Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1905-02-17
.BBEVOORT HOUSE FIRE
Prominent Hotel Snstains Consider
able Damage
FIREFIGHTERS WORK
Despite the Terrible Climatic Cont
tions the Large Structure Was
Not Totally Consumed. but
Loss Is Great.

Chicago, Feb. 15.--Fire partly de-
stroyed the Brevoort House, 143-i45
Madison street, at an early hour Tues
day, causing a loss OF 100000 to the
building and hotel furnishings and
forcing $50 guests to make a hurried
departure. The flames. which burned
for nearly an hour, burst through the
roof of the building after the fire wns
thought TO have been extinguishe1
The fire. which started from crossed
electric light wires about 2:30 o'clock
was discovered by bell boy, who was
almost overcome by smoke. but arous-
ed the guests and employees of the ho-
tel When the iiremen reached the
scene the flames had eaten their way
through the third floor and had made
considerable progress upward through
the walls. The smoke. wh6ch was
dense hampered the firemen In theiT
work, while the guests were scamper-
ing by every avenue OF escape to reach
o place OF safety. and the hotel em-
ployes were kept busy In arousing
them by telephones IN the rooms.
While fighting the flames in the ho-
tel barroom three firemen were injur-
ed, one seriously. by the collapse of
the ceiling. The fire was mostly con-
fined 10 the rear Of the building, which
was gutted from basement to roof.
The hotel. which is eight stories
high. is owned by the Hannah & Hogg
company, and is the oldest in the city.
Nearly all the guests were from west
ern states.
The dremen were sent to the roof
OF the LaSalle theater and tons of wa
ter were poured onto the burning
structure.
Shortly after the first detachment
OF firemen reached the roof OF the the
ater the smokestack on the roof OF the
Drevoort House collapsed and many
firemen narrowly escaped injury.
Ice covered the walls OF the build
ing and the long leads of hose carried
by the flremen became imbedded in
the ice. Because OF the cold the Gre
men worked in relays.
As the firemen with their hose came
running through the halls the guests
came pouring out OF their rooms and
the halls were filed with excited
guests. in all stages of undress, hasten
ing to the office and the street. The
employees of the hotel behaved In the
most admirable fashion and lent every
assistance to the people as they came
running down the stairs and into the
elevators. They were assured that
there was no immediate danger and
that there was ample time for all to
escape without trouble.
Some few women ran into Madison
street In scanty clothing. and believing
that the fire was amounting TO moth
ing, returned to the hotel to finish
dressing. The rapid increase In the
number of engines called to the scene
J alarmed them once more, however. and
they fed to the gtreet. A number OF
:, the guests of the Brevoort hastened
to Hotel Morrison. but half a square
distant. where they were cared for
and the watchmen in a number Of
office buildings adjoining the BrevoorI
threw open their doors and allowed
the frightened guests OF the hotel e
seek shelter in the Railways.
A number Of guests ventured dowr
the fire escapes. Among them wers
Mr.. and Mrs. +. II. Bortz OF Rochester
N. Y. They jumped ten feet from tn.
lower end OF the fire escape to thu
ground and were considerably bruised
The police took them to the centra
detail ofice In the city hall. Mr.. ant
Mrs, A. p. Campbell OF Marlin. Tex.
also went down>a fire escape.
w. ID. Howard. In room 214. wa
partly overcome by smoke and coul,
not be aroused until an employe OF tn
hotel had dragged him from his bet
and half way across his room. o. "
Tarr OF this city and o. A. Taylor o
Texas. who occupied rooms on th'
second floor. were almost overcom
and reached the street only with diff
ficulty.