New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-11
NOTICE TO GUESTS.
This hotel will be cIosed at o'clock tonight.
sEABoARD HOTEL COMPANY.
KEEN. Manager.

This sign was the first intimation of trouble
received by the guests. The clerks desk was
at once besieged by an excited crowd. 1t
not long before every guest knew that the hotel
was to close within six hours. Excited women
and men strode through the corridors all the
afternoon angrily demanding explanations and
the manager. They pointed TO the storm raging
outside and declared that to be turned outdoors
on such short notice was outrage.
Despite these protests, however, the majority
of them began to pack their effects huTr1edly,
and exoduses were frequent during the after
noon. Most of the guests went to the Breslin
or the Grand hotels
At least twenty of the patrons, however OBJ
durately stood their ground, and declared that
they would not leave their rooms, no matter II
heat and light were cut Off by the departing
management. These defiant ones were guests
who had lived at the Gilsey so long that they
have come to regard the hotel as home. They
expressed q belief that the GilSey estate would
never permit the hotel to remain closed, and
they were. therefore, determined TO brave the
dscomfOrts OF a temporary shutdown, in the
hope that a relief party in the shape OF d new
management, would soon arrive
Among these recalcitrant guests were 'Al'
Smith the sporting man, who has lived at the
Gilsey for the last twenty-nine years; Henry /.
3ickles and William T. Atchinson.
At 3 o'clock four big vans drove up to the
Broadway entrance Of the GiIsey House, and
men tore up the carpets in the dining room and
carted them away. with much OF the furniture
Of the hotel and cafe. A considerable amount
Of furniturei the property or the GhSey estate,
remained. however.
At s o'clock sharp the manager, Albert r.
Keen and his staff left the hotel, telling the
twenty defiant guests who remained that they
did so at their peril, as nobody had been left
behind 70 look after the fires in the furnace.
The. survivors" however, reiterated their in
tention to hold the fort until relief came. Keen
then ordered all the lights turned out. and the
Gilsey House. few minutes later was plunged
in darkness.
Louis O. Van Dorm. counsel for the Seaboard
company, then again urged the twenty obstinate
guests 10 withdraw. In the darkness they de-
fed the lawyer and announced their intention
20 use candles rather than surrender. Ihsir
persistency rewarded a little later hY the
arrival Of George Barrett, the aged engineer OF
the Gilsey House, who announced his intention
10 stay on with the survivors and keep the hotel
warm even though he could not control the
lights.
estate had appeared at the hotel, and preHa'a-
tions We're being made by those who remained
TO go 10 their rooms. The elevators were smut
down and the lights in the hall had been eNllh-
eushed and the men were compelled to walk 10
their rooms through the dark halls carrying
lamps. -,
Gisey IL was for years the leading hoteI Oh
New-York. President Arthur made it his
headquarters when IN town. Cornelius Van
derbiit the elder, Jay Gould and other wall
often. and many big Wall Street deals were
planned there The gradual development or the
city and the erection of many fine hotels gradu-
ally caused the Gilsey House TO lose It's as
ceudancy but IL has always retained its reputa-
ton as one OF the leading hotels and several or
the present clientele have been guests since the
hotel built
1t was sed last night that George H. Moore.
former clerk OF the Gilsey, had an offer OF
the management of the hotel by the Gilsey es-
tate. and may reopen the Gisey on Monday