Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-01-15
Copeland Hotel. Filled With
Politicians and Legislators
for General Assembly, Burn
ed to Ground IN Early Fire.
SCANTILT CLAD GUESTS
JUMP FROM WINDOWS
TO SN0W-sWEPT GROUND
Prominent Politician Is Missing and
Dozen or More Are Seriously In
jared By Lsaping from Building
when Flames Out Off Escape.

Uy Ansosintsd ProGhl
TOPEKA Kan, Jan 1A-The Copeland
hctaI a famous stopping place Tor legs-
lntors and politicians. and situated al
Ninth ana Kansas avenues, one block
from the state capitol. was destroyed BY
FIRE that started shortly after O'Clock
this morning. Every room was occupied
the guests numbering about 100. among
them many persons Of prominence
throughout the state. The flames burned
with such remarkable rapidly that most
Of the occupants were forced TO make
their escape By way OF the FIRE escapes
Many Jumped 70 save their lives and re-
eslvsd more OF less serious injuries
Dozen Are Injured
A dozen persons we're injured. suffering
broken limbs and bruises. and one person
Is missing
The missing.
lie. Lambert. Of Emporia. prominent
politician
The injured include:
Mrs. W. 7. Morgan. wife OF the editor
Of the Hutchinson News. and formerly
state printer. broken ankle
w c. Murray. Kansas. life Insurance.
agent broken ankle and bruises
Bert Mordoek. Eldorado. Kan. wen
known editor: slight.
A w. smith. Mcpherson. former Re-
publican candidate for governor. ankle
broken.
IRE Copeland hotel was OF brick con-
struction. four stories In height. II was
one OF the Oldest hostelries in the state.
III had a roomy lobby and wide halls
and was amply supplied with fire escapes.
The main stairway. however. was built
around the elevator and the flames,
shooting I'D the shaft. soon shut OF this
means OF escape.
Every Room Filled
Every room was occupied with the
guests. being made up principally OF
members OF the legislature, their families
and other prominent persons in the state
here 20 attend the opening Of the 18TH
; biennfai session.
The IRE started In the lower part Of the
building . few minutes after O'Clock
from some cause as yet unknown The
flames shot up quickly and before an
alarm could be turned In were fast max
ing their way I'D the wide corridors and
filing the open spaces with smoke.
When the FIRE apparatus arrived on the
scene II was apparent that the structure
was doomed. A dozen guests appeared at
the upper windows. ready TO jump when
pressed too hard by the flames. while
others made their way through the halls
and down TO the street through the dense
smoke or clambered down the IRE es-
capes-
me nremsn were unable to make any
Roadway in lighting the flames and pres
entity guests appeared at the windows on
all sides.
Jumped On Snow
Fortunately the ground was covered
with snow and this partially broke their
falls. But few were able to save their
personal belongings. Within an hour
after the IRE started the hotel was a
complete loss. only the walls remaining.
Henry Wills, the colored porter, was the
first to learn OF the fire. A moment later
william Jenkins. the night watchman.
and Wills began q systematic trip
through the house. waking the guests
Men. women and children, scantily clad,
wsrs soon crowding the upper halls
About half one hundred and fifty guests
managed TO get to the lower door and
out through the front and side doors be-
fore the stairway was cut OF.
Jumped from Windows
Half a dozen were forced to jump from
windows while the others were rescued
by nrsmen from the windows OF the ho-
tel. from tops OF adjoining buildings to
which they had jumped and from IRE es-
cane landings. But few OF the guests had
time to collect their personal belongings
and most OF the guests got out OF the
building only In their night clothes
The ground was covered with snow and
the refugees tramped barefoot and scanti-
Ivy clad TO the 7. NJ c. A building and
nearby drug stores where the injured
were cared for. There were many thrill
ing escapes The only one OF the guests
whose condition Is re<>@eed as serious Is
A W. Smith, OF Mcpherson former de-
psrfuent commander OF the Grand Army
OF the Republic and once q candidate
for governor on the Republican ticket.
Smith and H A Rowland. also Of Nc
Pnerson, were sleeping IN a room on the
fourth floor. near the south side OF the
building.
Ladder Of BedcIothes
There was little chance for their re-
cefvinx outside aid. so the two made a
ladder OF their bed clothes and suspended
Il from the window. Each In turn de-
scended as far as possible on the rope
ladder and dropped 20 the ground Smith
+ crashed into an areaway, striking on a
railing. He sustained a broken ankle and
internal injuries. Rowland followed
Smith down the ladder and also fell He
was picked I'D unconscious. and both
were taken TO the hospital
There Il was found that Smiths con-
dition was serious Rowland suffered
three rfbs broken. Webb McNall. OF Smith
county. former state superintendent Of in
surance likewise made a sensational es-
cape McNau was sleeping In a room on
the third floor In the front part of the
building. In the room with him was a
suit case containing S55.ooo OF Kansas mu-
nlcipal bonds. the property Of a frater-
nal organization and just purchased for
Il BY committee OF which McNan was
a member.
Waits for Ladder
McNau waited patiently IN the front
window OF his room while the firemen
and spectators below we're making fran
tic Efforts 20 get a ladder up TO the win
dow. The first ladder was too short A