The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-12-09

of them came to Chicago to attend the
International Livestock show. In ev-
cry room or place in which a cot
could be erected, it is said, guests
we're accommodated.
Carried Down Ladders.
Shortly after the fire broke out the
firemen rushed up the stairway into
the place and began the work of res
cue. Men, women and children were
carried down ladders and fire escapes
and smoke filled the halls. In one
instances a fireman of Engine Com
pany No. 2 saved a woman from rum
ming to the real of the building to GER
tain death on the fourth floor, only to
be compelled to drop her from the
third floor to the roof of the build
ing at No. 173 Madison street. The
woman held her 7-year-old son in her
arms. She was Mrs. ]. Sheppard.
They were then carried from the roof
of the building to the Brevoort house,
where a physician was summoned. 1t
was found that their injuries were
slight.
The building is constructed of
brick, with but one stairway leading
to the upper floors and a fire escape
in the front of the building. E. G.
Weber, the night clerk, was n of the
first persons to discover smoke on
the second floor. 1t is believed the
fire began in this section Of the build
ing. Weber refused to make any state
ment, and after he had secured pos
session of the hotel register he was
taken to the central station, where
he is detained.
Panic on Tipped Floors.
J A short time after the fire was ais
covered CONSERVATION reigned on he
upper floors. Mrs. Sheppard's son
was one of the first to be awakened by
the presence of smoke. He awakened
his mother and both began screaming.
Many persons were thus warned of
LIE uduSCI duU luduC CAC1A SoN"RS'
J. E.. Herbert of S%alineville, o.,
jumped from the fourth floor where
he had been sleeping. He struck on
the roof of No. 17S Madison street,
neal where Mrs. Sheppard fell. His
right leg was broken and he suffered
internal injuries. He was taken to
the county hospital. w. J.. Thomas,
a mail clerk of Cedar Rapids, jumped
through a window on the fourth floor
and in his blind haste narrowly es-
capped falling to the street. He man
aged to make his way to the fire es-
cape and climbed to the ground.
Previous to Thomas escape rs or 80
persons had climbed down the fire es-
cape to the street. All were in their
night clothing.
From what could be learned from
persons who escaped from the build
ing it appeared that the fire was &C
c%identally started, probably by drop
ping a lighted cigar on the carpet
in the hallway on the second floor,
The smouldering fire filled the build
ing with heavy smoke and several
were suffOcated. '|
Allen Oldorf of Milwaukee made a
perilous descent from the fourth
floor by scaling the wall by means OF
the iron shutters. Oldorf stated that
he had seen at least a dozen persons
on the top floor vainly endeavoring to
make their way from the building by
means of the front stairway. Many
of the bodies were found in the beds
in position of slumber. Others e
found in the hallway lying face down
ward in positions that showed they
had vainly endeavored to save theil
lives. Some were half-clad and others
wore nothing but night clothing.
f. A. Smith, proprietor of the hotel
said: 81 am certainly not to blame
for this awful catastrophe. Three
weeks ago the agents Of this building
; were notified to place a stairway IL
, the rear of the building and also tt
, build a frewall around the freight
l elevator shaft in the rear. The con
, tractors came and looked the building
over, but nothing was done. Las
night our 20 rooms were all filled anc
: should Judge that We had from l2s
l to $50 guests. From what | a Learn
, the fire started in the real OF the
building, on the second floor. Thi;
probably accounts for the escape o.
the guests who occupied front rooms
on the upper floors. They a al
, opportunity to reach the stairway be
fore the flames reached hat part o.
= the building, but the occupants OF tht
real rooms were cut off by the names