Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-04-15
FLEE FROM FIRE
IN NIGHT ROBES
FASHIONABLE INN SCENE OF
EXCITING BLAZE
GUESTS DON scANTY ATTIRE
AND NARROWLY ESCAPE
Famous Rural Resort Near AshvilIe
Burns--Amuslng and Motley
Array Responds to
Roll Call
fBy Associated press.]

ASHvILLE, N. c., April Il. =
Aroused from their SAUNDERS about
o'clock this morning by an alarm of
fire, seventy-fve guests of the fashion
able Kenilworth Inn, three miles from
this city, barely had time to don some
scanty articles OF clothing and make
their escape from the burning build
ing.
The hotel was completely destroyed,
the total loss being estimated at $780,
900; Insurance, $4,000.
The fire started in the north end of
the building over the boiler room. A
strong wind was blowing from the
southwest and the flames were quickly
famed to the other frame structure
where the majority of the guests were
asleep.
The fire was discovered by two negro
boys returning from Biltmore, the Van
derbilt place, short distance away,
but the flames were even then beyond
control.
Mrs. A. b. Martin, the lessee, gave
first thought to the safety of the guests
when she was awakened, and in short
time the alarm had been given in every
occupied room in the building.
There was a wild scramble for the
exits, but there was nothing bordering
on panic among either men, women
or children in spite of the great con-
fusion at the time. Half an hour later,
when 1t was believed that all were oi1,
the roll was called and every person
accounted for
1t was motley array, however, come
of the women appearing in ball gowns
and others in even more scanty raj
ment, and in varying degrees of neg
ligee.
Many of the men wore nothing but
their Undertaking, covered by their
overcoats
Almost every describable manner of
dress was represented. Many persons,
after conquering the first thought of
self-preservation that had led to in
slant and precipitate flight, ventured
hack into the smoke-filled halls and
into their rooms to rescue their trunks
and other personal effects which they
had abandoned.
Some Carry Chairs
Some brought forth rocking chairs.
washstands and every manner of ar
ticle. which soon Uttered the lawn.
AS the fire kept raging. famed by
the rapidly increasing wind the heat
became so intense that all hope OF saw
ing possessions was abandoned Sew
eral persons who had re-entered the
hotel. not realizing that the fire had
reached the south wing, were almost
caught Shouts of friends from the out
side were answered by yells for help
and heroic efforts of several guests and
policemen alone saved the venturesomc
ones from being cut off from every ave-
nue. of escape.
The Asheville fire department rushed
out to the scene, but the hotel was
doomed before the engines had started
from the city three miles away. The
firemen were needed, however. to save
adjoining residences, as the wind was
scattering sparks to their roofs. Tho
firemen were successful in preventing
the flames from spreading.
The scantily clad guests were taken
in at the Battery Park hotel and nearby
residences and cared for for the re-
mainder of the night.
The Kenilworth Inn was owned by
Senator M. Gazzam of Philadelphia and
was built fourteen years ago by the
$4,000 George w. Vanderbilt is be-
lieved to have been the heaviest stock
houder in the company, which was COM
posed largely of northern capitalists.
About six years ago Senator Gazzam
purchased the property and has leased
1t several times. 1t was patronized by
northern tourists during the winter and
was a favorite meeting place for south
ern conventions during the summer.
The Young Peoples Missionary
Movement, the southern Christian En-
deavor society and the southern stu
dents conference had been booked for
the coming summer
Former State Senator Canaan or
Philadelphia jumped from the third
story of the Ellenworth Inn and was
seriously injured.
Today ali the guests had been ac-
counted for
The loss is estimated at 100000.