor with his attendant, A.
w. Wattles. The alderman, who has
been totally blind for many years,
was in a straightjacket, and his hands
were manacled to a belt that passed
around his waist. When the alarm
of fire was sounded Wattles ran to in
vesigate.
lie found the elevator shaft mass
of flames and ran back to help the
alderman, who, blind and unable 20
do anything with his hands, was al.
most 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 with
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 anything with him. Wattles
vas finaaly compelled to run for his
life as the flames were already scorch-
ing his clothing. He ran to Il win.
dow on the south side of the building
across which were iron bars. Wat.
ties managed to tear two of these
from their fastenings and two other
men who had followed him climbed out
on the sill. They were seen by the
firemen who called to them to remain
where they were and they would save
them. A ladder was run up as high
as possible and the two men with
Wattles were taken down.
He became crazed with excitement
and not waiting for the return of the
fremen sprang for a net which some
men were holding on the sidewalk
beneath. He fell partly in it and
partly on the sidewalk and sustained
injuries which probably will cause
his death in a short time.
Kent was left lying on the floor OF
his room. and evidently died of sufro-
cation. 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. and the head burned Off He
was identified by means of his cloth