Los Angeles herald., 1909-01-15
NOTED HOTEL IS
CONSUMED; MANY
HURT, l MISSING
TOPEKA VISITED BY DISAS-
TR0US FLAMES
GUESTS, MOSTLY POLITICIANS,
IMPERILED
Sensational Escapes eported-Law-
makers of Kansas Have Exciting
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of Vic
Tins Injured Fatally
LBy Associated Press.I

TOPEKA, Kan, Jan. 14.-The Hotel
Copeland, noted as a stopping place for
legislators and politicians, was de-
stroyed by a fire yesterday morning.
More than fifteen persons were in
jured, suffering broken limbs and
bruises, and one person is missing, be-
lieved to have been cremated.
The missing man is [. E. Lambert Of
Emporia, prominent politician.
The injured include Mrs. w. Y Nor
gan, wife of the editor of the Hutchin-
son News, and formerly state printer,
ankle broken; w. c. Murray, Kansas
City, KAN, life insurance agent, broken
ankle and bruises; Thomas Benton
Murdoch, Eldorado, Kan, well known
editor, slight; A. w. Smith of McPher-
son, KAN, former Republican candi-
date for governor, ankle broken; III. A.
Rowland of Mcpherson, three ribs
broken; Mrs. B. L. Thompson of Her.
ringtOn, back injured; Representative
S. c. Wescott of Cherokee county.
back and ankle wrenched; H. G. Bone,
state board of control Topeka, back
sprained; G. w. Goodlander of Scott
county, leg hurt; Paul Rich of Coolidge,
poAhs SldC anu di III w. "A.
Elstun of Moline, sprains and bruises
H. c. Bowman of Newton, ankle and
back sprained; ex-senator G. H. Lamb
of Yates Center, internal injuries,
severely bruised; Fire Chief Wilmarth
OF Topeka, head cut; ]. w. Davis Of
Greensburg, overcome by smoke.
Believed to Be Cremated
Lambert, who is one of the most
nrnnoinpnf offnrnpxyc ~,
the state, is believed to have been
burned to death. 1t is thought none
of the others has been hurt fatally.
Several persons jumped from windows
to escape flames.
The origin of the fire is thought to
have been defective electric light
wire in the store room.
There were $50 guests in the hotel
when the fire broke out. The hotel was
one of the oldest hotels in Kansas. 1t
had roomy lobby and wide Railways
and was supplied plentifully with fire
escapes.
There were many thrilling escapes.
A. w. Smith of Mcpherson, former de-
partment commander of the G. A. R.
for Kansas, and once a candidate for
governor on the Republican ticket, and
H. w. Rowland, also of Mcpherson,
were sleeping in a room on the fourth
floor.
The two made a ladder of their bed
clothing and suspended it from the
window. Each in turn descended as
far as possible on the rope ladder and
dropped to the ground. Smith crashed
into an areaway, striking on a rail-
ing. His ankle was broken and in
ternal injuries were inflicted
Rowland followed Smith down the
ladder and also fell. He was picked
up unconscious and both were taken to
the hospital. There it was found
Smiths condition was serious. Row
land suffered three broken ribs.
Thomas Benton Murdoch the veteran
editor Of the Eldorado Republican, oc-
cupied a room on the south side of the
fourth floor Awakened by the cries
of fire, he found escape cut off by the
hallway and climbed out of the win
dow and hung suspended from the
ledge. Soon his roommate handed out
a blanket and down this improVised
ladder Editor Murdoch slid finally
dropping to the roof of an adjoining
building.