The Topeka state journal., 1909-01-20

Continued from rage One)
he noticed the pressure at this time
would not reach the third floor He
didn't see the water reach the tnlrd
Wiley told of the different steps he
had taken during the time Immediately
after the fire had been discovered in
sounding the alarm to the guests. The
that the alarm be sent in. Then he
called two bellboys who were near the
elevator shaft telling them to go along
every floor and sound the alarm. This
was done Mr.. Wilev then tried to call
the guests through the private branch
exchange, but this he found out of
order. There was a phone In every
room, including the one in Mr.. Lam
berts room and he could have been
reached had the phone system been In
working order.
HAD a rope been provided with the
proper fastening. as provided by law,
think Mr.. Lambert could have es-
capped unless he had been sleeping too
soundly to be aroused was the state
sponse to question from the county
attorney.
Fireman Woody's Story.
One of the most important witnesses
was w. w. Woody. the fireman who
reached Mr.. Bambert's room only
moment too late to rescue him. Mr..
Woody saw man in Lamberts Win
dow, although he did not know him.
The smoke made 1t impossible to dis
tinguish whether it was man or
woman except for the voice which
Woody heard. He saw the man in the
window which was in the room occu-
pied by Mr.. Lambert. Lambert shout
ed Help repeatedly. Hang on. we
will soon be there" shouted Woody.
straight up to the level of the window,
them inclined toward the building.
Woody went straight to the window
but when he got there no one an
smoke, and the fire was just starting
on the transomoG-
''Unless the rope tangled, Lambert
could have easily escaped had the pro-
visions of the law providing for fire
escape in each room, been complied
with said Woody.
The witness told of rescuing several
others after which he was questioned
as to the water pressure. He was in
clined to favor the water company
in this regard. but made several ad-
missions of poor pressure during his
examination. But when this work was
completed he helped with the hose
working in the dining room. Here he
said the fire had been increased by
the explosion of gas. gas which was
caused by the fire. This he said blew
off the roof of the building. The pres
sure of the water was sufficient to
work in the part of the hotel. and he
thought it would have reached the top
of the building but he didn't know.
The pressure he said was varied and
was much stronger at some times
than at others. He thought the pres
sure was sufficient to send water to
the top of the building without the
use of the engines. He admitted that
the firemen complained great deal
about the water pressure but said that
| this was customary. The water pres
scure wasn't as good as it was at the
Rock Island fire a year ago in his
| opinion He could recall only one
| fire in a building of more than two
stories where the pressure was be-
yond complaint and that the burning
| of the old Crawford theater building.
Mr.. Lawrence Testif1es.
George H. Lawrence, who was man
ager of the Copeland at the time of
| the fire. was an important witness
He assumed charge of the hotel
September 5 last. Mr.. Lawrence de-
| scribed the arrangement of the rooms
| on the top floor and showed the plan
| Of Mr.. Lambert's room. The water
| pressure in the estimation of Mr..
Lawrence was responsible for the
| damage. Early in the fire Mr. Law
renee noticed three hoses at work.
Only one of these went to the second
| floor, the one which had the steamers
attached The water at no time
could reach the top without the en-
| gines, in his opinion. He admitted