Evening star., 1909-04-14
Guests of KeniIWorth Inn Have
Only Time to Escape.
RUSH OUT HALF DRESSED
Some Venture Back to Get Their
Trunks.
BY GREAT DARING
Flames Break Out in q Well Known
Resort Near Asheville, N. c.,
Early This Morning.

ASHEvILLE, N. c.. April 14.-Roused
from their slumbers after o'clock this
morning by an alarm Of fire, seventy five
guests Of the Kenilworth Inn. three miles
from this city, barely. had time to don
some scanty articles of clothing and
make their escape from the burning build
ing. The hotel was completely destroyed.
The loss is estimated at over 100000.
while the insurance is placed at $4,000.
Ex-State Senator Gazzam of Pennsyl-
vania, the owner. is suffering from con-
cussion Of the spine and broken ankle,
and physicians fear there Is q fracture
at the base Of the skull. in which event
little hope would be entertained Of his
recovery. At noon today all the guests
had been accounted for.
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 quickly famed to
the other end of the frame structure,
where the majority Of the guests were
asleep.
Before the fire had been first discov-
cred by two negro boys. who were re-
turning from Biltmore. the Vanderbilt
place, which Is but a short distance from
the inn, it had gained good headway. and
was even then beyond human control.
Mrs. A. B. Martin, the lessee, gave first
thought to the safety Of the guests when
she was awakened. and in a short time
the alarm had been given in every occu-
pied room In the doomed building.
Wild Rush to Escape.
There was g. wild scramble for the
exits, but there was nothing bordering
on. q panic among either men, women
or children, In spite of the great con-
fusion at the time. Half an hour later,
when 1t was believed that all were out,
the roll was called and every person was
accounted for, except a Mrs. Terrell,
whose address was not ascertained. II
was motley array, however, some OF
the women appearing In ball gowns and
others in even more scanty raiment and
in varying degrees OF neglige Many of
the men wore nothing but their under
clothing covered by their overcoats. AL
most every describable manner of dress
was represented.
Many persons after conquering the first
thought OF self-preservation that had led
to instant and precipitate flight ventured
back into the smoke-fllled halls and into
their rooms to rescue their trunks and
other personal effects which they had
abandoned. Some brought forth rocking
chairs. washstands and every manner of
articles, which soon Uttered the lawns.
AS the fire kept raging. famed by the
rapidly increasing wind, the heat became
so intense that all hope of saving posses
Several persons who had entered the
hotel. not realizing that the fire had
reached the south wing, were almost
caught. Shouts OF friends from the out
side were answered by yells for help. and
heroic efforts of several guests and police
men alone saved the venturesome ones
from being cut off from every avenue OF
escape.
Owner Jumps From Third Floor.
Several firemen received painful burns.
Elk Senator Gazzam Of Philadelphia.
story while the firemen were breaking
open the door of his room. In the de-
scent he barely escaped striking against
the stone arch at the front of the build
ing. He received numerous painful in
juries, and was removed to Biltmore Hos
pital. A negro porter was badly hurt by
falling from the third floor, the fall being
broken, however. by his catching project
ing windows and landing on a roof below
them.
Firemen Arrive Too Late.
The Asheville fire department rushed
out to the scene, but the hotel was
doomed before the engines had started
from the city, three miles away. Its ef-
forts were needed, however, to save ad-
joining residences, as the wind was scat
tering sparks to their roofs. The fire.
men were successful in preventing the
flames from spreading.
The scantily clad guests were taken In
at the Battery Park Hotel and nearby
residences and cared for for the remain
der of the night.
The Kenilworth Hotel was owned by
ex-senator Gazzam Of Philadelphia, and
was built about fourteen years ago by the
Kenilworth Inn Company at a cost Of
$4,000 George w. Vanderbilt Is be-
iieved to have been the heaviest stock
holder in the company. which was COM
About six years ago Senator Gazzam
purchased the property and has leased 1t
several times. 1t was patronized by
northern tourists during the winter, and
was a favorite meeting place for SOUTH
ern. conventions during the summer. The
Young Peoples missionary movement, the
Southern Christian Endeavor Society and
the Southern Students conference had
been booked there for the coming sum-