The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-12-11
BURNED TO DEATH,
DROWNED BY leap
into ICY WATERS
Police Believe Death Toll Will
Be Heavier When Complete
Check Is Made
At LEAST 80 INJURED
Lansing Hotel Was Hsadquar-
tiers for Legislators in
Special Session
At LEAST 30 INJURED

Lansing, Mich, Dec. ll.-(R-
emouldering ruins Of the Kerns ho-
tel and the Icy waters Of the Grand
river Tuesday hid the fate Of m
undetermined number Of guests, Is
police announced that only half Of
the approximately 100 persons lodged
there when fire broke out early Tues
day morning had been accounted for.
Chief Of Police Alfred Seymour
said that the appalling number Of
unaccounted for Indicated q much
heavier death toll, although there
were only - known dead and many
Of the missing guests were expected
to be found safe.
The list Of identified. dead includ-
ed the names Of two legislators, who
legislature. They are:
Rep. T. Henry Hewlett, Gregory.
Rep. Vern Voorhees,, Albion.
Rep. Charles D. Parker, Otisville.
Rep. Donald E. sias, Midland.
Rep. John w. 0oodwine, Marlette.
David Monroe, assistant manager
Of the hotel.
I. Wishneff, Los Angeles.
r. g. Mcfarland, Dayton, O., sales
man.
Five unidentified persons. includ-
ing one woman about IS years old.
Sees Panic q vlctims
Probate Judge William Q. seyer-
ance Of Antrim county, Mich who
was awakened by smoke In advance
Of the alarm, called the fire the
most horrible thing I ever have been
through"
He told Of seeing persons Jumping
from windows and the roof to the
Grand river.
Some Of them hit Instructions on
their way down." he said. Others
must have drowned in those icy wa
tiers. Most Of the jumpers were from
the third story windows and roof. AZ
ter I got to the street, saw others
Jump to the pavement, breaking legs
and arms and evidently injuring
themselves internally"
Rep. william Green Of Hillman,
who fled In pajamas and bare feet,
told . graphic story Of th9 fire.
There were women with their hair
on fire and their clothes on fire." he
said. They ran through the SMOKE,
screaming. That terrible screaming
was the worst. Women on fire,
screaming up and down the hall"
Bell-Boy u Hero
As Green spoke, doctor WAS treat
ing his frozen feet, but he said he
thanked Providence to Be alive.
For more than two hours the hotel,
built In 1905, burned before. the flames
were brought under control, leaving
= shell. The building was four stor-
les high. and Of brick.
8. L. Colburn Of Cassopolis, who es-
capped by eaping into the river and
swimming ashore, said . bell-boy
whose name he did not know was the
hero OF the disaster.
Il don't know who he was" Col.
burn said, "but he was responsible TOR
the escape Of about 50 per cent Of
those Who were saved. He had plen-
ty Of time to get out. but instead ran
from roim to room, knocking on doors
and shouting to guests. I last saw
him running up . blazing stairway
and he was In the building when the
first wall caved In
At least 30 injured were In the Ed
ward w. Sparrow and the 81. Law
renee hospitals.
Cold Adds . Suffering
Intense cold. only Z few degrees
above zero. added to the suffering
Of the guests, those who were injured
and those who fled IN scanty attire.
The fire WAS discovered about $50
4. m. on the second FLOCK Of the ho-
tel. by Fred Hayhoe, Waterman for
the Lansing State Journal, whose
building Is nearby. The cause had
not been ascertained but early re-
ports were that It started IN ! guest
room.
The Kerns hotel, Of 100 rooms, was
. commercial hotel, built IN 1901.
Only Monday the members Of the
state legislature gathered for the
special session. the purpose Of which
was to conduct . recount Of votes
cast ct the November election for
secretary Of state and attorney gen.
eral. The legislature was to have
recouvened Tuesday morning. after
q brief session Monday afternoon.
The escape Of many guests on the
upper floors was cut off BY the fast
spreading flames, and figures could
be seen outlined against the flames in |
the windows. a number jumped.
those In the rear rooms having to
choose between leapipg into the Icy
waters Of the Grand river and tax
ing their chances with the flames
that had trapped them.
Witnesses Death Leap
A Mortified eyewitness, Harold
Porter, u. told Of seeing one man
strike Z railing 6 he jumped from
. third or fourth floor window into
the Grand river. His body WAS bur.
tied on into the water.
For probably - minutes after the
fire broke out shrieks could b heard
from within the blazing structure.
Then they either ceased or we're
drowned out By the roar Of collapsing