The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1907-02-14
sT. ALRERT HarRL WIRE. \
Old Hotel Building Badly Damaged
~. BY Fire. ~. s>s-...

Shortly before two o'clock this
morning, Are was discovered in
room on the third, door OF the st.
Albert hotsl, Kanawha street, and
before, 1t was gotten under control
the upper storisst swere practically
destroyed, while the; two lower
floors were almost equally damag-
ed by the floods, OF water, which 1t
was necessary to pour into the up
per stories In order to check the
progress of the flames, which had
oeen' wholly accomplished at four
Nothing, could be learned as to
the probable origin Of the, flames
but once started they spread with
great rapidity. and by the time the
fire department., which responded
with Its usual promptness, could get
to work, had obtained. a Arm hold
on the two upper floors. 49,
The house was we'll filled with
guests, but 1t Is known that all es-
taped, many of them, however, be-
Ing very slightly clad, and few es-
Gaping without loss either OF WEAR
Ing apparel or. other. property, and
many Of the hastily aroused guests
presented decidedly unique appear
ances when they emerged from the
burning building onY the street,
So far as known, J. H. Mack, OF
Baltimore, said to be a travelling
man, was the only one OF the guests
fourth story near window to the
ground, dying from his injuries q
few hours later.
Roth Rrn M ,},,o., x,o.o
to requiSition as we'll as several lines
Of hose connected directly with the
Are plugs, and with many streams
of water playing ON the burning
building from both front and rear,
the effect was soon noticeable.
The st. Albert was one of the old
est and best known hotels In the
city, and for many years ranked as
its leading hostelry, until the erec-
ton Of its more modern compet-
itors. 1t had been remodeled
throughout it's interior and Dractt-
cally refurnished throughout at q
comparatively recent date, and was
the favorite stopping place for many
or the people from the neighboring
towns. It was purchased on the
hrst of the present year by Mr.. IT.
4. Farley, the purchase price being
$4,000, exclusive of the furniture,
which already belonged TO Mr.. Far
ley, who has been conducting the
hotel for some time past. He car
r1ed insurance to the amount of
only $4,000, 80 that his loss will be
quite heavy. although considerable
of the furniture from the lower
floors, Office fixtures, etc., were re-
moved, In a more or less damaged
condition to places OF safety.
Full details were almost impos-
sible to obtain, the guests being oc-
cupied In the effort to get together
sufficient clothing to protect them
from the weather or in seeking other
quarters, and the proprietor natur-
ally having other matters to attend
To. than the answering Of, questions
fupon' SUBJECTS as Ito whic7lF he WAS
not himself thoroughly informed
1t was the most stubborn and cost
ly fire which Charleston has exper-
fenced since the one which Destroy
ed the block on Quarter street sew
eral months ago, and but for the
prompt response of the fire depart
ment and the excellent service per-
formed by them might have had far
more serious consequences. With
the old equipment in use before the
purchase Of the new engine and the
rebuilding OF the old one, nothing
but miracle could have averted the
destruction Of the entire block.