The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-19
Are Identified as Stephen Walters
and Richard Metz, Occident-
ais Employees.
MET DEATH IN CRASH
Falling Floors Had Been Living
Tomb for Sleeping Victims
OF Disaster.
DISCOVERY BY CHANCE
Firemen Mistake Burned Limb for
Stick Before CHASTITY Find
Is Made.


The charred and mangied bodies OF
Stephen Walters and Richard Metz. two
negro employees of the burned Occidental
Hotel. were found buried under the debris
OF three floors last night in the old Office
room at the hotel. These are known TO
be the only victims of the fire that gutted
the building at Washington and Illinois
streets.
The bodies were horribly mangled. but
after a close scrutiny were Identified by
friends. They were found within a few
feet of each other.
For a long time the fremen VITO We're
conducting the search for the bodies dug
around and pulled at the stubbed leg Of
Metz. thinking it a projecting stick
Finally one of the eXcavators exposed a
part of the body which was deeply buried
under the heavy debris 1t was a difficult
task to remove the body whole. as the
head and shoulders were completely sew
cred.
The neck was broken. but the head was
still attached TO the body and a remark
able and unexpected discovery was that
the face was but very slightly disagured
and easily recognized.
The body of Metz was lying in natural
position With the exception Of a stub
of the right leg the lower extremities were
wholly severed. The feet and hands were
found near where the body lay
NEITHER VICTIM AWAKE
The body of Walters was more intact
than that of Metz. though the feet OF the
former were both missing.
Walters's body was found lying on the
back with the face and legs turned up
ward. The face was disfigured almost be-
yond recognition, but was identified by
fellow-employes at the hotel.
Both of the victims occupied rooms on
the fifth floor above the laundry, and 1t is
believed by some that they did not awake
enough to realize their danger and fell
while asleep in their rooms
Trousers, coats, vests and night gowns.
besides pieces Of bed clothing were found.
which indicated that neither of the vic
Tins, If they awoke, had time to dress.
James Rutherford. one of the negro en-
pioyes at the hotel, said last nigh. that
Walters retired late Saturday night while
intoxicated and that when the alarm was
sounded he could not be awakened
Rutherford, who was one of the first to
give the alarm in the servants quarters.
I said that he raped at Walters door. but
the only response he was able to get was
groan. He believes Walters never woke
from his drunken stupor.
HAD GOOD REPUTATION.
Metz was cook at the hotel and had been
employed there for about twelve years He
is said TO be about thirty-five years old
Walters was known as house man. and
came from Kentucky twelve years ago.
The search for the missing negroes was
made at the instigation of Coroner Tute-
wiler, who started force of men to work
at the excavation as soon as he heard the
men had not been located Mr.. Tutewiler
had no definite knowledge that the negroes
were under the debris, but the fact that
they were missing was enough for him
to take long chances, he said.
Because of death in my family I have
not been taking an active part i'm the in
quests caused by the recent fire." he said
last night, but as soon as / was informed
that the two negroes had not yet been
found L did not hesitate to take chances
the responsibility of Violating any insur-
ance laws and started force OF men 10
work"
The two bodies were removed from the
ruins To the city morgue.
r. r., Shiel. 1927 North Meridian street.
in speaking Of stephen Walters last night.
said: He came from BardstOwn. KY
fourteen years ago, and was i'm my employ
from that time until about two years ago.
when he went back TO Kentucky for a
short time. He worked in my apartment
house, the Marlowe. when il was first
erected. and has had the confidence OF
every one who has ever lived there.
About ten days ago he came To me and
asked for a letter of recommendation. say
ing that he was going 10 go on as a Pull
man porter.
AWAIT INSURANCE ADJUSTERS.
Little business was transacted i'm the fire
district of the Occidental Hotel block yes
terday. and the doors of nearly every estab-
lishment awaiting the work of the insur-
ance adjusters which will not be concluded
for several days. were closed. The Ferger
pharmacy and the Walaoras & Leckas fruit
store were the only firms to begin business.
The patrol line at the entrance OF the hotel
and the Ryan hat store was abandoned.
The loss and damage to property will be
about as reported. with one or two excep-
tions. A closer inspection OF the shoe and
infants goods departments Of L. s. Ayres,
over the Ruben clothing store. reveals q
greater loss than at first anticipated
The complete stock was soaked. especially
the large stock Of underwear and shoes In
the storeroom.
An accurate estimate cannot yet be made
and ali OF the stock is being removed 10 the
stockroom across the alley. While the dam
age al the Ferger pharmacy is considerable.
IL Is DeleNeO tndt the loss Will come WITHIN
s.. .0o0 which is less than at first believed
The Greek fruit store next TO the hotel
entrance is heavily damaged. with no insur-
|
COMPANIES INSURING HOTEL
p. j. McNels's insurance on the furnish
ings OF the hotel was placed by the agencies
OF p j. Flanedy and John Wocher and is
in the following companies:
United States. OF New York .......s. so
Girard. OF Philadelphia .................. 1.50o
Atlas. OF London ...-..-.---...--..-.-..-.1 / so
Aetna. of Connecticut ................... so
Traders. OF Chicago .-...--...-...--...--- =. 30
r. Nj. Ryan's insurance. amounting TO
5000. was placed by the ID. A. Coulter
agency. the Central Trust Company and
John r. WEIGH agency, as follows:
Milwaukee Mechanics ...................s 81 80
/ Franklin 3t.o