The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1909-01-15
FAMOUS Topeka
HOTEL BURNED
Many Well Known KanSans
Trapped by Flames.
FORCED TO JUMP FORLIFE

Score or More Sustain Serious Inju-
ries, but A. w. Smith of McPher-
son, Once Candidate for Governor,
Is the Only One Whose Condition Is
Regarded as Dangerous. G. Lam
bert, Prominent Politician, Missing
Topeka, Kan, Jan. 15.-The Cope
land hotel. a famous stopping place
for legislators and politicians, stu
ated one block from the state capitol
has been destroyed by fire. Every
room was occupied, the guests mum
bering about one hundred, among
them many persons of prominence
throughout the state. The flames
burned with such remarkable rapid
ity that most of the occupants Were
forced to make their escape by waE
of the ire escapes. Many jumped tc
save their lives and received more OF
less serious injuries.
About a score OF persons were In
iured suffering broken limbs and
bruises. and l. z Lambert of EmpO
ria prominent politician. is missing
The injured include Mrs. w. Y
Morgan, wife of the editor of the
Hutchinson News and formerly state
printer, broken ankle; w. c. Murray
Kansas City. Kan, life insurance
agent, broken ankle and bruises; Benz
Murdock, Eldorado, Kan, well known
editor. slightly injured; A. w. Smith
Mcpherson, Kan, former Republican
candidate for governor, ankle broker
and serious internal injuries; II. A
Rowland, Mcpherson, three rib:
broken; Mrs. B. L. Thompson, Her
rington, back injured; Representative
s. c. Westeott, Crook county, bacl
and. ankle wrenched; II. G. Bone
state board of control, Topeka, bacl
sprained; G. w. Goodlander, For
Scott, leg hurt; Paul Rich, Coolidge
back, side and arm injured; w. A
Elstun, Moline, sprains and bruises
r. C. Howman, Newton, ankle anC
back sprained; ex-senator G. H
Lamb, Yates Center, internal inju
ries, severely bruised; Fire Chief VIII
marth, Topeka, head cut; ]. w. Davis
Greensburg, overcome by smoke
Escape by Stairway Cut Of.
The Copeland hotel was of bricl
construction, four stories in height
1t was one of the Oldest hostelries il
the state. 1t had a roomy lobby an
wide Railways and was plentiful.
| supplied with fire escapes. The mail
stairway, however, was built aroun'
| the elevator and the flames, shootinl
| up the shaft, soon shut off this mean
| of escape. The fire started in tn
| lower part of the building from som
cause as yet unknown. The flame
shot up quickly and before an alarn
| could be turned in were fast makin
| their way up the wide corridors an
filling the open spaces with smoke
| When the fire apparatus arrived o.
the scene it was apparent that tn
l structure, was doomed.
A dozen guests appeared at the III
per windows prepared TO jump whe
pressed too hard by the flames, Will
others made their way through tn
halls and down to the street through
the dense smoke or clambered dow
the fire escapes. The firemen wer
unable to make any headway in fight
ing the flames and presently gnest
began jumping from the windows o
all sides. Fortunately the ground wa
covered with snow and this PARTIAL
broke their falls. But few were abl
to save their personal belonging
Within an hour after the fire starte
the hotel was a complete loss, onl
the walls remaining.
There were many thrilling escape!
The only one Of the guests whose col
dition is regarded as serious is A. "
Smith OF Mcpherson, former depar
ment commander Of the Grand Arm
of the Republic for Kansas and ono
Ia candidate for governor on the RI
II ~