The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-04-14
HOT FL IS.
BURNED
DOWN
Seventy-five Guests
Barely Escape From
Burning Building

Asheville, N. c., April 14-Roused
from their slumbers about . o'clock
this morning by an alarm of fire. soy.
enty-five guests OF the fashionable
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 DESTROY
ed the total loss being estimated at
S250.000, insurance estimated al s75.-
600. The fire started in the north end
OF the building over the boiler room.
a strong wind was blowing from tho
southwest aud the flames were quickly
famed to the other end OF the frame
structure where the majority of the
guests were asleep Before the fire
had been first discovered by two ne
gro boys, who were returning from Bal.
timore, the Vanderbilt place. which is
but short distance from the Inn, il
had gained good headway. and was
even then beyond control Mrs. 4 p,
Martin, the lessee. gave frs; thought
TO the safety OF the guests when she
was awakened, and in short time,
the alarm had been given in every oc.
cupied room In the building.
There was wild scramble for the
exits but there was nothing bordering
on panic among either men. women
or children in spite of the confusion
at the time. Half an hour later. when
il was thought that all was out. the
roll was called and every person ac-
counted for 1t was motley array. how
r. Al.
ball gowns and others In even more
scanty raiment and in varying degrees
of neglieee.
Many of the men wore nothing but
their underclothing covered by their
overcoats- Almost every describable
manner Of dress was represented
Many persons, after conquering the
Grst though f-self-pteseryation. that
had led to instant and precipitate
fight. ventured back into the smoke
filled halls and into their rooms to res
cue their trunks and other personal ef-
fects which they had abandoned Some
brought forth rocking chairs. wash
stands and every manner of articles,
which soon Uttered the lawns
AS the fire kept raging. famed by
the rapidly increasing wind the heat
became so intense that all hope of
saving possessions was abandoned.
Several persons, who had rc-enteTed
the hotel, not realizing that the fire
had reached the south wing, were al
most caught. Shouts of friends from
the outside were answered by yells for
help. and heroic efforts of several
guests and policemen alone saved the
W. hofn nR
from every avenue of escape
The Ashville fire department rushed
out TO the scene but the hotel was
doomed before the engines had started
from the city three miles away. Its
efforts were needed. however. TO save
adjoining residences as the wind was
scattering sparks 10 their roofs. The
firemen were successful In preventing
the flames from spreading.
The scantily-clad guests were taken
in at the battery park hotel and near
by residences. and cared for for toe
remainder of the night
The Kenilworth hotel was owned by
Senator NJ. Gazzam of Philadelphia,
and was built fourteen years ago b.
the Kenilworth Inn company at cost
of $4,000 George W. Vanderbilt is
believed to have been the heaviest
stockholder in the company which was
composed largely of northern canital-
lists About six years ago. Senator
Gazzam purchased the property and
has leased II several times. 1t was
patronized by northern tourists during
the winter, and was favorite meeting
place for southern conventions during
the summer. The young peoples mis-
sionary movement the Southern Chris
tan Endeavor society and the South
ern Students conference had been
booked there for the coming summer
Former state Senator Gazzam or
Philadelphia owner of Kenilworth Inn.
Jumped from the third story. He sur
fered concussion of the spine and
broken ankle, and physicians fear
there is a fracture at the base of the
skull. Today all the guests had been
accounted for.
Thn locc ic oofimated al 5000 00O