New-York tribune., 1921-01-30
Rodies of Victims Found
on Third and Fifth
Floors of Palace House;
Many Trapped in Rooms
Seven Unconscious
From Smoke Saved
Blaze Starts in Linen
Room and Spreads Fast
Through Upper Floors

Ten persons were burned to death
and seven others overcome by smoke
IN fire which broke out shortly be-
fore midnight last night in the
Colonial Palace Hotel, 80 Newark
Street, Hoboken.
The bodies of the dead persons
we're found on the third and fifth
floors. Two Of the bodies found on
the fifth floor we're those of women.
More than thirty guests, in flimsy
attire, were saved by the quick work
of firemen. They reached the streets
BY fire escapes and ladders.
Seven in Hospitals
The seven persons overcome by
smoke were taken from the building
just in time Several Of them were
said to be in serious condition. They
were rushed to st. Mary's Hospital
in ambulances and automobiles COM
mandeered by the hremen and police.
The Colonial Palace is a fve-story
brick structure. 1t is a family hotel
and all of its rooms were occupied last
night The hotel is two blocks from
fire headquarters and two doors from
the First National Bank.
The blaze started in the linen room.
Smoke oozing from crack in the door
of this room, which is located on the
second floor, attracted the attention
Of an employee Of the house. He i'm
mediately notified the clerk on duty at
the desk and cries of Fire! Fire!"
sang through the house.
Guests in a Panic
Guests of the hotel were thrown
into panic. Smoke and fame billowed
upward through the building and
guests found it impossible to descend
by means of stairways. Men and wom-
en-, clad in night dress, rushed to fire.
escapes and began climbing down.
So rapidly did the flames spread
, through the building those who per-
ished in the blaze found themselves
trapped in their rooms, with banners
OF fame shooting in from all sides.
When the members of the Hoboken
Fire Department reached the scene the
building was freswept. The fremen
ascended the fire escapes and assisted
In the work of rescuing those who had
managed to reach windows
In an hour the firemen had the blaze
under control and at ! o'clock the
irst Of the bodies was found on the
nth floor. Two other bodies were
found on this floor a few minutes
later.
Priest With Rescuers
Descending TO the third floor the
nrenep went from room to room, find
ing seven bodies in very short time.
Several Of the victims were still alive
"nsn the fremen reached them. The
aey. Father Edward Kelly, chaplain
Of the Hc5oken Fire Department, ac-
eompanied the fremen as they searched
ihe smoke-fiied corridors and ad-
ninistered last rites of the Church to
several persons.
The positions in which some of the
Dooies were found indicated that the
victims, upon realizing that they we're
trapped, had tried in vain to reach
,ssiety. Several OF them we're found
.saaing against the doors Of their
rooms as Ii they were in the act Of
naking an exit.
unti 2 o'clock this morning none of
sas victims had been Identified. The
saesss @no had beer rescued said the
ase spread GO rapidly that they were
Aos aware that the hotel was burning
saHi the Aames had made substantial
The upper floors OF the building we re
r1ihed by the blaze Parts Of stair
I "sys cruTnoied and partitions collapsed
Tire rescued guests were give
saeiter In nearby residences. It was
go that the effects Of all occupants
rooms On the upper hoors were de-
i. Charles Van Brook is proprietor Of