A Fatal Hotel Fire.
The burning of a hotel in Seattle, Wash., Friday of last week, resulted in the death of sixteen persons. The building was the West Street House. The fire started about one o’clock in the morning. The dead were burned beyond recognition, and the coroner decided to allow the bodies to remain where they were in the hope that the proprietor of the house could identify them by their situation through the hotel register, which was saved.
The fire originated in the kitchen, the first intimation being an explosion which was heard by S. F. Butler, son of the proprietor, who was night clerk. The kitchen was at the rear of the second-story. The flames spread rapidly through the dry inner timber of the building, which was of corrugated iron. The fire was so fierce that the occupants were taken completely by surprise and a panic ensued.
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