Evening journal., 1914-03-09
SEVEN DEAD,
I9 MISSING
AFTER FIRE

way in the large diningroom on the
third floor, which was deserted at that
time.
Scores Of terrified men rushed 70
the windows. calling for help, but they
were forced back into the flame
blistered corridors, cropping biindly
for air and life.
With descent cut Oft on the Fourth
street escapes. many jumped to the
roof of the St. Louis Seed Company
on the west. sustaining injuries.
Others hastily constructed lifeline
Of bed-clothing and twenty escaped in
that manner
The south of the club was stand
ing az $50 o'clock, but Chief Swingley
expected II TO go at any time. Despite
the danger. nineteen firemen con-
tinued to work from the sidewalk on
Washington avenue.
Manager Brown, of the ST. Louis
Federal League Club is all right de-
spite reports that he Is one of the
missing Although Brown lived at
the club. he chanced to spend the
night at the American Hotel.
Forty live Accounted For.
Chief Swingley said forty-iive of the
ninety persons supposed to have been
in the club at the time Of the fire
had been accounted for Twenty-one
Of these were at the St. Regis Hotel.
several at the Planters, four at the
Annex. one at Belchers, and eight at
the city hospital
LtI,.afnos, no1fro hclfnr-o
death list will be increased when the
ruins of the building have cooled suf-
iicicntly to admit of a search for
bodies
The fire is believed to have started
in the main dining room or the kitch-
en- of the club. which is on the third
floor Early reports we're to the cf-
feet that there were two explosions
preceding the fire The police and
firemen say this is incorrect. What
was taken for explosions, are believ-
ed to have been falling walls or
elevator cages dropping to the base
ment
The first report that Rickey was
killed when he jumped from his room
on the sixth floor was denied by
firemen. who say they found his body
In his room. He apparently suffo-
Gated and then burned to death be-
fore he could get into a corridor.
Kessler and Riley. the police
claim, both had rooms on the fifth
floor, and both were killed when
they leaped TO the pavement. Riley's
body and those of Kessler and Rick
ey were Identified b. II. David son,
doorman of the club. at the morgue.
Fire Chief Swingley said that the
damage by fire and water in the CLUB
would not be less than S250,000
Il was standing at the desk, be-
tween 100 and lao. when I got the
first alarm Of fire. said Night Clerk
Reisenger.
"A member Of the club and lady
were in the foyer of the club waiting
for a taxicab. The taxi was icng in
coming, and the man went outside TO
see if it was approaching
"lhe lady appeared nervous and
walked to the window and looked
out / heard her say: Oh, look at
that big fire across the streets
IT went TO the window and saw
what she supposed was fire was q
reflection of flames on this side Of
the street. in the windows of the
Kennard Carpet Company. ] went
out into the street and saw the fire
was in the club.
"As soon as ! could get back into
the club, | notified about twelve men
who were in the club cafe. They all
got out safely. Then | thought about
the people In the Turkish baths in
the basement and those sleeping up
stairs
81 told Rowe. the telephone boy. to
begin to call the rooms and then
rushed down to the basement and
notified everybody there. I think
there were about eight persons in
the bath beside the attendants. They
all got out.
"When | got back upstairs, began
to help Rowe call on the telephone.
We called until the phones would not
ring. I suppose they had burned out.
BY that time, the fire had gained
great headway ] started to the up
per floors to see if could aid any
one IN getting out, and got as far as
the third floor when | was compelled
to 20 back
"Firemen had arrived by that time
Pretty soon the elevators dropped
and some of the firemen began to tell
Rowe and TO get out When the
elevators dropped, the flames came
shooting down the shaft.
"I grabbed the club register and
started toward the front door. The
smoke had become so dense by that
time that I couldn't see we'll, and
bumped into some -one--1 think il was
freman-and the register dropped
to the floor
Although | spent some time try
ing to recover the book ] was not
successful. 7 think there were be-
tween 25 and 75 men IN the hotel
when the fire broke out ] do not
know how many OF them got out"
Although Hickey. one of those
killed. had made his home in Chi
cago. he registered from st. Paul be-
cause he was on the eve OF moving
there. All his household goods were
packed and his wife was in Chicago
awaiting his return from st. Louis.