Year: 1877




overcome by the smoke, and if it had
not not been for freedman, one of our
bakers, | would probably now be among
the ruins somewhere. Those that were
saved may think the mseIves mighty
lucky. At.the same time that Mr. Ford
made his discovery one of the employees
of the hotel smelled smoke, and tracing
it to the store-room, burst open the door.
The flames, long smothered, leaped out
and scorched him. He flew up stairs
screaming fire at the top Of his voice,


MINISTER'S SUICIDE.


A few weeks ago your correspondent
telegraphed the Times an account of the
marriage of Munster, member of the
British house Of commons, to the daugh-
ter Of DR.. Henry c. Lynch, of this city.
Mr.. and Mrs. Munster Travelled until
within the past two weeks, when they
returned to the city, and have been stop,
ping at the Southern, occupying rooms
there when the alarm of fire was given.
Both escaped from the building, but in
the confusion became separated Mrs.
Munster was taken to her fathers home,
and her husband went to the room of a
friend, and slept there. AT late hour
this morning he suddenly sprang out of
bed, exclaiming that his wife was at the
hotel. Before he could be stopped he
had snatched up a pistol and fired, shoot
ing himselfthrough the right temple and
falling dead. His funeralwill take place
on Friday. The coroner's jury tonight
decided that the unfortunate man was
crazed.


MISS KATE CLAXToN's MIRACULOUS rs.


CAPE.


Kate Claxton, the actress, whose mi
raculous escape from the theaters in
Brooklyn and Washington will be re.
membered, gave the Times correspondent
the following account of her experience
in the burning hotel. Miss Claxton
says: :" lett the Olympic theater i'm.
mediately after the performance, and re-
tushed with my brother to the hotel
We went into the dining room to take
a late supper and there We found Miss
Osborn and Miss Mcclellan. Miss Me
Clellan was SO bright and cheerful, and
was SO charmed with her sweet face and
manners, little imagining what was so
soon to follow. After bidding them
good night | went up to my room on the
fourth floor, and my brother retired to
his room on the same floor ] sat down
and read little before going to bed and
everything at the time was quiet. The
next thing that remember was a loud
knocking at the door. was undressed,
and had been sleeping some time. In a
half stupid condition | turned and list.
ened. listened again, and the knock
ing was repeated. With the knocking,
the sounds of which were far and near,
came the dreadful shouts of Fire Fire.
| sprang from the bed, and a terrible
feeling of oppression came over me. |
cannot describe it. | looked up at the
gas in my room, which was burning dim
ly, and there saw smoke curling around
the chandelier. Then it appeared all at
once to fill the room, and dense clouds
came through the aperture ofthe fire CRATE
| thought instantly of my brother, and
rushed out, undressed as was, to dis
cover his room. Meanwhile he had been
disturbed by the noise, and was approch,
ing my room. said; Let us find the
stairs, or we shall be lost My brother
was then half dressed, and reached
across the bed to pick up something to
throw over me. We could not find the
staircase, and the confusion and the smoke
and roar of the fire were mingled with
the most piercing and heartrending
screams. | shall never forget it. We
were not acquainted with the hotel ar
rangements, for the common practice is
to use the elevator in ascent and descent,
and therefore could not find staircase
or any means OF escape. There were
others on the same floor in the same
terrible dilemma, but could not see each
other for the smoke. We CROPPED along
and presently found step downward,
and commenced to descend. What hap
pened cannot say, for do not distincly
remember. have been in greater dan.
ger, as you know, and ! always endeavor
to maintain my composure, but the
smoke last night stifled the senses. We
reached by some means or other the first
landing of the ladies' staircase on the
Fifth street side, opposite the Olympic
theater. There was great crowd OF
ladies in their n'ghtdressos in thu vesti
bule, and some OF the physicians were
persuading them that all would be safe
We did not heed this advise, and passed
out on the street, A way was made
through the crowd for us to reach the
hotel opposite, and / remained there some
little time to recover myself. There
saw poor Miss Mcclellan brought in.
can never forget it. My brother pro
cured a carriage shortly afterward. anC
we came down to the Lindell. | fee
very much worse to-day than did wher
! arrived here aitet the escape. hav,
lost everything, literally everything, io
l am under obligations to lady sypathiz
ers and friends for the clothes which yol
see me wearing now. | have nothing o
my own whatever, except the night-rob
in which ! escaped. "


Mr.. AND MR7 GERLICH.


Herman Gerlich. the new Ger,na,