The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-16
ECHOES OF FIRE.
w. A. Elstun Can Not Leave
His Bed.
Suffering From Severely
Strained Back.
TALKS OF EXPERIENCE
Went to Bed at Same Time as
Lambert.
Bent Murdoch Goes to Home in
EldOradO Today.

W. A. Elstun of Moline, who was
formerly member of the house, and
who was one of the victims of the
Copeland hotel fire, is belfast at the
residence of H. G. Larimer, 1915 Ty-
Ter street. Mr.. Elstun received a Sc
rious injury in his spine, which will
prevent his being out for several
weeks. a State Journal reporter Wis
tied him this morning and received
the following interesting account of
his experiences the morning of the
fire and some of his subsequent hap
penings:
Il was on the third floor in room
242, when the fire broke out 1 didn't
retire until late as 1 had been visiting
Mr. Lambert and other friends in the
corridors of the hotel Mr.. Lambert
and l went to bed about the same
time, and were planning to go to Kan
SaS City together in the morning as
we had business there. didn't leave a
call but he did and he was going to
wake me. We were the closest kind
of friends, as L formerly lived in EN-
poria and had known him for a long
time.
'I went right to sleep and was sleep
ing soundly when 1 was awakened by
the smoke and fire. I jumped up and
threw some of my clothes out of the
derS were in sight. BY this time the
room was filed with smoke and 1 was
in the window with the window panes
cracking from the effects of the heat.
had thought of tying the bed sheets
together, but 1 didn't have time.
didn't like to jump, but that was all
could do. I lit on the second floor
roof of the building south of the Cope
land. My feet slipped out from under
me and lit fiat on my back, hurting
my spine.
''I laid there for some time, part of
the time unconscious, or at least I'M
aware of what was going on. There
were several others there with me- in
Guiding some women and other men.
Mr.. Hopkins of Wellington was there
but uninjured and he carried all of
the women down stairs, then came to
me. Several other men were there
who were hurt less than I was and
Mr.. Hopkins said to them You're not
hurt as bad as Elstun is and you can
wait until I take him down, or else
get down yourself
Il wasn't dressed yet, but Mr.. Hop
kins and some of the ladies who were
uninjured carried me through the al
ley to the Y. M. G. A. 1 was taken to
a room and later a doctor called.
Charlie Brilliant, an old friend of mine
came in to see me and I had him send
a telegram to my wife telling her
was uninjured. But a brother-in-law
came up from Emporia and later in
the day he broke the news gently to
Mrs Elstun by wiring her to meet
him in Emporia. There he told her
of my injuries and she came on to
Topeka.
"An amusing incident happened late
in the day. A Mrs. Lawrence whom 1
introduced herself to me and told me
that she was the one who put my
trousers on me early in the morning.
THE doctor wouldn't let me stay in
the Y. NJ. G. A. because too many peo-
pie called to see me. Harrv Larimer.
who is an old friend of mine, heard
about it, and nothing would do but that
I should come out here to his house.
Before I knew it he had the ambulance
there for me- 1t was my first ex-
perience with an ambulance, and I felt
pretty lonesome locked in there by my
self
"I will probably be laid up here with
Mr.. Larimer for several weeks and
though I hate to inf1ict myself on any
of my friends, am helpless now. Any
how I want to thank Mr.. Larimer for
what he is doing for me. 1 also want
to publicly express my thanks to every
one in Topeka and especially the Y. NJ.
c. A, for these are the kindest people
on earth.
Tell all of my friends whom you
may meet that Billy Elstun is doing
well, and that just as soon as his spine
RECEIVERS from the strain he will be
around again. Give my regards to
Frank MacLennan, whom 1 have
known for twenty-five years. and to
my many other friends in Topeka
Dispatches received by the State
Journal this afternoon, from Shattuck,
Okla. tell of another death due indi-
rectIy to the Copeland hotel fire.
A Mrs. Kippinger of that city is
dead from an attack of heart failure,
which was caused by the news that her
brother. G. H Lamb, former senator
from Yates Center, was seriously in
jured in the Copeland fire.
T. B. Murdoch of Eldorado. went
home today He furnished a clear ac-
count of his narrowing experiences.
''Uncle Bent Murdoch, although suf-