The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1909-01-15
FAMOUS topeka
Hotel BURNED
Many Well Known KanSans
b Trapped by Flames.
FORCED TO JUMP FOR LIFE

score or more sustain serious lnJu.
ries, but A. w. Smith of McPher-
son, Once Candidate for Governor,
Is the Only One Whose Condition 10
Regarded as Dangerous-l. e. Lam
bert, Prominent Politician, Missing,
Topeka, Kan, Jan. 15.-The Cope
land hotel, 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 num-
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 way
of the fire escapes. Many jumped to
save their lives and received more or
less serious injuries.
About a score of persons were in
| jured, suffering broken limbs and
bruises, and I. E. Lambert of Empo.
ria, a 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; Bent
Murdoch, Eldorado, Kan, well known
editor, slightly injured; A. w. Smith
Mcpherson, Kan, former Republican
candidate for governor, ankle broken
and serious internal injuries; H. A
Rowland, Mcpherson, three ribs
! broken; Mrs. B. L. Thompson, Her
rington, back injured; Representative
S. c. Westcott, Crook county, back
| and ankle wrenched; H. G. Bone
state board of control, Topeka, back
sprained; G. w. Goodlander, Fort
Scott, leg hurt; Paul Rich, Coolidge
back, side and arm injured; w. A
Elstun, Moline, sprains and bruises
R. G. Howman, Newton, ankle and
back sprained; ex-senator G. H
Lamb, Yates Center, internal inju
ries, severely bruised; Fire Chief VIII
marth, Topeka, head cut; J. w. Davis
Greensburg, overcome by smoke.
Escape by Stairway Cut Oft.
The Copeland hotel was of brick
construction, four stories in height
It was one of the Oldest hostelries III
the state. It had a roomy lobby an6
wide Railways and was plentifully
supplied with fire escapes. The mai1
stairway, however, was built around
the elevator and the flames, shooting
up the shaft, soon shut off this means
of escape. The fire started in the
lower part of the building from some
cause as yet unknown. The flames
shot up quickly and before an alarm
could be turned in were fast making
their way up the wide corridors an6
filling the open spaces with smoke
When the fire apparatus arrived or
the scene it was apparent that the
structure was doomed.
! A dozen guests appeared at the up
per windows prepared to Jump whe1
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 dow1
the fire escapes. The firemen were
unable to make any Roadway in fight
ing the flames and presently guests
began jumping from the windows OF
all sides. Fortunately the ground was
covered with snow and this partially
broke their falls. But few were able
to save their personal belongings
Within an hour after the fire started
the hotel was a complete loss, only
the walls remaining. 49,. -~.. .
There were many thrilling escapes
The only one Of the guests whose con
dition is regarded as serious is A. w
Smith of Mcpherson, former depart
ment commander Of the Grand Army
of the Republic for Kansas and once
a candidate for governor on the Re.
publican ticket