New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-04-12
SIX DIE In LEN0X FIRE
EXPLOSION WRECkS THE
BUILDINGS.
Curtis Hotel and Library SaUed by
Shift of Wind -MaHy Persons
Thr0zcn from Bed by Shock.

Ienox Mass. April 11--SlX people lost their
lives three others were badly burned and
property loss Of between S2O0Ho and S}0o'Ho
was caused by a fire in tire heart of the bust
ness section of this town early to-day -Four
business buildings. two dwelling houses and two
other structures We're destroyed in section
bounded by Franklin. Main, Housatonic and
Church streets. The fire is believed To have
started in the Clifford Block from spontaneous
combustion The list OF dead follows
COOK. Miss Isabel. forty years. bookkeeper
FRENCH, Miss Alice. forty-one years bookaeeper
SPARKS Miss Mary, twenty-sx years school tese.Fr'
VENTRES. Edward G.. forty-one years eieeif'lin-
vENTREs Mrs. Edward c. thirry-hye years
vENTREs Mss Leslie. twelve years
The injured included Mrs. Catherine Root anl
her two sons. George Root and Arthur Root. all
burned about the face. hands and neck
Some of the principal losses were
Nabanna Building owned by William Ma
hanna S25 600: r p DUmbardi 4 Co. OF New
York Oriental shop, $4,000; B. NJ Rogers & o.
WiIjiam r. Bun Building $4,000
Clifford Building. $4,000; James CHHord q
Sons hardware, $4,000; Murray A Brown
grocer. $4,000. - oao.
Iobn Cutwood plumber. $4,000. Frank Morrlef'
department store. $4,000; James CASSIDY druS-
gist. $4,000
The other buildings burned included the
houses of Joseph Regner and Mrs Rose Cot
bert a blacksmith shop, an ice stack and some
smaller structures The houses Of Mrs Theo-
dore Cowhig and B. H Rogers both in Nam
street with some adjoining structures were
badly damaged but not totally destroyed
shift of wind from the northwest to the
southwest saved the Public Library and the
fashionable Curtis Hotel In the hotel there
were several Easter parties from New York and
Boston
The loss of life occurred in the Clifford Build
ing where the blaze started and resulted prl-
mariIy from a series Of explosions among the
turpentine paints. oils and dynamite stored IN
the cellar Of the James Clifford & Sons Com
pany. hardware dealers. Lenox has only
small unorganized volunteer fire department
and until aid came from Pittsfeld, Richmond
and Lee the flames spread rapidly
THE FIRE DISCOVERED
The fire was first discovered by George
Root who lived with his mother and brother in
the upper story of the Clifford Block a three
story building, shortly after 1 o'clock this morn
ing. Smoke pouring into his room from partly
covered chimney hole awOke the man, and.
hastily calling his brother and mother. they ran
down the front stairs IN their night clothes,
shouting to the other occupants of the upper
floors as they went They found the freHt door
in flames but the men wrenched it open and
George and his brother Arthur dashed through
with their mother between them. All sustained
bad burns. but made their escape just in time
The Roots had barely crossed the street be-
fore there was terrific explosion in the build
ing behind them This explosion was heard in
the surrounding territory for distance Of six
miles. shattered windows within a wide radius.
and caused the fire alarm to ring In in
stant the Clifford Block was wrapped in flames
Horace PerriH and his wife, other occupants
of the top floor aroused by the shouts OF the
Roots, had got half way down the front stairs
when they saw the flames Ieaping up to bar
their exit. Three women were below them try
ing to get out through the front door. but Per-
rilI saw that the attempt by that time use
less. He then rushed his wife through long
corridor TO the back stairs. where he got out in
safety. All the other occupants of the Clifford
Block lost their lives.
The death of Miss Alice French was one of the
pitifuI tragedies of the morning While the fire
in the Clifford Block at its height woman
was seen To climb out of flame filled room on
TO a veranda on the second story. with her night
clothing and hair abaze- Staggering to the
railing. the woman leaped TO the sidewalk be-
meath. landing in a heap within five six feet
of the blazins walls. Some of the horrihed on
lockers attempted TO rush in To drag her out
but the intense heat drove them back and not
until the flames had practically died out. sew
eral hours later. the body recovered. The
cellar of the building. but they cannot h,
reached until some time tomorrow, when the
fire is finally drowned out by the water that has
been pumped on the ruins all day
EXPLOSION HURLS FROM BEDS.
Within ten minutes of the explosion the flames
were licking up the Eddy Building on the south.
In this structure the people had been almost
hurled out of their beds by the explosion and
they lost no time in making their way to the
street i'm their night clothes. The Temperature
was about ~ above zero. In the cellar of the
clifford Block were several small packages Of
dynamite and barrel ~ turrentine which ex-
ploded.
While none Of the beautiful summer estates
that have made this Berkshire town famous
were threatened. many prominent New York
and Boston people were at the Curtis Hotel.
which was at one time threatened They were
prompt in their work of relief for the unfortu-
mates driven out into the chill air Of the early
morning. When the explosion was heard many
of the hotel party thought that burglars had
dynamited the Lenox National Bank across the
street
The sudden glare and cracllIe of the flames
however. aroused them speedily to the nature Of
the trouble. and they hurried to the scene.
where they at once took in charge the shivering
people who were standing helplessly in their
bare feet watching the destruction of their
property. The fire sufferers were taken to the
hotel where they received warm clothes and
every care.
Plans for the relief of the twelve homeless
families took practical form at the Curtis Hotel
tonight. when a fund was started to which five
subscriptions of $500 each pledged within
r~ts-