Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1920-02-27
BEVERLY HOTEL IN STAUNTON
PARTIALLY DESTROYED

On last Tuesday morning about
A. M the Beverly Hotel in Stauntor
was partially burned. There were Sc
guests in the hotel at the time, all Of
whom escaped, eleven being more or
less seriously injured. The loss was
estimated at SIS, 900 covered by IN.
sur ance. Cause OF fire unknown.
The Harrisonburg News Record says:
clarence B. Irwin, known as
"Brownie" native of Woodstock.
Is credited with the most spectacular
rescue made during the fire. Mr..
and Mrs. Louis G Davidson, who
formerly ran the Augusta Hotel, were
trapped by the flames on the third
floor. Mr.. Davidson finally made his
way down, reaching the door in an
exhausted condition He had lost
Mrs. Davidson in the smoke and
darkness. "Brownie'' Irwin, who
was day clerk at the Beverley, hear
ing this, made his way to the scond
iAooi StuAAoiOo oSOI VIC OOuy vi d.
woman in the hallway, found it was
Mrs. Davidson, and carried her to a
window, from which she was taken
to the ground by means OF ladder.
She was unconscious when found and
is one OF the most seriously injured
Another OF the seriously injured is
Edward Alexander, we'll known
horseman, who has often visited the
Harrisonburg market"
The Staunton Evening Leader Tues
day carried the following story Of
the fire:
"Seven persons are in the Kings
Daughters Hospital, several of them
In serious condition as the result of
the early morning fire which pract-
cally wrecked the interior of the
Beverly Hotel. They are:
"Mr. and Mrs. Louis G. Davidson,
Leon c. Ware, manager; Edward
Alexander, all Of this city, and
Daniel Raphael, salesman from
New York: Beard Wakeman, cattle
man from Shelbyville, KY, and Cecil
Burns, of Owensboro, KY, sales
man"
Mr.. Alger Haun, Of Woodstock,
young man, who had served with the
U. S. Army in France, gives an in
teresting account of his experience.
When he was awakened by q choking
sensation, caused by the smoke in the
room, his first impression was that
he was in battle and had been
gassed. For a few minutes he was
unnerved, but coming to
be determined to make an
3 fort to escape. He was in a room,
On the fourth floor-au inner room
whose window opened on side, on
which was sky light many feet be-
low.
Three guests had gotten together.
One Of them determined to jump to the
skylight, and did so. in spite of the
protests OF his companions This
vas, it is thought, Mr.. Beard Wake
nan, d cattleman Of Shelbyville, ~
lie was considera bly, bruised as a re
'ult of dropping through the skylight |
o room below.
They we're cut of from the fire es-
ape, by fire and smoke. Placing |
vet towels and haudkerchiefs over
heir face they crossed the hall, dense |
With smoke, and broke into a room |
occupied by young lady, who at
'nce screamed "murder". She was
assured that it was not murder, but |
ire which threatened her. She was
ordered Out OF bed at once. She in !
listed upon dressing, but was in |
ormed that there was no time for such |
o"malities: bath robe was thrown
lround her and she was carried to the
window. A rope of bed clothing was
hastily made and lowered to lad
Ter, which was not long enough to
each the window. The ladder was
hen drawn up to the window and the
ady was told TO cling to 1t, and the
adder was let down until 1t came
Within reach OF the tiremen standing
IN the balcony. The lady having
ost the bath robe was quickly taken
o the Virginia hotel.
The ladder was again drawn up
and Mr.. Haun's companion, being
ma Her, was let down the same way
The rope was then loosened from the
adder and one end tied to the bed
which was drawn to the window Mrs
b aun descended until his feet touched
he top of the ladder, and with his
lands against the side of the house,
he was lowered to the balcony by the
iremer. Mr.. Haun escaped attired in
mis- "B V. DIS" and wet overcoat.
He lost his clothes
He returned to his home Tuesday
afternoon.
Stanton, Va, Feb Is With the
death here late today of Edward
Alexander, of Stanton, two fatalities
have resulted from the fire which ear.
ly Tuesday morning partially destroy
ed the Beverly Hotel. The other VIC
tim was Mrs. Louis C Dawson, of
who succumbed this morn
ing. Five other men, who were badly
injured, were reported tonight at local
hospitals to be recovering.
Annual Reception NJ. M. A.
The Massanutten Military Academy