Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-02-08

There was The rush of many feet
seeking possible escape from the
doomed hotel. Then screams and
NelIs and aondish cries muftlcd and
choked TO nothinsncss-dcath calls.
-. Hang by window Lodges.
Windows were opened. and men
and women guests, shr!eking appeals
for succor, appeared snhcuSettcd
against tn. dull, leap!ng glow OF red
as, tongues OF flames licked greediiy
for their prey. Some Jumped, frauEhi
with fear. Others hung by their iin-
gers on the window lodges until the
flames or exhaustion caused tt:m 10
drop scores OF feet onto the walks
and streets below.
FIremcm. marines and spectators
hurried to their aid. Burned, broken
and bruised the victims were
dragged and carried to safety Am
buianceS were summoned. Physicians
came. The more seriously hurt had
Their injuries dressed Immediately
and were removed.
Still the rav!shing work OF the
flames resumed. Fire fighters ran up
ladders, leapcd into snoke-;illed
chambers and emerged with persons
inscnsihlc in their arms, sliding down
10 the street and safety. Others,
seemingly cut off from escape. dung
out their bedding and then cndeav-
o.cd to jImp on {, in the street be-
low. some succeeded. hut paid the
penalty with crushed bodies and
broken limbs. Some calmly awaited
the arrival Of the extension ladders
in their move from window to win
dow. Others less fearful leaped into
Iremcn. who realized they must ana
would hold.
I'ircmcn Are Determined.
One man leaped. his body :@rnoi
over in the air and he broke his neck
~ hc crashed into the net. Slckened,
lcrrincd and awcd. the fire lighters
stood by. unnervcd. but mistaken In
,Hc'r determination 10 save each life
possible. They wagercd death under
FALLING wreckagc from tho Quilted
hotel. as walls cracked thrcatening!y
from the tremendous volcano OF Name
:ad gases. They took chances UNI
leiievable In their careers and past
experiences They s;akcd all TO win
!: life from the fire monster and grad
ualiy, SLOWLY. but increasingly. they
,on--on and on into the waning
darkness.
Others trapped by the flames hastily
;gaproyised ropes of sheets and olan-
bets, sliding. swinging, tumb!ing 10
escape The death reaching for Them.
S=veral claubered OF: The windows
{ nd slid TO safety on rain pipes and
JiI@s protecting wiring. May ieaped
:-or their rooms 20 the roo. OF the
sayse W. saunders printing plant.
rae. q w0ra. - :ea-s old. who
{ scapsd with bruises. Three men
sp-axle3 cut or The sane .oot with
ankles ard limbs broken. wr.,5.us
screaming i --sa, raa. and -5s 1.oa ny
- c5H.scI-riaE tsa!r b-!ef az 5=-.s..ce
- ta= t.-.-sw.c: building
ROOF Fall. In VITA Roar.
Then c2r.a -sadirs. tearing -oa--
!Ag crash and me zoo. had tsllsr. 4
pr%z, onlow Of aame, smoke ed
sparks iea.ta ~ into ,he heavens il
spreading their message az disay;a.
10 those who viewed inc great -anopy
Of fire gov. walls rlmbled. ,urnbIed
"nE Ilrt!ed - tho stree;. and walks
and great SIMPLIFYING. rta-. wen, up
into IL nichJ as the great mass Of
masonry dissolved ana disin,.-
grated. smashing everything from lis
i-y.shius pain.
Hundreds Of people reused from
their sllmae'- hy tho Changing oiat.
is' Of FIRE apparatus as I, tore reck
ieSs'y % the scene appeared as by
magic. dressed and rushed TO the holo-
-rars; and then were awed at the ap
laillns' helpless. uncOmbatable task
NJ Mrcmyn faced
:. Like a villa wave o. see,hipr
IHoW.Ug terror. the flames ,uyh,l IN
ana NJ through the building. en-.
ing an destroying everything -.
li% h"thi'E but its wake O.: dean .,r,l
iAl". Great volumes Of Ham. ann
PARKS Dslehed from tn" roof and
ita't o: ih~ hct"! concealed in rrs.
M.ndous hiilcws Of san,
Just rs dawn stole sy.!!tlv acro.s
"" skies biotitnr out tho MIN, O.
terror and doath. the fire in I'M, No.,
was brought under control and ,bo
lncn Who ya!ianIy mad fn,t,,
throuEhout The night with utmost .,,.
'is! directed thci- attention 10 n.g,a,
OF 'ne Nv. buildings which na,ncs
hnh" Says Twrnty-Tive Demo
battalion Chief JACK Rsffn ~ ~,
eastern district, declared {, HIS orir.
!"h iast night that At icas, twan,,..
i've persons wer. trapped I'm ,h.. ,,,i,
an" We're burned 10 death Ia q. B.,
ne believed most Of the missing me-
H.Neh dead. would be FOUND II, n,
"l''y between Main ana cary strc..,,
"i' E!sEchih street. This ..riinr -
ne wfeckagc would DC removed ,o
day, he said. -
Al z:34 O'Clock the frs. n!ar,,, ..
Pulled from box 35. "a, Tnirtocn.b a",
caEy Stre"ts. il is assumed NV -,
"fhcia!s that the hlaze was frs, AZ
covered by some one in Carv CO..
emphasizing box at Twclf,h M,
Main streets was intact.
second alarm four minutcs LAT.
brought Chief Joynes ana Assis,ar
ohiet Jones. Then a general nlnrr
vas Immediately sent. ordering a,
except reserve companies 10 ~
scene. Two additional calls al 2 .
ana "'.i o'clock were made on ~
reserve apparatus. summoniug al
but three obsolete engine and 90"
truck companies In the civ "a ~
tire. :"
Coffee for Firc-FJghtcrS.
a. TheliD. OF 1910 East Main Stro.
hho The Volunteers OF America. IL
t.