The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1914-01-10
FIRE ROUTS OUT
HOTEL GUESTS
EARLY MORNING BLAZE AT HOTEL
MOSCOW STARTS NEAR PANIC
AMONG THE GUESTS.
Serious Damage Ayerted by Prompt
Work of Fire Department
Started in Kitchen.

There was a near panic among the
ing when an alarm of fire was sound
ed at about 6:30 and there was a gen
eral scramble among the guests and
employees of the popular hotel to get
out when they were aroused from their
deep slumbers. Though there was con-
siderable damage from smoke and wa
ter and there were several thrilling
escapes from the hotel, there were no
serious injuries and the damage to the
furnishings and building was held
down because the flames had not suf-
ficient time to make great headway.
McCusker Gave Alarm.
AS the cook and one of the wait
resses arrived at work shortly after
o'clock they noticed smoke pour
ing through the hallway. Manager j.
W. McCusker was awakened and gave
the alarm at once by turning on the
house fire gongs. Mrs. McCusker, clad |
only in neglie attire at once went to |
each of the guest rooms to warn |
guests of the danger and within a few |
moments the halls of the second and |
third floors were crowded with shiver-
ing and excited persons.
In the meantime the smoke became
dense and several of the more excited
made for the fire escapes, many not
to gather their belongings or
to properly attire themselves. 1t is
a man jumped from one of
he fire escapes on the second floor but
was uninjured. Within a few mo-
nents the fire department arrived and
the hose to the upper foo s
looded the portion where the fire ,
seemed to be located. Two of the fire T
nen became overcome from the smoke $
md were removed while one of the {
quests also suffered from smoke. Be ,
ore their names had been learned s
hey had recovered t
Starts in Kitchen.
The cause of the fire has not yet
cen fully determined. The belief ex-
SITS that the flames started from the
ear of the kitchen stove, the firebox
f which was flush with one of the
ig uprights. The fire spread between =
le walls and when the department ar %
wed flicker of flame was seen COM
lg from the floor in the back hall
bove the kitchen. The view was ex-
ressed that the fire might have start
from crossed wires, however, Man
ger McCusker is now making a COM
etc investigation.
Smoke and Water Damage.
This afternoon Mr. McCusker could re
1t estimate the damage to the fur W
shings of the hotel but it is esti- II
ated to be in the neighborhood of ai
900 to $4,000 The woodwork above ~
e kitchen was badly charred and the ai
'or torn up by the fire department W
lped increase the loss to the build W.
g. The kitchen was badly disor- VI
nized and a number of the rear vi
est rooms on the second floor was
dly saturated with water. Smoke ph
used considerable damage all ~
rough the hotel, especially among I'LL
> fine draperies and linens. 1t is ul'
derstood the loss is fully covered
insurance. The building is owned nS
R. N. Renshaw of Monrovia, Cal Ia
4 is covered by insurance sn'
by
Business Uninterrupted. M,
ar. and Mrs. McCusker only recent hei
purchased the hotel and have been He
Dying splendid business They of
ye the sympathy of the community at
their misfortune. Because of the lhul
the dining room was closed today tes
will be opened tomorrow. There ing
| be no interruption in taking care abe
guests at the hotel. leg