Great Falls tribune., 1922-04-24

There was some confusion and ex-
citement as hotel attaches, policemen
and firemen pounded on doors and the
telephone operator on duty called room
after room, but all those in the hotel
got out of their apartments to the
corridors and lobbies in safety.
Blame Cigar Butt
How the fire started may never be
determined. but one theory is that a
cigarette or cigar stump cast aside at
the close of the Gridiron dinner found
a lodging place beneath a rug or in a
fold of heavy drapery. It was 5:45
O'Clock when passing policeman
noticed smoke coming from the tenth
floor windows.
Several fire companies were on the
scene in a few minutes. The clatter
of their gongs woke Vice President
Coolidge who, upon going to win
dow, saw the apparatus drawing up
across the street. He called Mrs.
Coolidge. remarked that there was
fire in the neighborhood and suggested
that they go out and see it. While
they were dressing they learned that
the fire was in the hotel.
Leaving their apartment on the third
floor they descended to the lobby and
Mrs. Coolidge was sent to the home
of the vice presidents secretary. Ed
ward T. Clark.
Mr.. Coolidge remained at the hotel.
where he was again joined in the after
noon by Mrs. Coolidge He was the
second successive vice president of the
United States to have an experience in
fire at the New Willard. blaze
having routed the vice president and
l~x- -
four years ago.
Brigadier General c. F. Sawyer.
personal physician to President Hard
by hotel attendants aud later found
shelter at the White House.
Prominent Guests
Other prominent guests in the hotel
included General Charles G. Dawes.
director Of the budget: General I. Cole
man Dupont. senator from Delaware,
Senators McNary. Oregon, and Raw
son. Iowa: Representatives Hustled and
Snyder, of New York: c. c. McChord.
chairman of the interstate commerce
commission: John T. Adams, of Iowa.
chairman of the republican national
committee: Mrs. George Maynard
Miner, president general of the Daugh-
ters of American Revolution. John
Phillip Sousa. Olga Petrova, Adolph
Zukor. Judge Robert W. Bingham. pub
Usher of the Louisville. Ky. Courier
Louisville. Ky. Times: Harry Chand-
Ter. publisher of the Los Angeles
Times: Edward A. Dickson. publisher
of the Los Angeles Express.
As these and other guests made
hasty toilets. firemen from companies
that had been summoned from many
parts of the city invaded the hotel by
the scores to begin their four hours
battle with the flames. Meantime. hotel
hurried from room to room
aiding in the removal of trunks and
other luggage.
Some of the women came down with
arms laden with silk lingerie which they
dumped into chairs in the celebrated
Peacock alley" and the adjacent blue
room,' where they set up and packed
their wardrobe trunks. Nearly all the
guests. men and women alike, carried
their most priced possessions with
them. One man arrived IN the ALLEY
the neck Of large bottle of
.olor and shape well known in the pre-
Volstead days. In the case of one
guest. poodle dog peepcd out
from the folds of a cape.
Invading the mezzanine, the water
seeped through crevices and trickled
down the sides of the huge onyx col
INNS in the main lobby. The main din
ng room remained dry, however, and
Is the firemen battled nine stories
above. scores of guests sat at break
'ast. laughing and chatting as though
lothina unusual had happened.
While unofficial estimates Of the
lamage by fire and water ranged from
100000 to 100000. Frank J. Hight.
managing director Of the hotel, said
he loss could not be determined at
present.
The New Willard was built in 1901
N the site of the famous Wizards
where from before civil war days many
{ the nations prominent people had
cen entertained.