Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-11-26
A $4,000 Blaze:
Landmark at Winthrop,
Mass, Destroyed byFire.
Thrilling Escape Of Guests
Two Fatally Injured.
Fire Threatens Entire Shore Drive.-
Ke!p from Boston.

Boston. Nov 25-In wild scramble
to ESCAPE from the flames which de-
stroyed Youngs hotel at Winthrop
early this morning, mother and her
son leaped from the windows and were
50 frigEtfully injured that probably
neither can recover. The remaining
guests, escaping amid scenes Of fren-
~. We're uniniured, though there were
numerous thrilling escapes. The hostel
~ was burned to the ground together
with the garage in the rear and two
adjoining cottages, known as the ldle
Hour and the Commonwealth The to-
tai loss will probably be considerably
i'll excess of $4,000.
The injured are Mrs. JOHN G. Beggs
and her son, John G. Beggs. Jr., aged
Ii years. of Springfield. They We're
asleep on the second floor of the build
ing when the fire broke out at a. NJ.
Hastily dressing themselves with such
articles of clothing as they could find
within reach, they rushed out into the
hallway and started to make their way
down the stairs. Then suddenly they
turned back with the evident purpose
of recovering something from their
Railways We're filling up with smoke
and thinking that escape was impos-
sible save through the windows they
again retraced their steps, and. fran
tic with terror, jumped to the sidewalk
below.
Both We're unconscious when picked
up. They were Immediately taken to
the Metcalf hospital, where it was
found that their injuries would proba-
bly, prove fatal. The boy landed on his
head and sustained a fractured skull.
The hospital physicians stated that his
death was a matter of few hours.
Mrs. Beggs had both her thighs .brok-
en-. her right knee pan splintered and
her left foot dislocated.
The fire was the most obstinate with
which the Winthrop department has
had to deal ir years. Aid was sent from
Boston and Revere and not until A.
NJ. was the blaze under control For
time the entire Shore Drive, on which
the hotel was located and which is
lined with cottages, was threatened.
Only the persistent work of the fire.
men prevented heavier damage.
The blaze started in linen closet
over the furnace. The Waterman was
aroused by the crying of little Tommy
Hearn on an upper floor and he awoke
to find the building in flames. 1t was
this circumstances which enabled him
to early sound the alarm and thus in
all probability save the 'hves Of most
OF the guests. of whom there were 3d.
Soon after the fire was discovered
the structure was a mass of flames
and from the outset it was apparent
that it would DC complete loss. The
fremen then directed their attention
towards saving the adjacent buildings.
The guests engaged in mad rush
for safely. Some jumped frantically
from the windows; others fled pell nell
through the Railways and down the
stairs. Mrs. John Slate knotted two
sheets together and fastening them to
a bureau, SID to the ground. Mrs.
James Hearn, her son. Thomas, and
Richard Tobin. plunged from the pi-
azza and escaped unhurt.
The hotel. which has been q land
mark for over Is years, was owned by
Mrs. Elizabeth Young, widow of the
former proprietor. 1t was four stories
in height and of frame construction,
being patronized principally as re-
sort. The connagration was a spectac-
ular one. the flames lighting up the
country for miles around.