Indianapolis Journal, Indianapolis, Marion County, 11 January 1883 — Page 2

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having self-possession and resolution enough to lend a helping hand on the canvases stretched out to receive those of the despairing inmates of the burning pyre who risked the leap down to the stone sidewalk, one hundred feet below*. At first there were only Lieutenant llockwood, Detectives Riem and McManus, Ofiicers O'Brien and Campbell, and a few sentinel men stretching the heavy canvass, which required fully thirty strong men to handle successfully. A poor fellow stood on the cornice of the fifth story corner window for twenty long minutes, not daring the fearful leap; finally he became bewildered, to judge by his actions, or dumbfounded by the smoke, and slid off his perch to the canvass below. The few who held it could not give it the necessary resistance, and the body fell, unhindered by the canvass, with a crash which seiit a shudder through every witness. Tlie shattered body was carried into the American Express office. All the while hundreds of people had been looking on, nobody responding to the demands of the officers for aid. Everybody seemed to be spellbound. The terrible spectacle seemed to have paralyzed every bit of will power. In the sixth-story window, right over this unfortunate, sat the figure of a man crouched upon the window-sill, gazing like one absent-minded into the fiery abyss below*. motionless, but from time to time sending up a heartrending shriek. Steadily the flames encroached upon him: he did not • seem to mind it. The flames singed his hair, licked his night-clothes; one despairing look he gave to the crowd below, and then tumbled back into the sea of fire, A man and woman appeared at a window of the third story. Tnev were recognized as Allen Johnson and his wife. A canvass was stretched below the windows of their apartment, formerly occupied by Professor Hoskings and lady, and a thousand voices called, beseeching them to jump. Mr. Johnson kissed his wife, then leaped into the air and shot downward into the canvass, but his weight was such that the canvass was pulled out of the hands of the few who held it, and he struck the ground witli deadly force. His wife followed, but her body struck the verandah and fell to the ground lifeless. Mr. Allen died shortly afterward in the express office, and his dead body was laid beiide that of his wife until they were borne away. About a dozen jumped from the Michigan-street front. EACH LEAP MEANT DEATH or shattered limbs, and not less than four unfortunates at one time lay upon the icy sidewalk in front of the Chamber of Commerce, clad only in nightshirt, the blood and brains oozing from the wounds, through which the bones protruded. Some were carried to the express office, others to the ground floor of the Mitchell building, where cots had been hastily arranged, and from there they were carried off to private houses of kind-hearted people. The scene in the west of the burning building was sickening. As early as G o clock the bodies of seven unfortunate waiter-girls, once blooming in youth, were stretched upon the snow and ice, with broken limbs, writhing with agony until death ended their suffeiings. After almost superhuman efforts, ladders were stretched from the roof of the bank building across the alley to the sixth story of the hotel. The brave fire laddies carried ten girls across the frail bridge, four of them dead. The maze of telegraph wires enclosing the building on the south and east sides played sad havoc with the unfortunates who made the frightful leap for life. Several bodies were fairly cut deep into by the wires, and the torn and bleeding forms would drop to the ground. Others would hit the wires crosswise, rebound and be hurled to the ground with a dreadful crash. To the iK>or, unfortunate waiter gills, all of whom lodged in the sixth story and the attics, the saddest lot has fallen. <*>f the sixty young girls, only eleven were heard from as alive as late as yesterday evening. It is feared that the estimate of fifty lives lost, as formed yesterday morning, is far, far too low, and that fully double that number were burned or smothered to death in the biasing pyre. The police patrol soon commenced their dreadful work of gathering up the dead and wounded. The former were taken to the morgue, which was soon filled, and the latter were taken to the Central Police Station, where they were cared for by physicians. From 5 o’clock the interior of the building was one mass of flames, the upper floors soon giving way and carrying the lower floor with them. A thundering crash was heard for blocks, and then the fire shot up fully fifty feet and sent a shower of sparks and cinders over the whole northern portion of the city, carried ahead by a brisk southwesterly wind. Had it not been for the thick coat of snow on the roofs many a building north of the hotel would be a mass of smoldoring ruins to-day. Long after the flames had raged in the interior, Miss Chellis, the head dressmaker at T. A. Chapman A Cos., was seen at her window on the fourth floor; she was recognized by friends below and implored te make the leap upon the canvas, but she remained standing at the window of her burning room, until the flames enveloped her, and she sank to be seen no more on earth. In three-quarters of an hour after the discovery of the tire, the building was a total loss; at 5:30 the Broadway front of the build- j ing. unsupported by rafters within, gave out and came thundering to the pavement. Shortly after that the tottering walls of the southeast corner of the building followed, tearing a heavy telegraph pole to the ground, which felled lion Van Haag, of the hook and ladder company No. 2, beneath its weight. Poor Ben, a favorite in the department, received fatal injuries. He died in a few hours after, faithful to his post unto death. Chief Lippert had telegraphed to Chicago and Racine for help, also to the Soldiers’ Home for the steamer of that institution. General Sharpe, governor of the Soldiers’ Home, failed to comply with the request. Chicago and Racine responded at once. Three steamers left Chicago at 5:50 a. m. —Nos. 5, 10 and 14— together with two men each from companies 1, 2 and 3 and I.o<X> yards additional hose. At Highland Park, about twenty-five miles north of Chicago, the relief train was countermanded by Chief Lippert, the fire having done its worst in destroying the Newhall House, and being under control as far as surrounding establishments were concerned. The Racine relief train was also countermanded. When it became known among the merchants gathered in front of the Chamber of Commerce that General Sharpe had not sent the Soldiers’ Home engines, remarks not exactly in Lord Chesterfield’s language could be heard on ail sides. DEEDS OF HEROISM are recorded worthy of unqualified praise, i Ed. Ryemer and Herman Strauss, of truck 1, appeared on the roof of a bank building at * a critical juncture, directly op posite the servants’ quarters, ladder in hand. For a moment the unwleldly thing was poised in mid-air then descended with a crash through the window of the hotel. It formed a bridge across the alle}*, and before it had become .steady in position the men had crossed over into the hotel, and then, amid the cheers of the multitude below, dragged he’pless creatures across the slender bridge until a dozen were rescued, all of them in their nightclothes. Many were badly frozen before taken to shelter. A woman in a dead faint tmable to help herself, was dragged across in safety, but. at one time the whole of her tody was hanging over clear of the ladder While the brave man held her by one of her ankles, the crowd below held their breath in suspense, expecting every moment to see the ladder turn over or break beneath the terrible strain. The man. however, was equal to the emergency, and. Lv a herculean effort, pulled her upon the

steadier bridge and finally placed her out of danger, while the crowd, which had endured a most painful suspense for fully ten minutes, burst forth in round after round of applause. Twelve poor waiter girls were rescued by these brave men. Two brothers named Clayton rescued four women, carrying them bodily out. The police rescued a dozen persons. There is loud talk of incendiarism, in which the chief concurs, also the police who were first on the ground. No tangible ground can be given for the theory beyond the breaking out near the foot of the elevator, and spreading 90 rapidly that the building was destroyed in half an hour. Regarding the origin of the fire, A. N. Tisdell said: “The night watchman saw the fire first, but before he could do anything the flames shot up the elevator, burning on every floor. I am confident it started in the elevator, but how it originated I cannot say. I was awakened by a noise, rushed out to find the building filled with flames and smoke and people flying for their lives, after saving my wife I tried to save the others. I met father and mother in their night clothes and tried to get them to leave the building, which was fast becoming a furnace of flames, but father was apparently out of his head, and said he was bound to go into the flames to save those in the building, but by force I got him to the street, and being afraid if I left him go he would again enter the building, I conducted him by force down Michigan avenue, and when near the alley, someone fell from the upper floor to the ground a few* feet away and caused him to become frenzied. A number of rescued guests say the fire started in the basement and went through the elevator in all parts before the alarm could be given. A man employed in the cooking department arrived on the scene about 4 o’clock. Ke states that at 5:30 lie passed to the third floor and assisted in rescuing a number of lodgers. It is stated on good authority that there was no fire in the rear portion of the building, w’liere there was a wide pair of stairs, by means of which all those quartered on the upper floors could have made their escape. However, the smoke was so dense that those who were not suffocated lost their presence of mind. W. H. Crampton, the Old Rogers in “Esmerelda” of the Madison-squnre Theater Company: Miss Herbert, Miss Dunlap and W. A. Lovelle arrived on the midnight express from Waukegan, and went to the house. Crompton had room No. 319, and Miss Herbert adjoining. The first he knew was an indistinct sense of a terrible noise outside. Before he fully realized what was going on he was startled by the knocks of Miss Herbert at the folding doors between the two rooms. He unlocked it, and she came in at once. Her apartment was so full of smoke that it was not thought safe to return. Both started for a fire escape. Crampton managed to throw on some clothes, but Miss Herbert had no time to save anything, Mr. Crampton carrying her down with nothing on but her night dress. A hack passing near was brought down, and Miss Herbert was carried to to Collins’s boarding-housse. Miss Dunlap and Mr. Lavelle escaped in a similar way, but were more fortunate in both getting partially dressed. One of the most trying scenes incident to the fire was witnessed at the morgue. At 6 o’clock fifteen bodies were laid upon the marble slabs and floor; the allotted space was too small to accommodate them all, and one of the first bodies recognized was that of Mrs. John Gilbert, the wife of Mr. Gilbert, of the Minnie Palmer Company. They were married yesterday at Chicago, and the bride of a night lay upon the cold marble, charred and bruised almost beyond recognition. It is said she was Miss Sutton, of Chicago. The Minnie Palmer Company and Tom Thumb Company have cancelled their engagements at the Opera-house and Academy of Music, owing to the death of members of their companies. William E. Cramer, editor of the Evening Wisconsin, and wife, who had rooms on ti-.e second floor, received serious but not fatal injuries, and he is now under medical care at the Plankinton. Mr. Cramer was badly burned about hands and head. Mrs. Cramer’s hair was badly burned, as were also her bands and feet. The following is the story of a

hair-breadth escape from a terrible death, related by Lizzie Augland, one of the dining-room girls: She awoke and heard a noise about 4 o’clock a. m. She awakened her room-mate, Mollie Conners, and the two girls hastily dressed and attempted to descend by the stairway only to find themselves facing a sheet of flames. Miss Conners was terribly frightened, and screamed out, “My God. Lizzie, we can’t get through there.” Lizzie replied, “We must get through or perish.” With this Lizzie rushed through the flames and succeeded in reaching the office door where she fell insensible. She was terribly burned about the neck and lower portion of her face, arras, and limbs between the feet and knees. Her injuries, though severe, are not fatal, and she is cared for at the Axtell House. From Miss Augland, the fate of Mollie Conners is learned. She says that when she started through the flames, she turned to see if Mollie was coming, and saw her fall on the stairway. This leaves no doubt that Mollie Conners perished in the burning building. Another escape to be recorded is that of a man whose name could not be learned, who was seen swinging himself from the fifth floor of the burning building until his feet touched the window below. Kicking in the window he dropped and grabbed the sash, this being repeated until he reached the balcony, from which lie was rescued with his hands severely cut. It is reported on the street that there were 350 guests in the house last night If this be true, the horrors that will be revealed by the removal of the debris will be dreadful to contemplate. The Newhall was known to every traveler in the Northwest and every person in Milwaukee who had resided there for a year or two as a fire trap of the worst description, and while horror and sympathy are expressed on all sides at the dreadful catastrophe, wonder also prevails to as great an extent that any travelers or residents could be found to take up their abode within its walls. It should have been condemned long ago. and probably would have been if it had been a different and smaller establishment and had been the property of less wealthy and important personages. A citizens’ meeting has been held, and arrangements made to place an adequate force of men on the ruins to recover the bodies. Traveling men, resident and non-resident, held a meeting for the purpose of adopting measures for the relief of such of the fraternity as suffered from the fire. A terrible obstacle to the saving of of life was found in the network of telegraph wires which hedged the building in. Not only did they prevent the firemen from placing ladders against the building, but it was impossible to bold a canvas in sucli a position that the unfortunates would not strike the wires first. Even the crowd saw what was the matter, and a number of prominent business men stood in front of the Chamber of Commerce building and anathematized telegraph companies until their throats were parched. AMONG THE MISSING. Those who cannot be accounted for are the following: Lizzie Kelley, waiter; Mary Owens, of Milwaukee, table girl; her sister Maggie, who occupied a room with her, was killed by leaping from the third story window; Mary is supposed to be in the ruins; R. Howie, of Milwaukee, conductor of the Wisconsin Central road; Mary Anderson, of Milwaukee,

THE INDIANAPOLLS JOURNAL, THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 1883.

table girl; Dr. A. S. Spearman, of Milwaukee; Norah Flannagan, table girl; Miss Childs, head of the dress-making department of T. A. Chapman A Co.’s store, known to be in the ruins, of Milwaukee; Professor B. Mason, of the German-American Academy; Mrs. B. Mason, wife of the German orofessor; Julia Forgarty, of Oconomowoc, waiter; Norah Flanagan, of Milwaukee, waiter; Captain Georee P. Vose, United States civil engineer in charge of the river and harbor improvements in Milwaukee; George Lowry, who had charge of the coat-roon, was last seen in the ball on the third floor; L. A. Brown, of Philadelphia, recently engaged as manager of the "Ranch Ten” company, known to have been in the building; Mrs. L. W. Brown, formerly of Allegheny, wife of L. A. Brown, trainmaster of the Chicago A Northwestern road, known to have been in the building; John H. Foley, the electrician, of Milwaukee; Mollie Conner, table girl; Augusta Trapp, pantry girl; Jane Dunn, pantry girl; Annie Carey, pantry; A. H. Claflin, Chicago, agent for the Wilcox A Gibbs dewing Machine Company; J. B, Kellogg. commission man, making forty deaths tolerably sure. The falling of the outside walls and nearly all tumbled over partition walls make such an immense heap of ruins that it will be impossible for several days to begin the search, but nearly 100 are generally accepted as the number of lives lost. A large assemblage of representative business men have addressed the following to the mayor: “Whereas, the large number of telegraph wires suspended from poles in the central portion of cities have proven very serious obstacles to the fire department in domg efficient work in case of a fire, of which the terrible conflagration of the Newhall House of this city with the great loss of life which might otherwise have been saved, is the latest proof; therefore, the undersigned, citizens of Milwaukee, most earnestly petition the Legislature of our State and Common Council of our city to pass laws and ordinances compelling the corporations on whose hands the telegraph traffic centers, to place their wires in the central part of our city in the ground instead of suspending them on poles. We feel that this is a reform most urgently needed, and one which should not be unnecessarily delayed for a moment. We therefore beg you to give .your earliest possible attention to the matter.”

KNOWN TO BE SAVED. The following is as accurate a list of inmates of the hotel known to be saved or not fatally injured as can be obtained at present, the hotel register not being obtainable: W. H. Crompton, W. H. Lovelle, Miss Mattie Dunlap and Amelia Herbert, of the Madison Square Company; H. C. Rikcer, New York; S. C. Craig, Des Moines; It. A. ConnaHy, Chicago; M. Weber, Laporte, Ind.; Frank Tucker, Berlin, Wis.; J. S. Mahoney, liock Island; S. A. Dixon. Chicago; Jas. Ludington, Milwaukee; C.C.Claris, Wausean,Wis.; W. P. Hill, Syracuse. N. Y.; C. W. Briggs, attorney of the Wisconsin Valley drvision of the St Paul road, Grand Rapids, Mich.; Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Cramer, of Milwaukee; Minnie Mack, servant; Dora Call, servant; Amelia Hall, Bridget O’Niell, Mary O’Niell. Francis Riddle, Maggie Quinn, Julia Burns, Mary McCauley, all servants; J. T. Richie, Louisville, Ky.; W. H Hall, of Laporte, Ind.; R. Goggin, Milwaukee; Lizzie Green, a waiter, ran from the building, badly burned about the face and hands; Annie Miller, chambermaid; C. P. Huff, of the firm of Huff A Walbridge, slight cut on the hand; Ben. Tyre, the clerk, was seriously burned while awakening guests; Tom Thumb and wife, uninjured; L. W. Brown, trainmaster of the Chicago A Northwtesern road in this city, seriously injured by jumping from the third-story window; Dora Cole, a servant, of Milwaukee; G. B. Elliot was taken to the Kirbey, several of his ribs were broken, lungs badlv burned and otherwise injured. 11. W. Buskirk, Western traveling agent of the Michigan Central railroad, jumped from the third floor, striking the wires. His feet, legs and arras are badly bruised. He will recover. LIST OF IDENTIFIED DEAD. The loss of life is considerably larger than anticipated at first It is feared it will reach one hundred. So far the following sixteen of twenty-five bodies found have been positively identified: T. E. Van Loon, retired capitalist, oi Albany, N. Y.; Mrs. John Gilbert, wife of John Gilbert, of the Minnie Palmer company; Allen Johnson, commission merchant, of Milwaukee; Mrs. Allen Johnson, of Milwaukee; Maggie Sullivan, chamber maid, parents live near Soldiers’ Home; Mary Conroy Loudry, of Milwaukee; Maggie Owens,- of Milwaukee, parents live on Seventh street near Clybourn; Mary McDade, waiter, whose parents live at Mukwonago; Mary McMahon, A waiter, parents live at Lydons. The body was forwarded to the parent: Bessie Brown, of Milwaukee; parents live in the Third ward, near the corner of Jackson and Buffalo streets; Ottilie Waltersdorf, kitchen girl aged, eighteen years, body claimed by friends. Maggie Sullivan, chambermaid; Augusta Geise, kitchen-girl; Catherine Monah, pantrywaiter; Bridget O’Connel, hall girl, of Du Prairie, Wis., and J. J. Hough, commercial traveler, of Maroa, 111.

INSURANCE. Insurance agents had recently refused to take a risk on building, and C. D. Nash, president of the Newhall House Association, when asked if he regarded the building a substantial structure, said it was a pretty good risk notwithstanding that certain underwriters were constantly condemning it. The local insurance men have always had an exaggerated idea of the frailness of building. It was considered as a fair risk by one of the most expert underwriters in the country, 8. F. Covington, of Cincinnati, president of the Globe Insurance Company of that city. In corroboration of the statement that I considered the risk good, I may say that I have allowed the association to assume a portion of the risk. The amount insured was enough to cover the investment, and something more. I could have obtained as much insurance had I desired, but I did not do so because I felt that the risk was so good that I felt warranted in assuming a part of the risk for the company, of which lam president. The building has been on fire several times before the present conflagration occurred, and no serious disaster has occurred. This, I consider as strong evidence that the edifice was not exceedingly inflammable, lt was by no means as susceptible to combustion as was thought by many insurance men. The insurance placed by Cincinnati agents for the past sixteen years was generally SIOO,OOO on the house* and $30,000 on contents, the present insurance is as follows: insurance on house. Ninirara Fire Insurance Company, New York $ 2,500 Hambiinr, Bremen, Germany 2.50" Imperial Fire, London 2,500 Northern Assurance, Aberdeen and Loudon 2,500 Allegheny, Pittsburir .. 2,500 Artisans’ Insurance Company, Pittsburg 2,500 Pittsburg InsuranceConipauy, Pittsburg 3,500 People's Insurance Company, Pittsburg. 2,500 Etna Fire tfnd Marine, Wheeling, W. Va. 2,500 Franklin Insurance, Wheeling, W. Va... 2.500 Peabody, Wheeling, W. Va 2.500 Mechanic#*, Brooklyn, N. Y 2,500 Hamilton Fire Insurance Compaii3 f , New York 2,200 American. Wheeling, W. Va 1.500 Western Insurance Company, Cincinuati 3,000 Washington, Cincinnati 5.000 Firemen’s and Mechanics', Madison, Ind 2,500 Farragut Fir# lusitrance, New York 1,50" Merchants', New York 2,500 Firemen’s Trust, Brooklyn 1,500 Security Insurance Company, Cincinnati 3,750

Blr mingbam Insurance Company, Pittsburg 2,000 Firemen's Insurance Com pan v. New York 2,500 Monuuik Insurance Company, BrooKlyn 1,250 Western Insurance Company, Pitrsourg 2,000 City Insurance Company, I’lttsbunc 2,000 Enterprise Fire and Mamie, Cincinnati. 2,500 Farmers' Insurance Company, Cincinnati 3,500 Union Insurance Company, Cincinnati.. 2,500 Eureka Fire and Marine, Cincinnati 2,500 Globe Insurance Company, Cincinnati.. 1.50 Globe Insurance Company, Cincinnati.. 2,000 Total *78,500 INSURANCE ON FURNITURE. Mercantile, Cl eve laud 2,000 Western, Pittsburg 2,000 Security, New Haven .*.*.'.* 1,500 American Fire Insurance Company, Philadelphia 2,000 Insurance Company State of Pennsyvania, Philadelphia 2,000 Fire Association, Philadelphia 2,000 Enterprise Fire and Marine, Cincinnati. 2,500 Kenton Insurance Company, Kentucky. 2,5<>0 German Fire, Pittsburg 1,000 Miami Valley, Cincinnati 2,500 Manufacturers’, Wheeling, W Va 1,500 Uuiou Insurance, Pittsburg 1,800 Total *24.800 The loss, including damages on neigboring property, will fully foot up $500,000, Other Incidents. Chicago, Jan. 10;—The Western Union wires between here and Milwaukee are undisturbed, but from Milwaukee to the Northwest are all down. The Mutual Union wires between here and Milwaukee are down. Little additional to the press reports of the Newhall House fire wa - received up to 10:30. The severe cold hampered the firemen and caused them great suffering. Three fire engines were sent from Chicago, but when they reached Highland Park, about twenty-five miles out, were ordered back. A News’ special has the following of the Milwaukee holocaust: “The building has long been known as the death-trap, and only required half an hour to completely envelop it in flames. It had eighty-six employes, mostly lodged in the sixth story. Eight hundred guests can be accommodated. Exit by the roof was impossible on account of the fire, and for some reason the two standpipes and fire ladders were not available. Ben Hall, fireman, was crushed under a large, heavy cornice, but was quickly gotten out from under the red-hot plates of galvanized iron, very seriously, but not fatally, hurt. The department fought heroically, but were only able to prevent the spread of the flames. The hook and ladder companies were most active, and saved about twelve people by well-directed efforts. The morgue was a hideous sight. Two small biers were soon filled witli bodies tightly packet!, and then the bodies of girls, women and men were laid promiscuously on the stone flags almost in a heap, as the patrol brought in bodies three or four at a time. In the American express office Allen Johnson and wife lay stretched on the hard floor, evidently dying (since dead). They were forced to jump from a window of the third floor, a blanket held to catch them, bnt was too weak, and their backs were injured so terribly that cries of pain were wrung from them. Edward Pollock, of Lancaster, awakened nearly as soon as the flames broke out, gathered his clothes, swung from the balcony on the fourth floor to thi.t beneath where others were, and by means of knotted bedclothes all were rescued.

The News at New York. New York, Jan. 10. —The hotel horror of Milwaukee is the theme of conversation. People have not been so deeply moved since the terrible destruction of life by the Brook-lyn-theater fire. Western men here are eagerly looking for every detail, and are especially anxious about the names of the killed, wounded and missing, hoping strongly, however, that the names of relatives, friends, or acquaintances may not be found in the list. Telegraph offices are burdened with messages making inquiries, and each edition of the newspapers is eagerly scanned. THE NEWS IN THIS CITY. Rev. Myron W. Reed an Intimate Friend of Several of the Head—H. B. Sherman's Knowledge of the House. A Journal representative called upon Rev. Myron W. Reed last evening to learn what he knew about the Newhall House. As is generally known, Mr. Reed preached in Milwaukee for several years immediately prior to his removal to this city, and he has been acquainted with that city more or les3 since 1856. He was quite well acquainted with a number of the victims, some of whom were members of his church, and he was ranch affected by the news of their death in such a manner. With the proprietor, Mr. John F. Antisdell, he had been especially intimate, having been engaged frequently with him in religious work. “Mr. Antisdell,” said Mr. Reed, “was one of the finest men I ever knew—large-hearted, noble-spirited; in fact, one of nature’s nobltfmen. He was always active in Christian work, and had conducted for many years a mission-school, with a membership of more than GOO. His rooms were on the second floor and he surely must have perished in saving others, for he could easily have escaped from his apartments.” “The hotel,” Mr. Reed said, “was a perfect death-trap, and I never went to bed there without feeling that in case of fire I would be roasted in my room, with no possible opportunity of escape. The guests were taken up in the elevator, and the stairways were in such obscure positions, and so narrow and winding that a guest would have no idea how to find them. The halls were narrow and dark, and the house built generally after a very ancient model. The hot 1 was considered first-class, and was patronized extensively by families as boarders.” Among those with whom he was acquainted, Mr. Reed spoke particularly of Mr. T. B. Elliott, a lawyer, who is reported fatally injured. He spoke of him as an intimate friend, and a lawyer of exceptionally bright promise. He said (which is only too true) that this dreadful casualty will occasion the exercise of extra precautions on the part of everyone for a little while, and then the world will relapse into the usual carelessness regarding such matters. “Such buildings,” said he, “are allowed to stand, just a a dead limb is permitted to mar a tree, and we feel that it ought to be attended to, but finally become used to itond forget it”

the views or h. b. sherman. Mr. 11. B. Sherman, of the Denison House, was interviewed regarding the matter, he having lived in Milwaukee for a long time as proprietor of the Plankingtou House. He said the Newhall House was begun in 1857, by Daniel Newhall, a wealthy grain merchant, and, when the first story was completed, failed in business, and left it for others to complete. The first story was wellconstructed, but the remaining six stories were run up in a cheap manner, with wooden .partitions and other features that rendered the building very combustible. The hotel stood in the heart of the city, on the corner of Broadway and Michigan streets, directly opposite the Chamber of Commerce, and the elegant Mitchell block. It was built of brick aad very plainly furnished, with the office on the second floor. An elevator was located near the center of the house, and, at the extremities of a wide hall running the entire length of the building were winding stairways to the upper floors. Mr. Sherman Faid that the staircases furnished very inadequate means of escape, and the danger in case of fire was frequently referred to by the guests. The house had about 250

rooms, the building having a frontage on Broadway of nearly 200 feet and 120 feet on Michigan. The owners. Mrs. C. D. Nash and Daniel Wells, jr., were contemplating making the much-needed improvements, and would “probably have remodeled the entire structure in the spring. He estimated the value of the hotel at $175,000, exclusive of furniture and equipments. Mr. R. M. Hackett, of the Northwestern Life Insurance Company, who lives in Milwaukee, was found at the company’s office, lie thought the building was worth $250,000, but fully coincided with Mr. Shermau in the view of the combustible nature of the structure. Mr. Curtis Judson, the first manager of the Newhall House, was at one time manager of the Bates House of this city. OLD HEIMS. Iu Illinois. Clinton, 111., Jan. 10.—The heaviest snow storm of the season was in progress here today. The wind blew a perfect blizzard from the northwest, and the snow is badly drifted. North-bound trains are behind several hours. Chicago, Jan. 10.—A blizzard has been raging in southern Minnesota. Trains are stopped by snow-drifts. Shoveling is going forward actively. The blizzard came unexpectedly, finding thousands of people unprepared, and will probably do great damage. Two engines are stuck in a drift at Cape Benton, 111. It is the worst storm for two years, and appears to extend 350 miles. In Virginia. Petersburg, Jan. 10.—A snowstorm set In yesterday and continued all night, the ground on a dead level being covered to the depth of twenty-one inches, and the snow still falling. It is the deepest seen here since 1857. Travel on the streets is almost impossible, except with sleighs. Trains in every direction are delayed. Mail trains from the south, bound north, are blockaded here. Fredericksburg, Va., Jan. 10.—A fierce northeast snow-storm has prevailed here for the past twenty-four hours. The snow lies in deep drifts, and trains are obstructed iu all directions. In New York. New York, Jan. 10. —The Signal-serviee Bureau reports the storm likely to last two days, unless broken by some meteorological disturbance. The storm on the sound is the severest for years. In New Jersey. Long Branch, Jan. 10.—The snow was so drifted this morning that trains on the Sandy Hook branch could not get through, DAILY WEATHER BULLETIN. Indications. War Department, i * Office of the chief Signal Officer, > Washington. Jan. 11, l a. m. ) For Tennessee and Ohio Valley—Clearing wearher preceded by occasional snow, northwesterly winds, stationary or lower temperature, higher pressure. For Lower Lake Region—Cloudy weather with occasional light snow, northeast breaking to northwest winds, stationary or lower temperature, higher pressure.

Local Observations. Indianapolis, Jan. 10. Time. | Bar. j Th. Hum Windj Weather. R’f'l. 6:24 a.m.129.53 |2O 91 8 Lt. snow .15 10:24 a.m. 29.50 '26 88 8W {Lt. snow 2:24 P.M. 129.54 22 73 NW Cloudy. .15 6:24 P.M.|29.69 }l7 73 NW [Lt. snow Maximum temperature, 26; minimum temperature, 15. General Observations. War Department, ( Washington. Jan. 10, 10:24 p. m. J Observations taken at the same moment of time at ail stations. —* jf--3 * = 2 = p 3- ; 2?■ 9 station. | | ; f r “I , , - , •S! ! • j y • 5 j ‘ • i ; oo '• Bismarck, D. T... 30,43; 0 Calm (Cloudy. Cairo 30.03 25 N .01 Lt.snow Chicago 29.82 23 NE .03 Hy®now Cincinnati 29.80 19 W .06 Clear. Champaign 29.89 9NW .09 Cloudy. Columbus, O I Davenport 30.02 13 NW Fair. Deaawood 30.32 24 SW Cloudy. Denison,Tex 30.25 46 NW Clear. Denver 30 31 47 W Clear. Des Moines 30.12 6 N Clear. Dodge City 30.34 30 N Clear. Dubuque Fort Assinabome.. Fort Buford 30.41 12 NE Cloudy. Fort Concho 30.30 40 Calm Clear. Fort Custer Fort Smith 30.24 38 NW Clear. Galveston 30.23 51 SW Clear. Indianapolis 29.80 15 NW Cloudy. Indiauola Keokuk 30.09 9 NW Clear. La Crosse 30.05 11 NW Clear. Leavenworth 30 28 21 NW Clear. Little Rock, Ark.. 30.12 41 NW Clear. Louisville 29 84 20 W Cloudy. Memphis 30.06 37 NW Clear. Moorhead 30 40 —l6 N Clear. Nashville 29 “9 38 W Lt.snow North Platte 30.36 33 NE ....Cloudy, Omaha 30.34 15 N {Clear. Pittsburg 29.67 23 N .03 Lt.snow Port Eads 30.16 57 W Clear. San Antonio 30.24 53 SE Clear. Savannah, Ga Shreveport 30.18 50 NW Clear. Springtield, 111 30.03 10 NW Clear. St. Louis 30.08 13 W .04 Clear. Stockton 30.98 32 SW Clear. St. Paul 30.18 5 NW Clear. Vicksburg 30.13 50 NW (Hear. Yankton. D. T 30.36 15 N Clear. Las Animas 30.30 20, 8 Clear. Wasnakee 30.30 361 NW Clear.

Religious. Cincinnati, Jan. 10.—The annual meeting of the trustees of the Chautauqua Assembly commenced here to-day to lay out work for the coming year. The following officers were elected: Lewis Miller, president; F. H. Root, Jacob Miller, F. D. Cooley, vice-presi-dents; A. K. Warren, secretary and superintendent of grounds; E. A. Skinner, treasurer; J. H. Vincent, superintendent of instruction. The session will be continued to-morrow. Knights Templar Prizes. San Francisco, Jan. 10. —At a meeting of the executive committee of the triennial conference of Knights Templar it was suggested a tropny symbolizing the natural wealth of the State of California be offered as a prize for the best drilled company, instead of a standard of the order as heretofore done, the trophy to cost $5,000. Fire at Toledo. Toledo, Jan. 10.—A fire, which started this afternoon in a steam dryer in a brick warehouse of the Toledo Linseed Oil Company’s new mill, caused a loss upon the building and stock of from SB,OOO to $10,000; insured for $15,000, principally in New Orleans companies. * Steamship Arrivals. Boston, Jan. 10.—The steamer Caledonia, from Gibraltar. Dec. 17, not arrived, with a cargo of green fruit, is deemed lost. New York, Jan. 10.— Arrived: Circassia, from Glasgow; I). Stein man n. from Antwerp. Mill Burned. Tomah, Wis., Jan. 10. —Freeman & Beers’ four-story, steam flouring mill, with several cars of wheat, flour and feed, was burned at sa. m. Loss, $25,000; partly insured. Mr. J. T. Board, Jeffersonville, Clarke county, was cured of dyspepsia by Brown’s Irou Bitters.

M. T. POLK AGAIN. He is Arrested With His Hands Full of Prickly Pear Thorns. Galveston, Jan, 10.—A Laredo special says that Polk, the Tennessee treasurer, after his first arrest was liberated for over $5,000. He was rearrested hiding in the brush several miles from Webb, by Nnited States Marshal Sheehy, whom Polk offered $3,000 to release him. It is reported that Polk’s nephew and servant crossed into Mexico, with a large amount of money. The defaulting treasurer was accompanied by Private Detective Cameron, whom he bribed to pilot him out of the country. The detective was arrested, and, in turn, attempted to bribe Sheehy to allow him to escape, saying that he had made a good thing, and could put Sheehy in the way of pocketing a few thousand. When captured, Polk’s hands and clothing were filled with prickly-pear thorns, got from wandering in the thicket. New Orleans, Jan. 10.—The Times-Demo-crat’s San Antonio special says: “M. T. Polk is under speeial guard in this city and will be held and not turned over to anyone else till there is some guarantee that the reward will be paid. Detective Cameron was put in the county jail, and a warrant has also been issued for John T. Price, the detective who let Polk go. Officers are now looking for him. Treasurer Polk confesses everything. He says he paid Price and Cameron $2,500 in indorsed checks on New Orleans banks; also a lot of gold he had in his pocket for his release. Van Polk got into Mexico with the bulk of the money.” Galveston, Jan. 10.—The News’s Laredo special says Polk, the defaulting Treasurer of Tennessee, left for Austin to-day, in charge of two United States marshals.

BABBITT’S METTLE. It Will Be Tried in a Suit for One Hundred Thousand Dollars. Now York Special. Richard W. Peck, a New York merchant residing in Brooklyn, lias brought a suit i?* the Superior Court against Benjamin T. Babbitt, the wealthy soap manufacturer, tor SIOO.. 000. He alleges that in 187 G the defendant, with intent to seduce the eighteen-year-old daughter of the plaintiff and induce her to leave her home and live with the defendant as his mistress, planned a scheme to bring about that end. The complaint says that the defendant made the acquaintance of the girl and her mother, Ellen E. Peck, in connection witli the stealing of $200,000 from the defendant by his cashier, Charles Beckwith, and that Miss Peck was employed to aid in the recovery of the money. For this aid the defendant gave her $19,000, but afterward caused her arrest on a criminal charge and procured from her a chattel mortgage on the furniture in the plaintiff’s house. The plain-. _ tiff alleges that he knew nothing of all this at the time, and that by several action# brought against him by the defendant, and by the arrest of his wife, he has been damaged in his business and feelings to the extent od SIOO,OOO, for which he demands judgment. " The Presidential Succession Bill. Washington Special. The presidential snceession bill, in brief, provides that in case of death or disability of the President or Vice-president the office shall devolve upon the Secretary of State, the Secretary ot the Treasury, the Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Navy, the At-torney-general, the Postmaster-general, and the Secretary of the Interior. It remove* the presiding officers of the Senate and House from succession, and, if it becomes a law. which is not probable, will tend to relieve the Senate of its wrangl choosinp a dent pro tempore. The Scoville# Finally Separate. Chicago Special. Judge Moran sent for the attorney who acted for Mrs. Frances M. Scoville, and said that he had decided to allow Mrs. .Scoville a divorce from her husband, George Scoville. Thus ends the litigation which the couple have been indulging in ever since the Guiteau trial. The divorce was granted on the ground of failure to support, and was the result of an arrangement entered into between the litigious pair. Notes by Wire. Trains are delayed all over the country by the heavy storms of the past two days. The Republicans of Minnesota will caucus for senatorial nomination at St. Paul to-day. Governor Stoneman. of California, In his Inaugural, favors the abolition of Suuday laws. Ben BuMer and friends are settingup a scheme to hoist him into Iloar’s seat in the United States Senate. The Republican caucus for nomination for United States senator will meet at Springtield, 111., to-day at 2:30, An American named James F. Blieepan, formerly a confidential clerk of Megray, Fortier, Groze & Cos., dry goods merchants in Greeu street, New York, has been arrested at Montreal. He is charged with forging the name of his firm on a check for $7,230. The prisoner admitted liis guilt. The People's World wide Verdict* Burnett’s Cocoaine has been sold In every civilized country, and the public have rendered the verdict that it is the cheapest and best Hap Dressing in the world. Burnett’s Flavoring Extracts are Invariably acknowledged the purest and the best.

The Great Consumptionßemcdy BROWN’S EXPECTORANT Has heen tested in hundreds of cases, anti never failed to arrest and care. CONSUMPTION, if taken in time. It Cures Coughs. It Cures Asthma. It Cures Bronchitis. It Cures Hoarseness. It Cures Tightness of the Chest. It Cures JDijJtculty of Breathing. Brown’s ExpECJOWT Is Specially Recommended for WttdQ&IXG CotfGWo It will shorten the duration of the disease and alleviate, the paroxysm of coughing, sons to enable the child to pass through it without leaving any serious consequences• BRICE, SOe. and SI.OO. A. KIEFER, Indianapolis, Ind.