The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1904-03-24


dered by the city arrived the day
before the fire and was very am
pie in fighting the flames. 1t en-
abled the fire men to throw four
streams IN the burning buildings
at one time where they would
have only had two if it had not
arrived. This goes to show that
the city council knew what they
were doing when they gave aid to
our fire fighters. The timely ar
rival of this new apparatus has
earned many times its worth al
ready.
The Water Works Co. kept up
direct pressure from the pumps
until noon Thursday.
Mr.. Il. /. Williams, the former
proprietor Of the San Angelo no.
tel, says the fire started at about
| 80 He was up at l:l5 to show
one of his guest room and had
not been in bed but Il short while
when he was aroused by n dense
smoke coming up the stair way.
He was sleeping in the Office di-
rectly in front of the stair way.
Tie got up at once and gave the
alarm throughout the building
and went to each room occupied
and awoke the guests. He then
went into the hall leading east and
secured ladder and was putting
it down at II back door where
there was formerly u flight of
steps but which had been remov-
ed. Before he could get the lad
der in position the flames had
reached the rooms on his left, and
II stiff breeze carried them to
whore he was, severely burning
him about the face, neck and
hands. He then went through one
of the rooms on his right and out
II door into the south hall where he
was joined by Mrs. Williams, son
Dana and Miss Clanton and Mrs.
Sherrell and they went through II
window on the west side to the
awning and then through win
dow in the office formerly occu-
pied by Drs. Marberry IL Cooper
where they jumped from u win
dow to the platform Of the steps
leading down and escaped.
&. A. Broome and Herman
Glllis raised $500 Friday by pub
lie subscription for Mr.. and Mrs.
Williams and delivered 1T to
them for which they are very
thankful, more so because it was
a voluntary gift which they did
not ask for but which was badly
needed. They lost everything in
the fire and did not have II dol
lars worth Of insurance.
Rod Campbell and Sherman
Taylor were sleeping in the Cox
Cunning store and were about the
first ones at the fire. They say
they were awakened by cries of
fire from the hotel above and
rushed out the front Of the build
ing to the entrance to the hotel,
when they reached there the
flames were coming from under
meath the ,steps leading to the
second story and completely en-
veloped the stairs so there was no
escape fran the burning building
that way. They say it looked like
some lives would be lost, and
they went around the north side
of the building to see what could
he done. As they reached the
Bank corner they saw viii Savel
coming down the electric light
post with child and later Mr..
and Mrs. Morgan came down and
afterwards j. r. Murrah from
Rudd.
c. G. Wilson who works in the
plumbing and windmill depart
ment of the G. & G.. IIagelstein
Co., was probably the last one to
leave the building, He says he
was awakened by the cries of fire
and hurriedly drew on his pants
and put on his shoes. He then
went to the door Of his room and
opened the door when q volumn
OF smoke and flames came in
through the door and forced him
back. He says he slammed the
door and rushed to the window
and threw it mp. He didn't take
time to get any of his clothing
out nor put on his coat. He
says that when he went to the
window he looked back and saw
that the flames were coming in
and jumped to the roof of Chas,
Farquhar's stable on the East