The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-03-17
VAIL HOTEL DES TR 0 ED.
One oflEly's Large Buildings Raced
by Fire Tuesday.

Bartlett assumed the management
and conducted the popular hostelry
for several years. John Glode became
manager in May, 1903, and was in
possession up to the burning on Tues
day. The hotel was one of the best
on the ranges and very popular with
the travelling public.
ONE LIFE LOST.
1t is with untold regret that we are
forced to note the loss of life owing
to the fire. Garrett Byrnes, clerk at
the Vail and well known, was the
victim. It Is such occurances as these
that spread gloom over the popu-
lace and is one of these unfortunate
affairs that cannot be helped.
1t seems that Mrs. Lizzie Hill, en-
ployed as scrub woman, came to work
at about o'clock. A little later,
while Mr.. Byrnes was employed about
the place, she missed him, thinking
he had gone up stairs to call some of
the guests. Soon after, she smelled
smoke and in looking about found it
was coming from the furnace room.
She Immediately called Landlord
Glode and DOMINIC a few clothes, Mr..
Glode made his way to the furnace
room from the outside. In the mean
time the alarm was being spread
throughout the house, which was fill
ing with smoke almost to suffocation.
The guests issued forth, some partly
dressed and some with their clothes
in their hands. The back end.of the
building was rapidly filling and the
help escaped with barely their night
clothes as did also Mrs. Glode and
the children and Misses Carey and
Doyle.
Mr.. Glode went to little window
and breaking 1t in yelled to Byrnes
in the furnace room and he answered,
but from the way lie spoke it was
plainly noticeable that the dense
smoke was affecting him. Mr.. Glode
called to "Scotty" Winchester across
the street to come to the assistance
of Byrnes and started back into the
building to remove his family and see
that the guests were aroused.
Winchester was joined at the win
dow by George Mason and J. Schroed-
er and all efforts were made to remove
the unfortunate man. Schroeder had
Byrnes by the clothes at one time but
could not do anything with him as he
fought desperately. all the time pull
ing back. The gases and smoke
became so dense that nothing could
be accomplished.
Soon after the fire department went
to work on the basement and cooled
it sufficiently to effect an entrance
and the dead body of the unfortunate
Byrnes was removed. Life was ex-
tinct and the physician summoned
pronounced the cause of death, suffo-
cation. The remains were taken to
Gleason's undertaking establishment
and prepared for shipment. They
were sent TO Rockland, Mich, his
boy home. this morning for inter-
ment. His brotller-in-law, G. H.
O'Rourke, from Ontonagon, arriving
to take charge of the remains. b.
O'Rourke, Of Hibbing, was also pres
ent yesterday and departed with the
remains this morning.
Garrett Byrnes was IS years of age
and has been employed in this city
since the opening of the hotel. Before
coming here he was porter at the st.
Louis Hotel in Duluth. He had many
friends throughout the country who
are shocked over his tragic demise.
He was a member of the Hibernians
of West Duluth, in which society he
was an insured member. His parents
reside at Rockland, Mich. A large
concourse followed the remains to the
tain this morning.