The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-01-14


for legislators and politicians, situat
ed at Ninth and Kansas avenue, one
block from the state capitol. was de
stroyed by fire that started shortly
after o'clock this morning. Every
room was occupied. the guests mum
herring about one hundred, among
them many persons of prominence
throughout the state. The flames
spread with such remarkable rapidity
that most of the occupants were fore.
ed to make their escape by way or the
fJre escapes. Many jumped to save
their lives and received more or less
serious injuries
A dozen persons were injured. SUI
fering broken limbs and bruises and
one person is missing.
The missing:
l. E. Lambert of Emporia, prom.
inent politician.
The injured include:
Mrs. w. Y. Morgan, wife OF the edi-
tor of the Hutchinson News, and for
merly state printer ankle broken.
w. c. Murray. Kansas City, Kan;
life insurance agent, broken ankle
and bruises.
Ben T Murdoch, Eldorado. Kan;
we'll known editor; slight
A w Smith. Mcpherson, Kan; for
mer Republican candidate tor the gov
crncrship. ankle broken.
II. A. Rowland Mcpherson, three
RIBS broken.
Mrs. r. l.. Thompson. Harrington,
lack Injured.
Representatives S. C. Wescott, Che
rokee county, back and ankle wrench
cd.
II. G. Bone. state board of control,
Topeka, back spralned
G. W. Goodlander, Fort Scott, leg
hurt
Paul Rich. Coolidge, back. side and
arm injured.
w. A. Elstun, Moline, sprains and
bruises.
H. C. Bowman. Newton, ankle and
back sprained.
Ex-senator G. H. Lamb, Yates Cen
ire. internal injuries. severely bruis-
ed.
Fire Chief Wilmarth. Topeka, head
cut.
j. w, Davis. Greensburg, overcome
by smoke,
The Copeland hotel was of brick
construction. four stories In height 1t
was one of the oldest hostelrles In the
state
Ii had roomy lobby and wide hall.
ways and was plentifully supplied with
fire escapes. The main stairway, how
ever, was built around the elevator
ana the flames shooting up the shaft
coon shut off this means of escape.
Every room was occupied. the guests
being made up principally of members
OF the legislature. their families and
other prominent persons In the state
here to attend the opening of the six
leenth biennial session. The fire
started IN the lower part OF the build
ibg. few minutes after 4 o'clock from
some cause as yet unknown Tue
flames shot up quickly and before an
alarm could be turned In, were fast
making their way up the wide corrl-
doris and filling the open spaces with
smoke. When the fire apparatus ar
rived on the scene 1t was apparent
that the structure was doomed.
A dozen guests appeared at the up
per windows prepared TO jump. when
pressed too hard by the flames. while
others made their way through the
halls and down to the street through
the dense smoke or~clambored down
the fire escapes. The firemen we're
10 make headway In fighting the
flames and presently guests began
jumping from the windows on all
sides. Fortunately the ground was
covered with snow and this partially
broke the fall Of the frightened people.
But Few were able to save their per-
eonal belongings. Within an hour al
Ter the fire started the hotel was a
2 complete loss. only the walls remain.
ing.
Inc hotel was owned by J. c. Cor
Ion The loss Is estimated at $780,
oo0, insurance about $4,000 The
oVigln of the fire is thought TO have
peen a defective electrlct light wire
in the storeroom.
lhe building was situated one block
from the state capitol and was one
OF the Oldest hotels in Kansas.
Henry Wells, the colored porter.
was the first to learn OF the fire. A
moment later. William jenkins, the
nlght-watchman, and Wells began a
systematic trip through the house
waking the guests. Men. women and
children, scantilly clad, were soon
ciowding the upper halls About hall
OF the one hundred and fifty guests
managed to SET to the lower floor and
ont and through the front and side
coors before the stairway was cut off
1alt a dozen were forced to jumr
from wiadows. while the others were
rescued by firemen from the windows
Of the hotel, tops OF adjoining build
ings TO which they had jumped, anc
f'om fire escape landings
Most of the guests got out of the
building only IA their night clothes
The ground was covered with snow
and the refugees tramped barefootet
and scantily clad to the Y. M. c. A
building and nearby drug stores, ,wher,
the injured were cared for.
There were many thrilling escapes
a. W Smith, of Mcpherson. rorme
department commander of the Crane