Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 June 1901 — RESORT HOTEL BURNED. [ARTICLE]

RESORT HOTEL BURNED.

Mineral Spring* Honae at West Baden la Destroyed. The Mineral Springs Hotel at Weet Badpu, lad., one' of the most famous health resorts in the West, was destroyed by fire at an early hour Friday morning, entailing a loss estimated from 1400,000 to $500,000. There were 250 guests in the hotel at the time and all lost nearly all their effects. But there was no loss of life and none were fatally injured. The fire, which was caused, it is believed, by an overheated range, was discovered early and the guests were quickly aroused. The flames, however, spread like a flash and almost in a moment the wooden structure was a mass of flames. The guests and employes were driven In a panic from the place, some in their Bight gowns and others in such pieces of apparel as they could grab in their hasty flight. A number jumped from windows and suffered painful injuries and a few were severely burned. In the mad rush to escape many were trampled under foot and badly bruised. There were many narrow escapes and thrilling rescues. Numbers of the guests were lowered from windows on ropes lim provised from sheets. The halls wen filled with dense black smoke, making escape by the stairways difllcult, and in the crush here many women were bruised and trampled. Several guests Jumped from the veranda to the ground, but fortunately escaped serious hurt. So quickly did the flames spread to all parts of the building that few of the guests made any attempt to save clothing or valuables. The hotel contained many invalids, patients who were suffering from rheumatism and unable to move with any speed. The care of this class of guests was given the/attention of employes. Willing hands were found, under the direction of the manager, and the crippled and suffering patients were assisted—carried when this was necessary—from their rooins to the lawn. Gathered about the burning hotel, the flames of which illumined the scene, wer* the white-robed people, the guests and employes of the big health resort. The guests were taken to the French Lick, a neighboring hotel, where they wen* cared for. The Mineral Springs Hotel at Weit Baden was erected twelve years ago. The owners recently refused $1,000,000 for the hotel, springs and grounds. The hotel was open throughout the year and had accommodations for some 800 guests. Connected with the hotel were an opera house, swimming pool, gymnasium and large bowling alley and an inclosed bicycle track, besides conservatories and bath house buildings.