The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-04-15
GUESTS FLEE N HASTE
FROM BLAZING HOTEL
ESCAPE IN SCANTY CLOTHING
FROM FASHIONABLE
HoSTELRY

ASHEVlLLE N. c. April IA
Reused from their slumber about 2
o'clock this morning, By an alarm Of
lire, rs guests ot the fashionable
Kenilworth Inn. three miles from this
city, barely had time 70 don some
seanty articles Of clothing and make
their escape from the burning build
ing,
The hotel was completely destroyed
the total loss being estimated at $3.50,
I00o> insurance placed At S7sooO,
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 quick.
" 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
negro boys who were returning from
Baltimore, the Vanderbilt place.
which IL but a short distance from the
inn, il had gained good headway and
was even then beyond control Mrs,
A. h Martin, the lessee, gave first
thought to safety Of guests when she
was awakened and In a short time the
alarm had been given in every oc'
eupied room in the building,
There was wild scramble for the
exits, but there was nothing border
ing on panic, among either mem
women, or children,
Half an hour later when il was be-
llcvcd thar all were out the roll was
called, and every person accounted
for II was a motley array however
some OF the women appearing 10 ball
gowns and others in even more scJnty
raiment and in varying degrees Of
negligee Many Of The men were
nothing bnt their underclothiag coy
cred by their overcoats Almost
every dcseribeahe manner OF dress
was represented
Many persons, after conquering the
first thought oi sell preservation that
had led TO instant and precipitatc
flight vcnmrcd back into the smoke
filed halls and into their rooms to
rescue their trunks and other per
sonal effects which they had abandon
cd Some brought forth rocking
chairs, washstands and every manner
of article, which soon Uttered the
lawns.
As the fire kept raging, tanned by
the rapidly increasing wind, the heat
became so intense that all hope OF
saving possessions was abandoned
Several persons who had rt.cntercd
the hotel, not realizing thar 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 were made
to save the venturesome ones.
The Ashville fire department rush
cd ont to the scene, but the hotel was
doomed before the engines had start.
ed from the city three miles away.
Its efforts were needed, however. to
save adjoining residences. as the wind
was scattering sparks to their roofs.
The hremen were successful in pre-.
venting the flames from spreading,
The scantily clad residents were
taken in at the Battery Park Hotel
and other houses nearby.
Kenilworth hotel was owned by
Senator NJ Gazzam of Philadelphia
and was built fourteen years ago by
the Kenilworth Inn Company at a
cost Of $4,000. George W. Wander.
bilt is believed to have been the heav.
lest stockholder in the capital, which
was composed largely OF northern
capitalists About six years ago Sen.
ator Gazzam purchased the property
and has leased it several times. It
was patroHized by northern tourists
during the Winter and was fayoritc
meeting place for southern conven-
tions during the summer. The young
Peoples Missionary movement, the
Southern Christian Endeavor Society
and the Southern Students Confer.
ence had been booked there for the
coming Summer.