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| Illustration of Richmond Hotel fire, firefighters and onlookers. |
The McGrawville Sentinel, Thursday, March 24, 1887.
A BUFFALO HOTEL BURNS.
AN IMPOSING STRUCTURE PROVES BUT A TINDER BOX.
Some Thirty Lives Lost and Many Thrilling Incidents Experienced By the Guests.
BUFFALO, March 22.—At 3:30 o'clock Friday morning fire was discovered in the new Richmond hotel at Maine and Eagle streets. An alarm was immediately sounded and the fire department responded promptly. The hotel was opened for business about a month ago and handsomely fitted and decorated, and was filled with guests Thursday night. The fire spread with frightful rapidity, and the guests, rudely awakened from their slumbers by the horrifying cry "fire," rushed to the windows and other possible avenues of escape. When they saw the flames shutting off their way to the ground, their heart-rending shrieks could be heard blocks away. The hotel burned like a tinder box, the corridor in the center of the building acting as a great funnel.
At 4:10 o'clock the whole building was ablaze, with six streams of water playing on the north end, but the brisk wind was baffling the efforts of the firemen. In twenty minutes the fire had enveloped the northern half of the block and was speeding round to Washington street. Bunnell's museum was embraced and before 4:45 o'clock was a gutted ruin. At 4:43 o'clock the south wall fell on the frame structure in Main street, occupied by Craighton's saloon and Palaecio's cigar store. Two minutes later another section fell and completely demolished the structure, but at 6 o'clock the spread of the fire was checked.
There were 125 persons in the hotel, seventy of whom were transient guests, eight boarders and the others were porters, bell-boys, families of proprietors and clerks. Twenty-two of these were rescued from the windows by the firemen, twenty-two more are at the hospitals and a large number made their escape by other means. William H. Alport, the night clerk, says:
"The fire started in the cloak room under the main stairway at 3:30 o'clock. There was nobody up but myself, Joe, the night porter and Plummer, the bell-boy. I pulled all four of the fire alarms on the different floors and the people came flying down stairs in their night clothes. The fire followed the elevator, and inside of five minutes it reached the top floor. I rushed out of doors after doing all I could." The bellboy, Plummer, telling his experience said: "I was dusting the reading room when I heard the shout and saw the flames coming up the stairway from the basement. Mr. Alport and I turned on the hose under the. main stairway. We straightened the hose out and turned the valve; but the water would not run. Then we gave the alarm. The watchman and I got a plank and broke in the Eagle street entrance to the hotel. Then we got the plank under the fire escape in Eagle street and helped people down. I think there were about eighty-four guests in the house."
The spread of the flames is said to have been frightful in its rapidity. The elevator shaft served as a flue for the flames and they rushed up to the top floor in a very few minutes. As the guests were roused and saw the interior exits cut off they turned to the windows. They could be seen in their night clothes standing out clear and vivid before the lurid background of the flames. Their screams were horrible. The flames spread to the southeast side of the hotel first. The firemen did noble work and confined the fire within the limits of the three buildings named. Their work of rescue had many exciting incidents. The telegraph wires were, as usual, in the way of the ladder brigade, and much valuable time was lost in getting the ladders past them.
Many of the guests had narrow escapes, but perhaps the most thrilling of all was that of "Press" Whittaker, step-son of Proprietor Stafford. He roomed in the fifth story, and when aroused stepped to the window and looked down for a few seconds. Then he deliberately dressed himself and stood on the stone capping above the window beneath. From this capping he stepped to the next one along the front of the building and proceeded in this manner to the Hayes truck ladder at the other extremity of the front. The nerve and coolness displayed were remarkable. J. C. Gilbert, a commercial traveler of No. 16 South Portland avenue, Brooklyn, was rescued from the Eagle street side. He could be seen for some minutes standing in the window of the fifth floor room, the flames on all sides of him and the dull, red ominous glare behind. He was partly dressed and in his stocking feet. Patiently he stood there and awaited the arrival of the ladder which was being slowly raised, and it reached him none too soon, for as he grasped it and began his descent the place he had just vacated was seen to take fire.
Alfred G. Clay of Philadelphia, and Louis E. Smith of Brooklyn, had a most remarkable experience. They were in adjoining rooms on the fifth floor and tell about the same story. Mr. Clay was aroused by the ringing of the electric fire bell, and got up. He pressed his finger on the button, wondering what was wrong, but the bell continued ringing. He went to bed again for a minute or so, and got up a second time to stop the noise. It then dawned upon him that something was wrong. By this time the place was beginning to blaze furiously. He found the stairways cut off and took to the window. Both he and Mr. Smith safely reached Bunnell's museum roof, when they looked back and saw five girls in the fifth window. They had tied the bed clothing into a rope, which hung out, but none of them seemed to have the courage to start. At last one of the five took hold and swung down to a window ledge, from which she was assisted by Clay and Smith. Three others came down in the same manner, and then the fifth girl started down. She had almost finished the distance when the rope parted and down she went the four stories to the ground, but strange to say she was not killed. Her legs were terribly cut and bruised, her back badly injured and her face and arms were in a frightful condition from burns. She lay moaning upon a lounge at the Spencer house, begging to be sent home. Her name is said to be Mary Connell of No. 411 Hamburg street.
Among the many brave deeds of the firemen was one deserving of special mention. District Engineer Edward Murphy was on a ladder rescuing some of the occupants of the hotel. One of the women, a domestic, appeared at an upper window apparently frantic with terror. Murphy shouted to her to remain where she was and he would come up and save her. Instead of obeying the girl jumped from the window. As she passed Murphy in her downward flight he threw out an arm and caught her around the neck. The shock caused him to lose his balance, but he recovered himself and, yet clasping the girl, slid down the ladder with her in safety amid the cheering of the crowd.
The walls are a menace to life and until they are razed and the ruins cooled no search for bodies can be made. It is undoubtedly a fact that at least thirty people perished. The total loss by the fire will be$400,000. Of this amount the Buffalo library loses $130,000 in hotel and Museum building, which were insured for $90,000. Fuller & Townsend, the clothiers, were insured for $45,000. Their stock was valued at $60,000. Peter Paul & Brother and Ulbrech & Kingsley, stationers, each lose $40,000 with $30,000 insurance. Several minor losses were sustained.
The hotel register was burned with the ledger and cash book. The safe contained insurance papers and, the jewelry and money of some of the guests. P. E. Robinson, who traveled for Aiken, Lambert & Co., had $25,000 worth of watches, diamonds and jewelry in the hotel safe. M. Adler is said to have had $30,000 worth of diamonds and jewelry in his room.
The Equescurriculum.
Prof. Bristol's Equescurriculum drew one of the largest and most appreciative audiences at the Nassau theatre last night that has ever gathered within the walls of that building. In fact there is but one opinion concerning the merits of the exhibition, and that is that Nashua has never witnessed anything in a dumb animal entertainment in any way approaching it in the wonderful feats performed. Every horse in the school knows his name and place and what is expected of him, and performs his part not only as though he took pride in it, but as though it gave him pleasure. The mule, too, is a wonderful animal. He rivals all his associates and, being a clown as well as a first class performer, keeps the audience merry by the peculiarity of his movements and his alacrity in undertaking nearly all the difficult feats performed by the horses. The most wonderful feat in the exhibition, difficult and showing intelligence that parallels with the human intellect, is performed by Mattie. She solves mathematical problems quickly and accurately by striking the stage with her foot, and even tells by the same method, the time by a watch. Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division are all comprehended by her, and all sums given her are solved with marvelous intelligence. Other horses in the school show wonderful intelligence in similar and difficult feats, and take it for all in it, is an exhibition that cannot fail to please everybody. The programme is thus condensed and summarized:
Denver helps the professor off with his overcoat. Denver takes his hat and brings table. Eagle takes coat off and brings chair, Denver takes off overshoes and puts them away. Mattie brings the mail. Lotta, Petoskey and Eagle are reported for punishment by Denver, one is ordered to stand on three legs, another upon his knees, one upon a dancing block and one to lie down and sleep. Denver goes fishing. Denver rings bell for mathematical exercises by Mattie and Eagle, the latter on finding the example wrong, erases the figures from the blackboard. Denver answers the call at the door. Mattie, who is acknowledged to be one of the wonders of [the] world, brings writing paper, and tells the month, day and hour. Lotta brings either specie or currency from a closed money drawer. Petoskey and Denver mail a letter. Colonel Wood shows what he could and would do, and how sleepy, good and bad horses act. Mattie distinguishes colors; she will squeal at word of command and catch a ball. Eagle walks to the professor and toward the audience, and sidewise to the right or left, turns and trots to Mr. Bristol.
Recess—boys the left, girls to the right. Boxes and barrels are rolled about and a good time generally had. John Sanborn swings. Denver swings his teacher, the teacher swings Denver. Professor introduces the smallest pony and mule in the world, Bess and Babylon, nursing colts. Lotta either trots or paces at the word of command. Hornet imitates a rocking horse and jumps rope, Mattie, Minnie and Eagle in their exhibition of reasoning from cause to effect, Eagle teeters the two former and balances them across a half-inch oval iron rod; he also turns on the ends of the plank which is five feet from the floor, and but thirty inches wide. Colonel Wood, Eagle, Mattie, Minnie, Little Claude, Hornet and Denver, constitute the only equine Swiss bell ringers on earth. The military drill. They fall in, march off in double and single file, counter march, come into line right or left, wheel right or left oblique, guide right, and go through many intricate evolutions, and conduct themselves like regular soldiers. Denver and the professor at lunch is another surprising feat. The performance was concluded with a humorous act in which one of the ponies and Denver are amusing and entertaining to a remarkable degree.
Blind Ruth, one of the best trained horses of the school, the horse that unties knots and does many other difficult feats, was not exhibited. Prof. Bristol will exhibit this school of trained horses at the Cortland Opera house April 18, 19 and 20.
Eighty Houses Burned at Chautauqua.
JAMESTOWN, N. Y., March 23.—Sunday night's fire at the Chautauqua Assembly grounds destroyed eighty buildings, including several large boarding houses, among them the Eckert and Parkhurst and Alling houses. The total loss will probably exceed $100,000. The fire started shortly before midnight in the Curtiss cottage on Simpson avenue, caused by a defective flue. It swept everything before it, taking both sides of Simpson and Summerfield avenues from the Auditorium to the Hotel Athenaeum. It was with great difficulty that the hotel was saved. Six cottages on Asbury avenue were also burned. The absence of a high wind alone saved from destruction the large and costly structure.
The heroic work of the winter residents and farmers from the surrounding country undoubtedly prevented the destruction of the entire Assembly with its costly buildings and saved 800 cottages from total destruction. All the cottages and boarding-houses in the burned district were furnished, and very little furniture was saved. Many of the burned cottages on Simpson avenue were rebuilt last year. This was the most fashionable avenue of the grounds. The cottages cost from $2,000 to $15,000 each. The magnificent forest trees shading the streets were destroyed. No casualties, other than the prostration of several residents from over-exertion, are reported.
EDITORS' EASY CHAIR.
—March came in like a lamb, you know.
—Lewis Albro of Marathon was in town Sunday.
—Mrs. Louisa M. Wood is sick with pneumonia.
—Addie Wedge of Cortland visited in town last week.
—Postmaster Dwelley of East Homer was in town yesterday.
—Harry Gleason is visiting relatives in this place this week.
—W. M. Martin purchased a colt of Fred Richardson last week.
—Mrs. R. H. Graves is visiting relatives in Cortland and Virgil this week.
—Mr. Murdock of Oneonta, N. Y., was the guest of L. Parsons, Wednesday.
—G. and E. Martin of Cortland visited their brothers in this place over Sunday,
—Miss Mary Munson of Chicago, is visiting her cousin, Mrs. A. P. McGraw in this place.
—Rev. A. C. Smith has been visiting his mother in Groton the past week. She is very sick.
—Miss Lottie Holmes of East River, was in town the fore part of the week the guest of Adah Fuller.
—This week we can record T. H. Green as a happy father. The boy, we learn, weighed ten and one-fourth pounds.
—Mrs. Stephen Baldwin is visiting her sister, Mrs. E. C. Kinney this week. She starts soon for East Saginaw, Mich., to which place her husband has already gone.
—M. C. Bingham occupied the pulpit at the Baptist church last Sunday morning in the temporary absence of Rev. Mr. Conner. Mr. Conner spent a few days in Middletown, Orange county.
—C. A. Jones has an advertisement in to-day's SENTINEL, and those contemplating buying wall paper this spring should not fail to call at his store in this place and see the new styles as shown by his ''exhibitor."
—Will Dibble proposes to rush the freight business between here and Cortland this spring. He has hired Charles Waterman of Killawog to assist him and will run two teams twice a day, thus promising to do teaming promptly during the mud and rush.
—Rev. George B. Fairfield, editor of the Grand Army Journal, Utica, was in town last Friday. He secured a goodly number of subscribers to his paper among the veteran comrades. It may be worthy of note to say that the Journal is printed by a plant formerly owned by one of the editors of the SENTINEL.
—W. E. Fitch of Cortland would call our readers' attention to his fine stock of teas, coffees and spices, also his five and ten cent counters. Mr. Fitch runs a wagon through our place every week taking orders and delivering goods and those desiring may have goods left at their own doors without extra expense,
—The Scott correspondent's temperance views last week has evoked a high license opinion from Preble. That is right; we like to see arguments from both sides of the fence. Articles containing lees than 200 words on this and other subjects are solicited. If of merit we will gladly publish them.
—The drama, "Under the Laurels," given in Academy hall in this place last Friday evening under the auspices of the G. A. R. Post, drew a crowded house, every one was well pleased with its rendition and the G. A. R., after paying all expenses, added over seventeen dollars to its coffer. Those who took part in the drama did their work well and are deserving of especial note for the pains taken and interest manifested in the welfare of the post.
—The laughable drama, "Not Such a Fool as He Looks," will be played at Academy hall, Friday evening, April 1, by a company of home talent, for the benefit of the McGrawville Women's Christian Temperance union. There are nine characters in the play, which is said to be very interesting. The McGrawville male quartette will furnish vocal music and there will also be some instrumental music. The price of admission will be 10 cents, reserved seats 15 cents. The ladies hope for a large attendance.
—The closing exercises of the winter term of our village union school will be held at Academy hall, Friday evening of this week, March 25. The price of admission will be 15 cents. Doors open at 7 o'clock, exercises commence at 7:30. The proceeds are to go toward purchasing a new library and apparatus. We are told that for all the monies raised for this purpose in the district the regents of the state will add to it a like amount, and for this reason our people should lend their help to the school by attending its entertainment.
—Buy your fresh fish, oysters, etc., of E. D. Corwin. He runs a wagon through McGrawville Tuesdays and Saturdays.
—Uncut newspapers, good for putting on shelves and thousands of other purposes, for sale at this office, package of ten papers 5 cents.
—One dollar and ninety cents in advance secures for anyone the MCGRAWVILLE SENTINEL for one year, the New York Weekly World one year, and a bound volume of 320 pages entitled the "History of the United States." This is a book that every family should possess. Send orders to this office. Above price includes postage.
CORTLAND NEWS.
A SLIGHT BLAZE YESTERDAY.
Wednesday morning at 6 o'clock the fire bell rang and it was soon found that the fire was in a new house of Mr. Jenkens' on Clinton avenue near Brayton's flour mill. It was put out by individuals with water carried in pails before the hose cart got there. It is a new house and had been recently plastered; an old stove was placed in it and a fire kept to keep the plaster from freezing, and it is thought that fire caught from this stove. Damage about $50 to $75.
ALLEGED BLACKMAIL.
The suit of Nellie Ford of Syracuse vs. D. F. Dunsmore, for damages alleged to have been done her silk dress and loss of a ring, is in the opinion of most people a blackmailing scheme for the purpose of obtaining money. Mr. Dunsmore asserts that he will not pay out one cent on such a scheme against him that has not the slightest foundation of truth in it. He has many friends here and it will be a cold, very cold day when a Syracuse courtesan bleeds him of much money.
NEWS IN PARAGRAPHS.
St. Patrick's day was observed at St. Mary's church.
Dr. Frederick Hyde is confined to the house by a cold.
Look out for "Black Crook" at the Cortland opera house again within a few weeks.
Several families are forestalling the first of April and moving now in the snow and slush.
The regular meeting of the W. C. T. U. will be held at the session room of the Presbyterian church on Saturday afternoon,
Frank Harrington has just sold another carriage horse to parties in New York. The horse became much more valuable during the time he owned him.
A trio of Black Manorca chickens have just been imported from England by two of our poultry fanciers. This is the latest style in that line. They arrived in good condition.
The principal stock-holder in the street-car line is Charles H. Garrison of Troy, N. Y. He has at least one talent, that of making money. He is in town to-day looking after insurance on his buildings.
Mr. Davern, who was appointed by the new board of trustees as health commissioner, has declined to serve. He does not like doing two hundred dollars' worth of work for fifty dollars, and run the risk of a law-suit to boot.
The first robin has given its street parade here to an appreciative audience. The appearance of the Murphy troop on our streets did not excite much enthusiasm. It played "Irish Vinter" at the opera house to a fair-sized audience.
The whole control of the United States express business of the village is now in the hands of Robert Bushby. He will remove his quarters to the Mahan block [Court Street, Cortland], April 1. All of the company's express business for this place will be done there.
Cortland is an enterprising place. The other day we noticed a barn being moved up to face Main street with a sign nailed in front: "This Store to Rent." It now has a false front and the sign is gone so we can soon announce its occupants.
Every public building in town, churches and all, are stripped of chairs to furnish the Mammoth [roller-skating] rink for to-night. The Gilmore band was billed for Syracuse last evening. The concert here will be largely attended. It is said that over 80 tickets have been sold at Ithaca.
Our streets and side-walks of an evening are the most disagreeable of any in central New York. The street lamps were taken down when the electric light was introduced and now there is no contract for the electric light. So unless you are well acquainted with the walk you do not know where the deep water is. The only safe way is to follow some pedestrian and profit by his mishaps.
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