Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-01-15
FAMOUS HOTEL
FOOD FOR
FLAMES
COPELAND HOUSE IN
TOPEKA WIPED OUT
Isaac Lambert of Emporia
Dead in Ruins; Fourteen
Guests Hurt; Noted Polti-
clans Among { 9 Victims,

IBy Morning journal specrar Tsased wIrsl
Topeka, Kan, Jan. 14,--With walls
bIackened by smoke. bulging to the
danger point and threatening to cave
in at any time on an interior of utter
ruin. all that remains Of the Copeland
hotel tonight is a mere bulk of a
building.
The body of I. f. Lambert, ex-Uni-
ted states district attorney for Kan
sas. was found in the ruins tonight
with the head arms and legs burned
off. Lambert's room was on the fourth
floor directly above where the body
was found.
Fourteen guests were more or less
seriously hurt
The Dead
ISAAC T.. LAMBERT, Emporia,
The Injured.
A. w Smith, Mcpherson, broken an
kle, broken arm and cuts.
Mrs. w. Y. Morgan, Hutchison
broken ankle.
Tom A. Hubbard, Rome, cuts on the
arm.
w A. Rowland. Mcpherson. three
ribs broken. arms cut
Robert c. McMurray. Kansas city,
Kan, ankle fractured.
S. G Wcstcott, Galena, foot sprain-
ed.
Chief G O. Wilmarth, head cut.
Colonel T. b. Murdock. right leg
injured knee twisted. ankle sprained
j w Davis Grcensburg, overcome
by smoke.
Mrs. b L. Thompson. Darlington.
back hurt
Paul Rich. Coolidge, back side and
wrist sprained.
w L. Elsteun. Moline, sprains and
bruises.
II. c Bowman, Newton, ankle and
back sprained,
G r. Lamb Yates Center, back in
jured
None of the injured are in seriou
condition.
The hotel is complete loss. esti
mated at $4,000.
The hotel was filled with politicians
and members of the state Legislature
who are here attending the session OF
the state legislature. The fire spread
so quickly that very few Of the guests
were able to save even their clothing
and most Of them rushed for safety
in their night clothes.
The hotel was four-story brick
structure and was plentifully sup
piled with fire escapes The main
stair was built around the eleva-
tor shaft. however. and tile flames
shot up this shaft, soon cutting off
escape by the elevator and stairs
Within half an hour after the fire
started the building was mass OF
ruins.
II is believed that the fire started
from a defective electric light wire.
When discovered by an employe it was
already under good headway. The en-
ploves on duty Immediately alarmed
as many guests as possible in reach.
but few of them escaped by way of
the stairs before the flames We're roar
ing up the elevator shaft and cutting
off the escape of those on the upper
doors
The guests then began jumping
from windows to the pavement below
ana most OF tnc injured are among
those who sought escape in that way
Many We're rescued by firemen with
ladders and others were taken from
the tops of smaller buildings adjoin-
ing. where they had jumped from no
tel windows. The ground was covered
with snow and the refugees tramped
and scantily clad. to the Y. NJ
c. A. building nearby and TO drug
stores, where the injured were cared
for and clothing was provided for
those who had no time to dress when
aroused by the alarm OF fire.
A. W.~Smith, the most seriously in
iured. is q former department com
mander of the C. A. r., and was at
one time candidate for governor on
the republican ticket. Former Cover
nor @. w. Kick was carried down
ladder from the third story and es.
capped uniniured Bent Murdock. one
Of the pioneers Of the state and fam
Gus as an editor. was slightly injured
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