New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-10
LONDON HOTEL BURNS:
AMERICAN ACTOR DEAD
The Carlton, Favorite Resort Of
New Workers Abroad, Parti-
ally Destroyed.
ONE CHARREO BODY FOUND
Victim Is Jameson Lee Finney, a
Noted Player. r. Keene
Walks Coolly from Building
to Another Hostlery.


London, Aug 9.-Jameson Lee Fin
ney. an American actor. perished to-
night in a fire which destroyed two
flcors Of the Carlton Hotel. where he
was staying
The body was found in the bathroom
adjoining Mr.. Finney's room. on the
fifth floor Of the annex The face was
so badly charred that the features We're
unrecognizable. Apparently Mr. Finney
had gone into the bathroom to battle be-
fore dressing. and was asphyxiated
Tn. body was removed to the morgue
later in the evening
This death was the only one resulting
from the fire which, however. was at
tended by exciting scenes and consider
able loss TO the building through fire
and water. large number Of Ameri-
can guests escaped from the hotel with
but a few moments 10 spare.
The Carlton is one Of London's most
fashionable resorts. and many Ameri-
cans are among its guests. OF the two
hundred persons staying at the hotel
when the fire broke out many were
from the United States, and while all of
them had narrow escapes none, except
Finney. suffered any injury.
Water Damage Great.
The fire burned for two and half
hours. but was confined mainly TO that
end Of the hotel adjoining His Majestys
Theatre and the fifth and sixth floors.
the interior Of which was gutted. Part
of the roof also was destroyed. \ large
body of firemen. with hose and axes,
worked strenuously on the roofs Of the
hotel and theatre, and only by the hard
est effort saved both buildings from
destruction.
Lines of hose were dragged up all the
stairwavs, and many tons Of water from
them and the other lines on the ladders
were poured into the upper rooms Of the
hotel. and the damage from water is
greater than that done by the fire. lost
Of the interior Of the building was
thoroughly soaked. Three firemen were
overcome by heat and smoke and taken
to hospitals. The manager says the hotel
is not badly damaged and that business
will be resumed Immediately.
The. alarm was sounded at { o'clock
this evening. while most Of the guests
were dressing for dinner. The blaze
started in the elevator shaft from the
fusng Of an electric wire. and roared
so threateningly that the people poured
out into the streets leaving all their
baggage behind them. Men in their
underclothing, with overcoats over them
and women. half dressed. their hair
hanging down their backs. fed from the
building.
Rescued Several Servants.
The fremen arrived quickly and ran
up their ladders and rescued several
servants who, from the upper windows.
were shrieking to the excited crowds be-
low for help. They also carried out two
invalid guests. wrapped in blankets. The
general alarm sent out said The Carl
ton Hotel is we'll slight and lives are
supposed 10 be in danger This
brought out a great force Of engines and
hook and ladder companies from all the
stations within radius Of three miles
OF the hotel.
The upper floor. where most OF the
damage by fire was done. was given over
chiefly 10 servants quarters. Compare
lively few Of the guests lost their bag
gage. The salvage corps removed
trunks and bags from the hotel and
piled them in the streets. Thousands Of
persons afoot and in motor cars filed
the adjoining streets and watched the
flames as they burst through the upper
windows OF the building. The Haymar-
ket. across the street from the hotel,
was compelled to cancel its perform
ance on account Of the fire. His Maj
estys Theatre is closed.
A large number Of Americans who
had been staying at the Carlton sailed
for home on the Olympic to-day, but in
coming steamers brought new guests.
and a majority Of the two hundred in
the hotel were Americans. After the
warmest day in London in some years
most Of the guests had returned 10 the
hotel after a round Of sightseeing to
dress for dinner.
New Yorker Tells Experience.
4 l.. Pratt. Of New York. with his
wife occupied a room on the top floor.
After the fire Mr.. Pratt said:
'I was looking out Of the window and
saw a crowd in the street and reck-
nned there must be a fire somewhere.
Suddenly. columns of smoke burst into
nv room. and the alarm began 10 ring.
sharks were falling about. l was dress
ing for dinner and grabbed my coat and
hurried Mrs. Pratt into the street. We
saved nothing.
Mrs G. Shippy and son, and Miss Jes-
sic Gardiner, Of Chicago, had just ar
,i,.ed in the hotel from oxford. They
were removing the dust Of travel from
their clothing when cry OF FIRE rahs
through the corridors. They had just
time 10 leave their rooms in the scanu-
oct attire and lost all their luggage
which the porters only a moment before
had deuosited in their rooms. Like 9TH
crs Of the guests. they were sent OF in
.,abs 10 other hotels belonging TO the
same company that owns the Carlton.
lanes T.. Keene the well ..nown New
York hnancier and horseman. was one
f. fine coolest victims Of the fire. He
was sitting in his room when the alarm
rang and calmly walked downstairs