The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1907-01-10
merchants Hotel Burned.
eleven and twelve o'clo

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lat T urs,,a, u ght the Merchants
Hotel. one II the best and most pop
u!ar DO. tileries in the State was com
ple'ely DESTROYED by fire which ORR
pinated-no "nr knn - how-seein-
,nyly IL the large sample room IN
tue south end If the building. The
alarm WAS quickly given and the
volunteer firemen were promptly on
the scene working live Trojans but
to no avail, and within an incredibly
short time the immense wooden
structure was reduced 10 smolder-
ing pile Of ashes. Surrounding
property was saved by the hard work
Of the people.
Within ten minutes after the
sounding OF the alarm the streets
surrounding the hol.! we're filed
with the people OF the towa-men,
women and children-who, with
sorrowing hearts and fearful eyes,
helplessly witnessed the complete
destruction OF what was Madison S
pride.
The hotel was well filed with
guests, regular an! transient,
and in the hearts of every ona pres
ent was question, "have all es-
capedi" Several ues's, including
Major Drew, Mr.. I. D. Sloan, Mr..
Crane, c. p Kelly and otheSs. made
their rs ape from the burning build
ing by cambcring down the posts
from the second story. While the
fire was a. its height a shu'der Of
horror was caused To thrill the en-
tire crowd by the appearance OF
man at a window IN the second sto'
ry of the ell, completely surrounded
by smoke and flames. The man,
who appeared perfectly cool and col
ected, calmly surveyed his sue
roundings and measured the distance
from the wi dow to the grount.
The crowd below yelled to him to
90 back and seek another window
which was directly over a shed
which covered the rear steps OF that
part OF the building. He disappear
ed but IN a moment again appeared
at the widow alluded to, crawled
out letting himself down full lie 9Th
dropped lightly to the sized roof
from whence he cl,n,bere to the
ground 10 be received with Joy int"
the arm, OF those who awaited hin.
In a few moments that part OF the
buildins FELL with crash. The man
was Mr.. Hackney, from Weiborn.
Mr.. T. d. Sloan, a gentleman
who has ben a citizen OF our town
Tor several mouths holding Tue ir
sponsible position Of Superintendent
of machinery at the mills OF the
Florida Manufacturing Co was
guest of tue hotel, his room being
ON the second tloor. When awaken
ed by the alarm he had ample time
TO escape from the building without
injury, hut with thoughts only of
the safety of other guests he pro
ceeded to make his way to various
rooms aud to awaken tue inmates.
When his work of mercy wa com.
plete he attempted TO leave the build
ing but found every avenue Of IS
cape cut off except by clambering
down post of the front veranda.
TO reach even that he had to pass
through flame and smoke and when
re finally reached the ground it was
seen that his face, hands and arms
were horribly burned-the skin of
his arms hanging in shreds from his
finger tips like glove stripped off.
Prompt medical attention was given
him and he now les at the home OF
w. NJ. Burton swatbed in bandages
and suffering agonies from bis in
juries.
The Merchants Hotel was large
wooden three-story structure. The
original building was erected in 1884
and conducted by various parties
with indifferent success until about
five years ago when the property |
was secured by stock company
composed of the merchants aud bust.
ness men OF the town. The building |
was renovated, repainted and put in
thorough repair. Mrs. j. P. Mccall
was put in charge and in short
time the fame of the Merchants Ho-
tel at Madison had snread thronph