LONDON HOTEL ABLAZE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3293, 11 August 1911, Page 5

LONDON HOTEL ABLAZE.

A SENSATIONAL FIRE.

WITNESSED BY LARGE CROWDS.

NARROW ESCAPE OF SERVANTS.

[UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPT EIGHT.I LONDON, August 9. A sensational lire brake #ut upper stories of the Carlton hotel. The servants escaped by ladders._ The entire fire brigades were called out to prevent the fire spreading to His Majesty’s Theatre.

CHARRED BODY RECOVERED.

DETAILS OF TREMENDOUS DAMAGE DONE.

(Received Aug. 10, 9.25 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 10. The Carlton Hotel fire originated in the shaft of the kitchen lift, and it* quickly involved the three upper floors and the roof. Being dinner time the hotel was crowded with wealthy American and foreign visiters. Many of them were dressing for dinner and some were having baths. They escaped in various stages of attire. A number of servants and guests were cut off from escape, and came to the upper windows, where they raised cries for rescue ladders. Others lowered ropes to the adjoining roofs, but within half an hour the flames had a great hold of the upper part of the huge building. Two hundred and fifty firemen, 25 steamers, and a dozen ladders were soon on the scene, and while the firemen were exploring the building, and attending to the hoses the public assisted by removing furniture and luggage, quantities of oostl- things being piled on the pavement. One charred body was found on an upper floor, and was identified as that of Finrun, an. American actor. Some firemen were overcome, and had to he taken to the hospital. A hucre crowd was attracted, including Mr. Winston Churchill, and some of the spectators “bo-hoeed” at him, crying out:— “What are you doing here.” It is estimated that the damage will amount to £30,000. His Majesty’s Theatre was damaged by water.