St. James Fire

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Three Gallant African American Fire Fighters Meet Death in the Fiery Cauldron.

Four of the bravest fireman in the Denver Fire Department lost their lives last night at a fire in the St. James Hotel. With one exception, the deceased are African American, and their deaths go to prove the truth of the statement of Chief Roberts that the African American company was not surpassed in bravery by any members of the department. The company was only organized under the Populist administration and the idea was scouted at the time as a bid for political effect. Chief Roberts was always an able defender of the African American men, in whose favor he testified when the residents of the upper district were complaining that only the African American were sent to a fire in the aristocratic district. "I only wish every man in the department was the equal of those against whom these people complain, for then there would be a fire department without an equal in the "country," was what the chief said. "They know no fear and can go into smoke that would turn many of the best men away."

This very intrepidity cost them their lives, and the vast population of African American people can always point with pride to the gallant record of the men who were first selected to test the principle of equality in the fire department. Only one man escaped, and the wagon of the company was taken home to an empty house that today will be conspicuous with mourning for the poor fellows who died in the discharge of their duty. The house is at Twenty-sixth and Lincoln Avenue, and the only survivor, the driver of the hose wagon, will today report at the house which has been bereft of all its members by the fatality of last night.

The books of the hotel showed that every room was occupied last evening. The house had 165 guest, the largest number at any time for months, unless at times of large conventions. The house has steadily grown in favor under the management of Mr. Clark and was especially popular among traveling men. The guests found temporary shelter in the annex of the St. James, across the street, in lodging apartments or downtown hotels.

Smoke issuing from the floor above the boilers of the St. James was the first indication of the fire. An attempt to enter the baggage room showed that that room was filled with smoke. The door was closed in the hope of smothering the flames and Clerk Joe Clark notified the police department by telephone. Some delay was occasioned by this, as the police in turn had to notify the fire department. While this was being done Officer Freene arrived on the scene and turned in an alarm from the box at Curtis and Fifteenth. The department was quickly on the ground. As soon as Chief Roberts arrived he saw that the fire would be an ugly one to handle and he turned in a general alarm, in order to have all the apparatus on the ground that might be needed.

When a stream was got inside the smoke was so thick as almost to defy penetration. There was no way to ascertain, save by the word of those who had been there when it started, where the fire was and a hard fight was necessary to reach it. Even when within the building and near where the fire was said to be, the fireman could see nothing that would lead them to believe they were in the right place.

When the officials of the hotel discovered that the hotel was in danger of destruction men were sent to each floor of the building to see that the guests were all notified and conducted to the sidewalk. Every guest was out of the hotel before the smoke became dense, save one, who, in the annex, became lost, or confused and got out on the first balcony with his property and stood there for some time before discovered, earnestly entreating that a ladder be raised to him. When it was finally done the crowd cheered him as he came down.

Little fire could be seen anywhere, but volumes of smoke continued to pour from the roof. The fire reached the elevator shaft and twice flared from its top for a minute at a time, but the water being poured in below would seem to reach its source and it would go out. The men working on the building could discover no flames at all. Streams were poured in from the front way, through the doors, lines of hose being laid to the second floor and to the basement, and from the alley through the kitchen and rear rooms, but no headway appeared to be made.

At this juncture it appeared that the hotel and adjoining buildings might go, and Chief Roberts sent for the water tower which was placed in retirement some time ago, and had hose stretched and the tower raised so that at the first demand it could be placed in service.

A member of ladder No. 1 was overcome by the smoke in the building and had to be assisted to the outside. Chief Goulding of the Police Department and the entire fire and police board were attracted to the street and gave orders that ropes be stretched and the crowd forced back in order to give the firemen ample room. The streets of the vicinity were so crowded that it was with the greatest difficulty that this was accomplished but finally they were driven back to Fifteenth and Sixteenth Streets.

Every effort was made to reach the heart of the fire, but for a long time without success. Until the lines were stretched the people would persist in crowding into the hotel and being in the way of the firemen and in danger of being smothered. In spite of all the water that was poured within, the smoke seemed to gain upon the firemen.

In the rear of the building four lines of hose were run from Sixteenth Street and three from Fifteenth Street, and the alley presented much of the appearance of the bottom of a bowl of vermicelli soup with the curled-up hose. The work of the firemen here progressed without incident and it was not long until the smoke which had been issuing from the back windows ceased pouring. There was no trouble in preserving order here, for the alley was so dark that not many idlers cared to stay, most of those who did being young fellows whose chief occupation appeared to be to make fun of the firemen. Three of the streams used were carried to the top of the building, while the others were used in the floors. The water soon began to pour down heavily and the alley became cold and uncomfortable.

About 11:30 a crash in the rotunda of the hotel gave warning that the floor was giving way. A gaping hole gave went to great volumes of smoke and also gave opportunity for the firemen to concentrate half a dozen nozzles on the sullen mass of smoke and cinders that continued to pour through from the basement. The upstairs rooms were entirely deserted and every entrance to the hotel was carefully guarded by police and private detectives to prevent sneak thieves from carrying away the furniture.

No. 1530, next door to the hotel entrance, was occupied by Kelly & Co., as a coal office, E. G. Wolff, one of the proprietors of the building, also had a desk in the room, as well as Burpee, a real estate man. The occupants became alarmed and carried away their furniture to safer quarters in the Tabor block.

No. 1532 was occupied by Henry Dean as a tailoring establishment. The smoke alarmed Mr. Dean and he established a line of communication conveying bales of cloth across the street. In the excitement a stranger disappeared with a bundle of goods.

Before the several streams were fairly at work the fire spread through the entire basement. Under the rotunda in particular, the mass of flames roared with particular violence. The thin floor on which was laid the tilting of the rotunda, was soon a mass of cinders. This weakened the floor, which was supported mainly by a single girder running through the center.

Owing to the sense smoke it was impossible to locate the men to the greatest advantage in reaching the flames. A hole was cut through the steps just inside the door and a small portion of the basement was quickly deluged, but a brick wall prevented the water from reaching the greatest flames. Directly over this cauldron of fire hose 3 was located entirely unaware that their position was dangerous. Chief Roberts was just behind them directing the stream, when without a single warning the entire rotunda floor fell in. Chief Roberts was grabbed just as he dropped and landed on the floor without injury. Scott of truck 2 also went down and was seized by a man in the rear who held him until assistance came.

As the floor went in, the flames which had been confined, sprung up to the glass skylight Into this went Captain Hartwell of hose No. 3 with his entire crew, consisting of Lieutenant Brawley, George Martin and Richard Dandridge. In the excitement which ensued it was not noticed that these men went down to their death. One or two firemen afterward said that they heard groans come up from below, but thought that they came from men at work in the dense smoke.

It was not until the fire was out that a young man called Chief Roberts' attention to the fact that there might possibly be a man in the basement. A search was at once made and the first thing that struck the sight of the men as they waded through the deep and steaming water of the basement, was a hand, apparently appealing for help. It was the hand of Captain Hal Hartwell, and his body was under a mass of cement and tiles with chairs on top of all. John Whitman and H. F. Sells were the first to see the body and willing hands at once removed the debris. The body was taken up a ladder and laid on the floor in the front of the door. Police Surgeons Johnson and Walker at once made an examination and detected a faint flutter of the heart, but this soon stopped and the lifeless and smoking body was placed on a stretcher and taken to the city hall.

The search continued with renewed zeal after the first body was taken out. It was all directed at the spot where the men went down, just about half way between the cigar stand and the clerk's desk. One of the firemen looked toward the back of the basement and saw a sight which was indeed sickening. The body of George Dandridge was thirty feet from where he went down. He was lying in a position with both hands in the air, as if making a last clutch for air. For thirty feet this man must have slowly struggled with broken limbs and head injuries, struggling to get away from the torturing flames as well as to get a breath of precious fresh air. Finally he reached the corner from which there was no possible chance of escape. Then he slowly drew himself up and threw both hands in the air as the end came. Death was indeed welcome to the man, though it came with torturing slowness as the flames seared his body.

While Dandridge was being taken out the body of George Martin was found a few feet from where his captain was discovered. Life was extinct and death was caused probably by suffocation, for his face showed distortion. His arms and face were badly burned. After his body was removed, much work was necessary before the last was found. Lieutenant Brawley was partially buried by the first fall of the floor. As the small remaining portions of floor fell the body was deeply buried.

A remarkable fact in connection with the fire under the rotunda was that another company was working there while hose No. 3 was above. The flames had gained such headway, however, that they were forced to retire. They had hardly reached the other basement separated by a brick wall until they heard the crash of a wall.

From here they were again driven by the advancing flames and finally the entire force was practically on the outside of the building pouring water through every window and door on the first floor. Through the stores and offices which are located in front of the main dining room the most effective work was done.

Just back of Deane's tailor shop is located one of the stairways. One side leads to the basement and the other to the second floor. The thin door separating them was soon burned through and the flames were rushing up to the second floor. Partitions suddenly crumbled from the flames, which worked in their interior. Steadily the streams of water and chemicals were poured on them until at last they were left steaming and smoking below, but the fire had gained above. Then it was necessary to get at the fire right in the thick choking smoke which poured from the windows on the upper floors.

Ladders were in readiness and two crews were sent up. Here two or three men were overcome by the smoke and heat and were taken down and placed where they could get fresh air.

After this portion of the building was saved the only fire which remained was in the walls surrounding the rotunda. The remains of this portion of the building were simply a gaping hole from the cigar stand to the counter, which was itself held up by its own structure resting on one single truss. The floor had even fallen away from beneath the desk. The only remaining portion of the whole floor which did not go down was in the immediate entrance. This caved in several times after the fire was practically out by the weight of people upon it, but no serious accident was caused.

S. P. Clark, proprietor of the hotel, was seen at midnight. Mr. Clark was greatly exhausted by his efforts in seeing his guests to new quarters and anxiety over his two children, both of whom were snatched out of a sick bed in the height of the excitement.

Manager C. M. Hill of the Windsor sent a pressing invitation for Mr. Clark and his family to accept the hospitalities of the Windsor. The message was conveyed by Thomas Lord of the Windsor and warmly acknowledged by Mr. Clark.

"I have not the faintest idea," said he, in reply to an inquiry, "as to how the fire started. All I know is that the house was filled with smoke in a few minutes after the fire was discovered. The smoke rushed up the elevator shaft and the stairways and we had all we could attend to in looking after guests."

Mr. Clark said he carried $12,000 insurance on the furniture in the Sweeney Agency. The insurance on the building was carried by the owners, H. G. Wolff, Captain Putnam and Mrs. Higgins.

Captain Hartwell Came from a Race of Fire Fighters Who Never Shirked Duty.

Hose company No. 3 was organized late last summer at the earnest request of the African American taxpayers, who held a meeting in B. Forsyth's office in the Steele Block, at which time was resolved that recognition of the race would be demanded in the Denver fire department. The promoters of the scheme were Foresyth, Ed Allison, F. T. Bruce, S. H. Johnson, Peter Joseph and other prominent African American taxpayers. It was not long after the meeting until the company was formed and took charge of the house at Lincoln Avenue and Twenty-sixth Street.

Eight years ago an attempt was made to have an African American company, but it never entered service. A roster was made up with J. W. Hodges as captain.

Captain Hal Hartwell has been on the fire department about seven years, and is one of the men who could be depended upon at all times. His record for bravery and for coolness and good work at fires is surpassed by none of his associates. When the company of African American men was organized and stationed at Twenty-sixth Street house, Mr. Hartwell was selected to act as Captain, because of those qualifications that go to makeup a successful fireman. He was a man of about 35 years, and came from a family of firemen. He has brothers who are in the same line of work. Fred Hartwell was in the cold storage fire in Chicago, and was one of the few in the company who escaped alive. The Hartwell brothers are all well known Chicago horsemen, and one of the boys for years drove the West Side insurance patrol.

F. S. Brawley, lieutenant of the company, was unmarried and about 30 years of age. He lived at 1932 Broadway. He came to this city several years ago and was appointed to the fire department when the African American company was organized. He was one of the most influential men of his race.

Richard Dandridge was only married within the past few weeks to Miss Gussie Porter. He was about 25 years of age.

Steve Martin lived across from the hose house on Lincoln Avenue and was a married man. He had no children and was about 28 years of age.

George Walden, driver of the hose company, was off yesterday and through that providential interference was kept out of danger.

It is almost impossible to estimate the loss. The interior of the building on the first floor is gutted completely, and the fire seems to have skipped from the office floor to the third floor where it raged for a time with great violence.

The rotunda of the hotel is a complete wreck and the floor is caved in from the entrance above the flight of steps that leads from the doorway.

The damage is more by water than by fire, and all the bedrooms are completely drenched. There is considerable loss to guests of the hotel, many of whom lost their personal belongings in the rooms they occupied.

The damage to the walls by fire and water is great, but the owners of the building would not make an estimate of the loss this morning. H. G. Wolff said that he had been through only a portion of the building, and could only say that the loss was fully covered by insurance. The insurance on the building is $50,000, in the following companies and agencies: Cobb, Wilson & Co., Caledonia, $5,000, Royal; $5,000, Phoenix; $5,000, D. C. Packard Sun of London; $2,500, K. A. Pence, North British; $2,500, Northwestern; $2,500, Atlas; $2,500, The London; $2,500, The Palatine; $10,000.

James Williams - Commercial Union, $4,000; Insurance Company of North America; $4,000,

L. Anfenger & Co.- Northern, $2,500; Transatlantic, $2,500; Russian National, $2,500.

Brannan & Kellogg - Liverpool, London and Globe, $5,000; Springfield Fire and Marine, $2,500;

The stores and offices: adjoining the hotel and where the walls connected are badly damaged by water. The real estate office of H. G. Wolff & Co. was burned on the inside to a crisp, but the books and papers were saved and conveyed across the street soon after the fire commenced. J. A. Hill's hat store was soaked, but he does not estimate that the actual loss will be more than nominal.

The St. James Hotel was originally know as the Wentworth House. It was near the middle of the block and set back a dozen feet or more from the walk, being surrounded with broad verandas. About 1880 Dave Gage took charge of the hotel and soon after the building was remodeled and the part nearest Fifteenth Street was built. Gage gave up the hotel in 1884, and since then it has passed through a number of hands.

The hotel was five stories in height with basement. In the front a deep balcony was set in, adding much to its attractiveness. The office, dining room and waiting rooms were on the first floor. The hotel was a great resort for politicians of the state, and several members of the legislature have made it their home during the present session. Labor organizations have made it headquarters for conventions for some time. The hotel was a popular one, especially with Colorado people. When the Champa Block directly in the rear, was burned the evening of March 22, 1894, it was feared that the hotel was doomed, and there was something like a panic among the guests. While the hotel was considerably damaged the flames were kept from gaining a foothold on it.

William Furst was manager of the hotel for three years prior to 1892, when Mr. Clark assumed the management. He cleared from it in that time the round sum of $100,000. It was one of the most popular resorts and the house gained a reputation that made it known over the entire country. It continued to do a good business, even in dull times, and the past winter has been particularly prosperous.

Chief Roberts assigned to the places of the dead men the following: Dave Reed, who was in charge, now foreman of the fire alarm; Ed Lane, another lineman; Henry Sellers of steamer No. 4; Charles Lutz, of Hook and Ladder No. 1. These men are to serve temporarily and the chief will ask the board today to appoint four men to the force.

M. Hale, pastry cook of the St. James, staggered into the City Hall at 2:30 this morning, suffering from inhalation of smoke at the fire. The police surgeon fears that pneumonia may develop.

Steve Martin, the dead fireman, and George Walden, the surviving member of the company, were the detail from the Twenty-sixth Street house to attend the funeral of Detective Al Moore.

An unknown man had his hand badly cut by coming in contact with a glass partition.

The fire never reached above the ground floor except through the elevator shaft at brief intervals.

Commissioner Wilson of the Fire and Police Board was an interest observer of events during the entire time of the fire.

The books of the hotel are securely locked up in the vault. A great chasm, forty feet across, yawns in front of the office desk.

John Whitman of Steamer No. 4, was overcome by smoke, and was carried to the pavement, where he soon recuperated and returned to his work.

Hill, the hatter, was off on a duck hunt. His store occupies the extreme eastern side of the hotel and was invaded by smoke. The insurance men took charge.

At 1:30 o'clock the wagon from Twenty-sixth was started back to the hose house. A new driver held the reins, and not a single member of the old crew was aboard. The men had died at the post of duty.

S. P. Clark was playing cards with a party of friends in his rooms upstairs, when a bell boy knocked excitedly on the door and announced that he smelled smoke. Mr. Clark was on the ground floor within five seconds and at once dispatched messengers through the house to warn guests of danger.

One of the miraculous escapes was that of W. L. Whittereck. Whittereck was on the third floor of the hotel assisting the guests to escape when he dropped to the floor overcome by smoke. One of the guests dragged Whittereck down stairs by the heels and when he recovered he found himself on the pavement.

All Denver mourned yesterday for the four brave firemen who died at their post in an attempt to save property. There were no race lines discussed and the friends of the lieutenant and firemen, as well as the weeping wife of the brave captain, have the sympathy of thousands. Much was learned in addition to the facts already published regarding the harrowing accident of Sunday night, and the coroner's jury, which will be impaneled today, will listen to a great deal of testimony.

Only one of the four men who were killed had his life insured. Captain Hartwell had a policy in the Bankers' Alliance of San Francisco for $2,500. When the remains of Dandridge were removed to the morgue checks to the amount of $560 and $4.20 in cash were found upon his clothes. The heat had not injured the paper, and this amount will tide over the wants of his family for some little time. Steve Martin and Lieutenant Brawley died almost penniless. A month ago the three African American men cancelled their insurance policies, thinking that they would not remain the the service long.

The expense of the funerals, which will likely take place Thursday next. It is expected will be borne by the city. At least this has been the custom in other cities, and an effort will be made, in view of the circumstances, to secure the same courtesy to the dead here. Several incidents of the fire came to light yesterday, among them being the rescue of Mrs. J. M. Ward. Two firemen were injured at the fire and yesterday they laid off. They were William Mason of Truck 2, eyes slightly burned, and William Curtis of Hook and Ladder No. 1, ankles and wrists sprained.

Thousands of people walked the street in front of the St. James yesterday and peered through the glass doorways at the great chasm which yawns in the rotunda. Special officers were in charge of the building and no person was admitted unless he had good reason to reach the interior. Guests of the hotel, who made a hurried exit Saturday night, were privileged visitors. They came by the score, climbing the stairways to their deserted rooms and joyfully finding in nearly every case that their personal effects had not been disturbed. The smoke had collected in black masses on the furniture and wall and many of the trunks that were slid down stairs looked as though they had been suspend in the smoke stack of a furnace. In a few instances small articles were missing, but it was quite generally acknowledged that they disappeared in the excitement of the night before.

The contents of the check room were a total loss. In view of the disaster to the house, the losers were not inclined to loudly kick. No hotel will insure overnights and parcels left in the check room. Valuables placed in the hotel safe are at the risk of the hotel. The damage to property of guests in their rooms was very light.

B. P. Clark announced yesterday that he would retire temporarily as host from the hotel business. Early in the day Mr. Clark had checks made out for his fifty-two employees, and every employee was paid in full. It was a sad parting between persons who had been long associated together, but Mr. Clark stated that two fires in one year were more than he could bear. "I will take a vacation," said he, "and some time in the future I will decide whether to re-enter the hotel business."

The prompt payment of the hotel employees attracted a great deal of comment favorable to the retiring hotel proprietor. Mr. Clark explained that the lease which he had on the building was canceled by the fire. He had signed a new lease in connection with J. M. Ward to continue in charge of the hotel, beginning October1. The consent of H. C. Furst was all that was necessary to complete the transaction, but the fire settled the fate of the new lease.

Mr. Clark received urgent invitations during the day to make his home at almost every hotel in the city. "Bring your family and stay all summer," said the generous hotel men. This evidence of friendly feeling was deeply appreciated by the retiring proprietor of the St. James. Although not in the hotel business at present, Mr. Clark will continue in charge of the St. James bar.

"I know the cause of the fire," said he in reply to an inquiry. "The fire was caused by imperfectly insulated electric wires in the ceiling of the baggage room. I made a trip to the basement as soon as smoke was discovered, and there I saw a wave of flame rush across the ceiling of the baggage room. The ceiling was occupied largely by a network of wires which connected with the dynamos and with various parts of the house. The fire did not originate in the engine room."

The St. James was supplied with its own electric plant. The dynamo and the entire plant is a wreck and the engine and boilers were badly injured by the intense heat.

The big clock in the corridor of the hotel hangs silent on the wall. The hands point to 11:20, when the heat became so great that the pendulum ceased to beat. The dining room time piece runs as usual, and has not varied in the slightest from the correct time. The dining room happily escaped the onslaught of the flames.

The vault connected with the hotel was opened yesterday and everything found uninjured. Packages containing $4,200 in cash, deposited by guests, were turned over to their rightful owners. A jewelry man rejoiced to find that two large parcels filled with his samples, and embracing many costly gems, were in perfect condition. The books of the hotel were saved.

The owners of the hotel building were in consultation yesterday and decided to repair the structure and have it reopened as a hotel. The fire of one year ago caused the house to be practically closed for eight or ten weeks, and it is possible the time may be fully as long in the present instance. Nothing will be attempted until the insurance adjusters have decided upon the amount of damage.

Harold Hartwell

Lt. Fred Brawley

Richard Dandridge

Steve Martin

Peculiar Affecting Circumstances Surrounding All of the Victims of the Accident.

Danger was thing that Captain Harold W. Hartwell never considered. His bravery was of the impulsive sort, and on occasions without number he risked his existence to save lives and property of citizens of Denver. He came from a hardy stock, his father and grandfather having been men among men, both physically and intellectually. The Hartwell's were known as men who feared no danger at the call of duty. The father of the deceased was a carpenter, and he raised three brawny sons, Harold, John and Fred. All three boys entered the Chicago fire service and acquitted themselves with credit. Fred is still in Chicago, being a member of Hose 68. On the night of the fire at the cold storage buildings at the World's Fair grounds Fred Hartwell started up to the fatal tower a few seconds before it collapsed. Had he started fifteen seconds before he did he would have met the horrible fate of the men who went down to death below. The fate that he escaped awaited his brother, Harold. Five years ago Harold, who was 37 years old at the time of his death, came to this city after serving six years on the Chicago fire department. At that time he had been married four years, and his domestic life was a very happy one. He was first assigned to Steamer 4 at Twentieth and Curtis Streets and prior to his appointment as Captain he was driver for ex-Assistant Chief Terry Owens. When the African American department was organized, Hartwell was picked out as the man especially fitted to be its head, and he performed his duties to the satisfaction of his superiors.

He was a member in good standing of Blue Lodge No.5, A. F. and A. M., at the time of his death. His life was insured for $2,500 in the Bankers' Alliance Insurance Company of San Francisco. He leaves a wife, but no children.

Yesterday, Fred Hartwell was notified of his brother's death, and last night he started for this city to attend the funeral.

Lieutenant Fred Brawley came to Denver five years ago from Liberty, Mo., with W. M. Walton; who is now driver of Hose 3. At the time of his death he was engaged to be married to Miss Julia Johnson, and arrangements were completed for the wedding which was to take place in a few weeks. He was a member of Rocky Mountain Lodge, A. F. and A. M. He was appointed April 16, last to the position he held at the time of his death. He had a good education at his home and improved every opportunity to learn. Two years ago last fall he was nominated as representative in the state legislature on the Populist ticket. He polled 9,402 votes, but was defeated by Bromley.

In the fire company he took the place of Henry Buford, brother of C. W. Buford, who resigned. At the time of his death he was 38 years old. He has an uncle living in this city.

There is a peculiar feature in the death of Steve Martin. When the alarm of fire was sent in to the station of Hose 3 at Twenty-sixth and Lincoln, Martin was writing a letter to his wife, who was in Colorado Springs visiting her father, who is ill. The letter was not completed, but the last thing that Martin wrote was that he would send his wife copies of the Denver Sunday papers.

The wife saw the papers, but they contained terrible news to her. When she heard of the death of her husband she boarded a train and came at once to the city. Their home is at 2540 Lincoln Avenue, opposite the Hose house. Martin came to Denver three years ago from Colorado Springs, where he worked in the railroad yards as car cleaner. He secured a similar position in the Gulf yards here, and was appointed as fireman on August 3 last. He was 25 years old.

Richard Dandridge was married six weeks ago, and he occupied a little house at Twenty-first and Welton Streets. Yesterday morning, after the accident, Mrs. Dandridge called at Chief Robert's house and asked if it were true that Dandridge was killed. When informed that he was dead the woman broke down completely and spent the day in weeping. On may 16 last, Dandridge was appointed substitute fireman, and after serving fifteen days he was appointed regular fireman. Of late Dandridge was driver for Assistant Chief Bates. Saturday night he drove members of his own company in their efforts. Formerly Dandridge was in the employ of the Pullman Company.

Driver W. M. Walton was the recipient of many congratulations yesterday. Saturday was his day off and he did not attend the fire.

The statement that Chief Roberts was within a few feet of the four firemen at the time the tilling gave way was an error. The chief was in the rear of the building at the time and heard only a faint crash. There was so much noise that he paid no attention to it, and it was through his inquiries that the four dead men were found.

"I didn't know until twenty-five minutes after they fell through the floor, that they were there," he said last night. "When I first arrived at the hotel I went through the rear into the basement. My plan was to keep the fire in one spot, for I knew that if the flames ever reached the elevator shaft that all would be over. I took charge of the men working in the rear as that was the most important point. There were five streams in the rear and I think that there were about that many in the front of the building."

The Chief crawled on his hands and knees in the basement to locate the fire and gave his orders accordingly. After the fire was well under control, Roberts walked to the front of the building, and seeing that some of his men were missing, he asked:

Roberts became suspicious, and asked one of the firemen which hose the firemen of No. 3 had taken into the building. The Chief then lit a torch and followed the line which led to the verge of the gaping death trap in the rotunda. The bodies were then recovered.

Before going into the smoke enshrouded rotunda Captain Hartwell said to one of the firemen on the sidewalk: "If we can save the building for the little chief, we'll save it-that's all."

His last words were: "Come on boys, lift on that hose and help me in there now."

There was not the slightest warning of their fate. The tiles were set in perfect shape, and as far as the firemen could see, the floor was level. The smoke from beneath did not rise between the tiles, and the trap was a simple one. The firemen had not the slightest reason to believe that the flooring would give beneath their weight. Examination yesterday showed that every piece of wood under the tiling had burned away, leaving absolutely no support.

Shortly after the first crash, Captain Jim Kane of Hose 4 ventured to the brink of the gaping hole, and he slipped, and would have tumbled in but for Fireman Dan Ford, who caught him and pulled him up. Speaking of the fire, Chief Roberts said that the St. James was a building always dreaded by the department. Ex-Chief Pearse, among others, looked upon the building with suspicion, as there were several fires in the place, and all very difficult to handle.

With the cries of death's victims still in his ears and the memory of the yawning furnace haunting his vision, Walter Scott yesterday told his experience at the St. James fire Saturday night, when Captain Harold W. Hartwell, Lieutenant Fred S. Brawley and Firemen Steve Martin and Richard Dandridge were killed.

Scott is one of the crew of truck 2, and he was one of the men who dragged the line of hose over the treacherous tiling of the rotunda of the hotel. When the crash came Scott slipped over the edge and was saved from death by the muscular arm of Lieutenant Sheffield of Truck 2.

"We were all crouched down to the floor," he said, "when the tiling caved, and I was lying upon my stomach. There was a good deal of excitement outside before we took in the line of hose. Someone called that a line was wanted inside and I helped them pull the line in. Captain Nulty and Lieutenant Sheffield were there too, making, in all seven. I was on the side of the hose towards the Curtis Street entrance of the hotel.

"Captain Nulty and Lieutenant Sheffield were beside me. Hal Hartwell and Martin were at the nozzle of the hose and Dick Dandridge and Brawley were opposite me. The smoke rolled across the floor and we all had to use sponges. No one in the crowd said a word after we got inside. It was hot and the smoke nearly smothered us. I was lying flat and using the sponge.

"Across the rotunda we saw a tongue of flame and thanking that the fire was getting headway, we aimed the stream at it. We were in there about fifty seconds I should say before the accident.

"I had reached over Hal to wet the sponge at the nozzle, and was lying down, when I heard a cracking noise. Before I could move the tilling fell. I heard something as though the others were crying out, but the noise was so great that I could not hear what they said.

"I felt myself slipping and I would have gone down, too, if it hadn't been for Lieutenant Sheffield. He had a firm foothold and he caught me by the collar and jerked me back. I felt rather dazed and I went out as quickly as possible to get some fresh air.

"When the tilling broke the flames shot out as if there had been an explosion. It made an awful crash. I injured my knee rather badly, but was not burned at all."

Among the many narrow escapes there was one that deserves special mention on account of the heroism of Truckman Jack D. Wilmot, attached to Truck 1 at the City Hall. Wilmot was working with his companions in the rear of the hotel and great volumes of smoke that rolled from the windows chocked them and prevented their seeing anything that was going on above. The ladders ere raised with much difficulty and the firemen ascended to do all they could in saving the lives of the inmates.

Wilmot was the first to arrive at the third story windows, and as he was groping his way upward he heard the half-stifled cries of a woman in distress. Clinging to a fire escape and vainly endeavoring to descend, was a pretty young woman. The fireman saw at a glance that his help was needed and the ladder being a few feet distant from the fire escape, he stepped over. The lady, Mrs. J. M. Ward, wife of the ex-manager of the American House, was almost exhausted and would have fallen in her attempts to escape suffocation had not the fireman carried her to the ladder and descended with his burden to the ground. Mrs. Ward was sitting alone, in her room, which is in the rear of the hotel, when the fire broke out. In a few moments the room was filled with smoke, and with considerable presence of mind she stepped to the fire escape. In making her way out she grasped a vase which she prized highly, it being a present from her husband, and fortunately it was not broken in the journey. She was cared for by her friends, who were distracted, fearing that she had met her death, and although almost prostrated by the experience, she will recover. Thinking that there were others in a similar predicament, Wilmot and his fellow truckmen worked the ladder to all the windows and several male inmates gladly accepted the opportunity to shin down to the ground with more haste than grace.

The crew of Steamer 5 were in the cellar of the building fighting the flames when the accident happened. A brick wall separated them from the space beneath the tiling which broke and the general uproar prevented their hearing a sound in the adjoining apartment. They had no knowledge of the struggle with death of the tortured creatures a few yards away.

"The remains of the dead firemen cannot be seen today," was the legend written upon a sheet of paper and pasted upon the window at Rogers' Undertaking Parlors yesterday morning.

Fully 2,000 people called at the morgue during the day to see the twisted and blackened bodies of the men who fell into the fiery furnace at the St. James. At first the visitors were permitted to gaze upon the dead, but the crowd became so dense that the attendants were compelled to exclude everyone. They did not wish to make a show of the dead, at least until the remains were prepared for the grave, a gruesome task.

Early in the day the wife of Harold W. Hartwell called and asked to see the remains of her husband. She was advised to postpone the trying ordeal but she would not consent to such an arrangement. When she was shown the remains she almost fell in hysterics, the sight being a horrible one. Weeping and wringing her hands the poor woman was taken to her desolate home by her friends.

Upon the streets yesterday the catastrophe of Sunday night was a subject of general discussion. Not the slightest blame for the deaths of the four men was attached to anyone. The African American people of the city were particularly stricken by the calamity which befell members of their race, for the three men where among the most popular in their midst. There was not a suspicion of ill-feeling against Chief Roberts. On the contrary, the Chief received the greatest praise for his kindly feelings toward members of the African American population.

Said W. Buford , a prominent African American resident, who was instrumental in securing "the organization of the African American company:

"The African American people of Denver should hold a mass-meeting in favor of Chief Roberts. For the past year Chief Roberts has been the folks' best friend. He was always ready and willing to give our men a chance, and he deserves the thanks of the African American people for it."

Commissioners Church and Wilson of the Fire and Police Board visited the scene of the fire yesterday and made a careful inspection of damage which had been wrought by the flames. The visitors made a trip through the basement and were shown the spots were the bodies of the brave firemen were found. They went upstairs and looked into the rooms which were blackened by the smoke. Mr. Wilson being somewhat of an expert on fires, from his long acquaintance with the fire insurance business, estimated the loss at $12,000 to $16,000. He was emphatic in his praise of the manner in which the fire had been handled. As he was present during the entire time Saturday night, he is well qualified to express an opinion on the subject.

"Chief Roberts and his men acted like heroes," said he. "I do not see how the fire could have been better handled. It was a peculiar fire and most dangerous to overcome on account of the great volumes of smoke that made it extremely difficult to locate the flames. The old style of fire fighting was to let the air in at the bottom until the smoke could be carried away and the flames could be brought into view. In the case of the St. James such a course would have led to certain destruction of the entire building and would have greatly endangered surrounding property. Chief Roberts was wise in keeping the lower openings closed and confining his operations to flooding the basement with water. The building is largely of wood on the interior and any other course than that pursued would have been disastrous.

"At the time of the crash," continued Mr. Wilson, "when the floor of the rotunda went down, Chief Roberts was directing operations in the basement at the rear. Three streams of water were playing from the rear and were making perceptible headway on the fie. About ten minutes before the accident a special officer who was looking after the safety of people in the building gave warning that the floor of the rotunda was a dangerous spot, and cleared the floor of forty or fifty persons who had gathered there. He succeeded in getting the people back and it is possible the death of four brave men would have been avoided had the men of hose No. 3 not retired into the rotunda on account of being almost overcome by the smoke. They had been fighting the fire on the stairway leading into the basement and my impression is they were forced back and obliged to seek air. The floor gave way under their weight."

Mr. Wilson described the basement of the building as highly dangerous to firemen on account of winding stairways with landings at short intervals and rooms cut up by partitions. The dense smoke blinded the men, and only tried and and thoroughly experienced firemen could hold their ground against such disadvantages. The water pressure, in his opinion, was all that could be desired and the nerve of the officers and members of the fire department was worthy of unstinted praise.

"It requires at least a year to make a good fireman," said Mr. Wilson, in answer to an inquiry, "and the African American men who met their death had proven themselves fully qualified for the arduous responsibility they entered upon. Chief Roberts always spoke of them in the highest terms, and the record of Saturday night proves that his estimate was correct. If the right kind of material presents itself, I have no doubt that Hose Company No. 3 will be continued as an African American company. I have not consulted other members of the board on the subject, "but such is my opinion."

President Church of the board was not present at the fie, but he expressed himself in a vein similar to that of Mr. Wilson. "From what I have learned," said he, "the fire department did its work manfully and added new luster to it's reputation. I regret exceedingly that valuable lives were sacrificed, but it is a hazardous life which a fireman enters upon, and only brave men can meet the requirements of such a service. I believe that Chief Roberts did his work right and the assistance of the police should not be forgotten. For the first time in Denver, the police were on ground and kept the crowd back. The people, however, did not interfere with the firemen."

The presence of the police was due to a resolution of the fire and police board recently, when the Chief of Police was instructed to assist at all fires in keeping the crowd back. There were 5,000 to 10,000 attracted by the St. James fire and had the police not been present it would have been impossible for the firemen to have performed their work so well.

Colonel Hogie was absent from the city Saturday night and yesterday, having been called away on business. The board will consider matters connected with the funeral today. Mr. Wilson referred with regret to the fact that the funds do not admit of extending assistance to families of the dead fireman.

The books of the St. James were taken out of the vault yesterday and show that upwards of 160 guests were registered on the evening of the fire. The list is as follows:

George Ady; city, Ammour C. Anderson, city; Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Atchinson, Mr. and Mrs. Morse, Boston; W. H. Allen, Boston; Prof. J. H. Baker, Boulder; H. H. Bills, Windsor; D. B. Burges, Fort Scott, Kan; F. M. Bingham, England; J. C. Bowman, Fort Wayne, Ind; G. I. Bray, Harrington, Pa: George Forman, Louisville; Mrs. M. C. Cannon, Wichita Falls, Kan; J. Coble, Cheyenne; R. W. Crockett, Aspen; A. L. Cochran, Boston; J. M. Corbey and wife, St. Louis; G. H. Clark, Alamosa; Senator Francis Carney, Ouray; J. O. Campbell, Rico; Miss Maggie Connor, city; C. D. Chamberlin, El Paso, Texas; W. W. Croke, El Paso; W. C. Dwyer, Cincinnati; M. T. Dodge and wife, Chicago; C. Dailey, New York; H. O. Dye, Leadville; E. A. Earle, Cleveland; Frederick R. Emerson and daughter, Rondout, N.Y.; J. H. Earle, Glenwood Springs; J. O. Eaton, Easton, Colo; John R. Forest, Omaha; G. M. Fish and wife, Omaha; Mrs. Charles J. Getz, Montrose; G. W. Gephart, Walsenbury; J. M. Brady, city; J. S. Gilmore, Colorado Springs; Joseph Gallagher, Silver Plume; Burt Gove, city E. W. Hallett, Colorado Springs; M. C. Hanneberry, Akron, Ohio; W. S. Haynes, Chicago; E. S. Hooper, Philadelphia; H. W. Hallett, Colorado Springs; G. M. Hollenburg, Salida; T. E. Howard, Gilman; W. L. Hanna, Omaha; J. F. Heeney, city; L. R. Jinks, Gilman; J. H. Jones, Topeka; G. W. Jenks, Fulgard; J. G. Johnson, Florence; W. F. Johnson, Omaha; Miss C. Kipper, Cripple Creek; W. F. Killer, railway mail service; P. E. Killer, Pueblo, W. T. Kenendy, Toronto, Can; B. F. Kelley, Creede; S. F. Lincoln, Boulder; D. J. Light, Pueblo; J. W. Laughlin, Philadelphia; J. J. Murphey, New York; W. R. Moon, New York; F. L. Martin, Colorado Springs; W. L. Mason, New York; J. N. McNutt, New York; J. G. Miner, El Paso; General F. J. Marshall, city; J. P. McDowell, Fairbury,Ill; James McWilliams, Telluride; R. J. Maxwell, Santa Fe; Ed Nott and wife, Kiowa; N. Newbanks, Pierre, S. D.; F. H. Nickey, Milwaukee; N. L. Wilson, St. Louis; C. E. Orvis, Chicago, W. H. O'Brien, city; R. G. O'Day; Columbus, Ohio; L. C. Paddock, Boulder; W. L. Perkins, Chicago, L. C. Preston, Victor; R. C. Peterman, city; A. H. Pickens, city; Charles Pillar, city; Augustus Pease, Fairplay; G. E. Pease, Fairplay; W. J. Porter, Alamosa; D. C. Rhodes, city; F. J. Ryan, Colorado Springs; G. A. Reese, St. Joseph; H. G. Bissell, St. Joseph; W. H. Sanders; Cripple Creek; W. W. Sweeney, Cincinnati; W. A. Stratton, Detroit; C. L. Seagraves, Topeka; D. M. Smith, Detroit; Harvey Teller, Windsor, F. F. Titbits, Minneapoliss; J. H. Trainor, Racine, Wis; E. G. Tompkins, Newark, N. J.; P. B. Tyler, Newark; L. VanOrden, Sunshine; C. Von Hagen, Ouray; G. L. Van Allen, Minneapolis; Charles Withrow, Central City; J. H. Whitford, Cincinnati; W. J. Williams, Omaha; G. W. Wilkinson and wife, Los Angeles; J. M. Ward and wife, Superior, Wis; Leonard D. Watt, wife and daughter, St. Louis; J. W. Wallace, Durango; C. L. Williamson, Breckenridge, H. Williamson, Media Pa; C. L. Westerman, Breckenridge; A. W. White, St. Joseph; G. L. Willard, St. Joseph.

The four brave firemen who lost their lives at the St. James fire yesterday night will be buried Thursday afternoon. This is the present arrangement and the funerals will be the largest ever held in the city.

Yesterday the coroner impaneled a jury to sit at the inquest which will be held tomorrow afternoon. The remains of Captain Hartwell, Richard Danbridge and Steve Martin will be interred in the Denver fire department plot at Fairmount Cemetery. Lieutenant Brawley's remains will be shipped to his old home in Liberty, Mo. The relatives of the deceased will be given the salaries of each for the month of March.

A great number of people visited the morgue yesterday but only a few were allowed to see the remains of the fireman.

** Transcriber Note: The reports on the firemen's funeral will be included in the next upload.