The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-04
SMOTHERED.
Fire Breaks Out in Lower Part
of Chicago HOstelry.
While Building Was Crammed
With Sleeping Guests.
ESCAPE WAS CUT OFF.
IA Deaths-Nearly All Due TO
SuffOcatiOn.
Firemen We're Handicapped in
Work of Rescue.
Damage to the Building Was
Remarkably Slight.
OUT OF TOWN PEOPLE.
House Was Full of Attendants
OH Stock Show.
OUT OF TOWN PEOPLE.
House Was Full of Attendants
OIL Stock Show.

Chicago. Dec. 4-Fourteen persons
among the scores crowded into the Lin
coin hotel at 176 Madison street met
death shortly before o'clock this
morning in d fire which Will pass in.o
local history as one OF the most horrible
ever experienced.
Death came suddenly to a few but
with awful slowness to others who were
penned in the death trap and suffocate1
or burned to death Some died in their
rooms. some chanced in jumping and
lost, while others were found in the hall
ways where they had expired with their
fingers dug into the cracks of the floor
All of the bodies were recovered, as tbs
hotel was not destroyed.
THE DEAD.
NJ NJ. HANDY, GAINESVILLE. Wis.
H K WOOD, Lebanon, Ind.
SAMUEL l. YOCUM, Davenport, Ia
J. c. YOCUM, Davenport, Ia.
F L. EWING, Marietta, o.
A B. COON Maringo. H.
T. V. SLOCUM, WacOnda, III.
WARD LOWE. Minneapolis.
+. w. CAREY, Bucyrus, O.
ED TONER. milwaukee,, Wis.
3. F. BOSEWE ELL, lived at hotel.
Three of the victims still remain uni
Identified.
The persons sleeping in the rear of The
lodging on the top floors ha6 NJ chance
for their lives. A narrow stairway lead
ing to all floors of the structure was
ahre and the escape of the dodgers in the
rear of the building was cut off. Fire
and policemen were not retieent IN speak
ing of what they witnessed at the scene
of the catastrophe. They condemned tbs
building fire trap.
Ambulances and patrol wagons from all
parts of the city were called TO the place
and the ead and injured were quickly
attended to. All but fourteen OF the
guests at the hotel were out of town peo-
pie. Most of them came to Chicago to
attend the international live stock show.
Up to 10 O'Clock last night persons we're
taken in at the hotel and in every room
place in which a cot could be erected
1t is said guests We're accom- n odated- AT
that time d large number of stockmen
with their families were turned away. The
hotel filled. Shortly after the fire
broke out the fremen rushed up the stair
way into the place and began the wo-k
of rescue. Men, women ana children were
carried down ladders fire escapes and
through smoke filed halls.
DROPPED WOMAN FROM WINDJW.
In one instance a fireman of engine COM
pany No. 2. saved a woman from running
TO the rear Of the building to certain death
on the fourth floor. only to be forced 10
drop her from the third floor to the roof
of the building at IT'S Madison street. The
arms She was Mrs. ]. Sheppard and her
sons name is Frederick. She was then
carried from the roof of the building to
the Brevort house, where physician was
summoned 1t was found that their in
juTies 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. Z. c. Weber. the night clerk
was one of the first persons to discover
r-1r5
1t IS believed that the fire began in
this section of the building. Weber re
fused to make any statement and after
he had secured possession of the note
register he taken to the central sta.
tion where he is being detained
A short time after the fire was dis
covered CONSERVATION reigned on the
upper floors. Mrs. Shephard'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 the
danger and made their escape Th,
woman was so panic-stricken. however
that she was not among the first to at
tempt to escape. and she was makinE
her way into the most dangerous par
of the building when a fireman seizec
her and her son and conducted them t,
the floor below where he dropped then
out of a window
J. Z. Herbert. of Salineville. Ohio
jumped from the fourth floor, where h,
had been sleeping. He struck on th
roof of 17s Madison street. near wher,
Mrs. Sheohard fell. His right leg wa.
broken and he suffered internal IL:
iuries. He was taken to the count.
hos2.tal
CLIMBED DOWN FIRE ESCAPE.
W. J. Thomas. mail clerk of Ceda
Rapids jumped through a window ol
the fourth floor. and in his blind hast
nsrrowly escaped falling to the street
He managed to make his way to tn
fire escape and climbed to the ground
Previous to Thomas escape % or 3
persons had climbed down the fir
escape 70 the street. All were in thei
night clothing.
THE DEAD
H. X WOODS. Lebanon. Ind, body a
p Adams street.
p y. SLOCUM, 80 years old. Oconda
III body at % Adams street
SAMUEL XOCUM
l. c. XOCUM. Believed to be broth
ers: Davenport. Iowa.
EDWARD TORNER. 80 years ole
Milwaukee, identified by a letter foun
on the body
- VAN FLEET. Richardson. Inc
N. n. FARDY- GAINESVILLE Wis
GEORGE MORRIS. Richmond Wis
From what could he learned from Yer
sons who escaped from the building
appeared that the fire was accidental
cigar on ts-e carpet IN the hallway o
the second floor. The smouleering fir
filled the building with heavy smoke an
several were suffocated and died in thei
beds
Allen Oldorf. of Milwaukee. made
perilous- descent from the fourth floor b
acaling the wall by means of the iro