Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1920-03-13

flames through tho hotel that in n
NIUE over to hours there was moth
ing Lett but ruins Tho Chamberln
Was valued at s2,G0o,O00, and there
was $4,000 insurance.
VI tho 200 guests and ITO employ
ees IN the hotel Mt tho timo. several
Persons al yet unidentified, are mis
sing but 1t Is not beloved they lost
their lives. The confusion made 1t
lmposs. bio to. check tho lists com
pletely tonight
CROWDS CHEER REsCUbas,
During the excitement several
Womon guests nut themselves III per
Ill In Efforts to return to their rooms
and save belongings, jewels, etc. Sow
eral OF these were rescued by fire.
men who. chcered by tho onlooliers,
took them down tho fire escapes
when they were cut cff from tho halls
BY flame and smoke
Inc most sensational escape was
that of Miss Jordan slid to be from
Ponnsylyania and woman friend,
who rushed back to their rooms to
recover some vaiuables, after they
mad been carried to safety by firemen
and soldiers. Miss Jordan's compan-
Ion said she had left $4,000 In her
room.
Disregarding the advice of firemcn
ana friends tho two women rushed
up the stairway 10 tbo!r rooms, only
70 INA themselves cot Off by the
flames. They finally n..ac their way
to third floor Wiul rltd called
Tor help. Sevon fire responded
and scrambled up lnr ape ana
along the blazing co = which
they carried The wo, roty. nro
tocted by tho stream. ,. witr diruc,
Cd by firemen below.
MANY FIREMEN CALLED.
Fire companies came from Camu
Eustis, twenty-five miles away; LAM
lev Field, Newport News, namptoa
ana other towns and a revenue Gu,
Ter. SUPP orted by fleet or Lugboats
equipped with fro apparatus, assist
cd In lighting the flames.
In addition to tho Chamberlm there
were destroyed the largo general
sfore owned by J. Is. Kimberley, ad.
1accnt and the Office of tho Adams
Express Company.
boats FOR Baltimore and New York
and other points, which were TO have
called at Old Point Comfort this eve
ming did not dock, but continued on
the1r way lighted by the glare from
tho burning OF tho famous pile.
IL Whs impossible tonight to asco.
tain certainly whether there was
loss or life, reports of which came
from two f1remen active In the earl,
pattie TO save the structure.
DECLARES HE HEARD SCREAMS
one OF these Men stated that wher
re directed stream of water into
an upper window be heard q scream
from within.
Another declared he saw for a mo-
ment an elderly man accompanied by
an elderly woman appear at window
~hlch was almost instantly obscured
by smoke, and that he did not SEQ
them come out Of the hotel.
In the confusion Of the sudden
alarm, the hotel register either was
forgotten and burned or was locked
In the hotel safe.
Army officers and the hotel manage
mont declared SO far as they had been
able to learn there was no loss Of life.
FORTUNE IN GEMS REPORTED
LOST.
The total loss. including tho hotel
and otfor buildings burned and tho
personal property Of guests is rough
ly estimated at between $4,000, 900
ana $4,000, 900. One very wealthy wo
man Mrs. Schwirnitz, is rumored to
have suffered the loss Of 100000 in
diamonds
Among tho prominent guests who
wero registered at the hotel were:
Majdr-General George 0. Squircs,
chief OF the United states Army Sig
nal Corps; Mr.. and Mrs. Schwirntiz
or New York; General and Mrs Patter
son Of Albany; Oliver s. Bond Of De
troit; Mrs. Clarence Kenyon Of New
York.
The Chamberlin was the fayorite
resort Of many Richmond people who
nave been wont to ..nrG their week
ends at Old Point. Among Richmond
ers understood to ~, hctn register
ed at the Chambnrli' en- it burn
cd tonight were r rwood OF
Harwood Brothers Irs Har-
wood. Others frol ord who
registered at the ..Dc ~ during
the past week were NJ Mrs. S.
w 'ratt, Arthur i. T.. Hiss Jose
phine StZer and B. G.. w..
ARMY IN CHARGE OF FIRE LINES
At the outbreak Of the fire the