The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-01-22
FAMOUS Topeka
HOTEL BURNED
GUESTS OF HOUSE ESCAPE ~
NIGHT CLOTHES TC SNOW
COVERED GROUND.
MAN HAVE THRILLING ESCAPES
But Only One Life Believed To Be
Lost-5uilding Quickly
Destroyed.

ated al Ninth and Kansas avenue, on
block from the State Capitol. was dc
stroyed 5y IRE that started shortl
after I O'Clock this morning. Ever
room was occupied, the guests mum
bering about $50. among them beinI
many persons Of prominence through
out the State. The flames burne,
with such remarkable rapidity tina
most of the occupants we're forced Il
save themselves by way Of the fr'
escapes. Many jumped and received
more or less serious injuries.
A dozen persons We're injured, suf
fering broken limbs and bruises, and
one person is missing.
The body of l. E. Lambert was found
in the ruins OF the Copeland Hotel
with the head 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 Life Insurance Agent, broken
ankle and bruises; Bent Murdoch FL
dorado, Kan, well known editor,
slight; A. W. Smith, Mcpherson, Kan,
former Republican candidate for Gov
ernor, ankle broken.
The Copeland Hotel was Of brick
construction. four stories in height
1t was one of the oldest hostelries in
the State, had roOmy lobby and wide
Railways and was plentifully supplied
with fire escapes. The main stairway,
however, was built around the eleva.
tor and the flames, shooting up the
shaft soon shut ffthis means Of es.
cape.
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
Legislature
The fire started in the lower part of
the building q Jew minutes after 4
o'clock from some cause as yet I'M
known. The flames shot up quickly
and before an alarm could be turned
in we're fast making their way ~ the
wide corridors and filing the open
spaces with smoke. When the fire
apparatus arrived on the scene it was
apparent that the structure was
doomed. A dozen guests appeared at
the upper 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 clambered
down the fire escapes.
The fremen were unable to make
any Roadway in fighting the flames
and presently the guests began jump
ing from the windows on all sides.
Fortunately the ground was covered
with snow and this partly broke their
falls. But few were able 70 save their
personal belongings, Within an hour
after the fire started the hotel was
loss, only the walls remain
Ing.
Henry Wills, the colored porter, was
he first to learn of the fire. A mo-
nert later william Jenkins. the night
and Wills began a sys-
ematic trip through the house. wax
ng the guests. Men, women and chill
lren, scantily clad were soon crowd
ng the upper halls. About half Of
he $50 guests managed to get to the =
over floor and out through the front :,
and side doors before the stairway ~
Vas cut of. Half dozen were forced
o jump from windows while the 9TH
RS were rescued by firemen from the
adjoining buildings to which they had
umped and from fire escape land.
ngs.
But few of the guests had time 10
olloct their personal belongings and
most Of them got out Of the building
My In their night clothes. The I
round was covered with snow and :,
he refugees tramped barefoot and
cantlly clad 10 the Y NJ c. A. build
ng and nearby drug stores. where the
ljured we're cared for
There were many thrilling escapes.
he only one OF the guests whose con.
ition IS regarded as serious is A. w.
mith, of Mcpherson, former Depart
lent Commander OF the Grand Army b
the Republic and once candidate ia
Or Governor on the Republican ticket. OF
NTH and n A. Rowland, also of VIC. II
herson, were sleel ing in room on AZ
ne fourth floor near the south side IN
the building There was little W
nance for their receiving outside aid Of
D the two made ladder Of their bed ht
Iothes and suspended n from the IN