la THE SUNDAY-- OREGONIAN. PORTLAND, AUGUST- 8. 1920 . 3 KILLED, 10 INJURED AS HOTEL IS BURNED Many Residents, Trapped by Flames, Rescued. PORTLAND TEACHER FIRST TO LOSE LIFE IN DISASTROUS ELTON COURT HOTEL FIRE. LEAPS FATAL TO WOMEN Flame Starting in. IObby From tnkijown Origin Quickly Sweep Tbrough AVhole Building. Continue Ftotti First Pfcgft.) men called- to her; but either she could not hear them In the-turmoil, or she nJld not heed them. She leaped to the sidewalk. Miss Bogus ran from her room and made her way through the flames which were sweeping; through the hallway on the fourth floor to a win dow. R. G. Saye, an employe of the Warren Construction company, saw the girl at a window and fearing that Bhe would jump pulled her away. The man then reached for his trousers be fore attempting to make his escape with the girl. When he turned again, she was gone. She had rushed to the window and before the firemen could arrange their life-net. had plunged to the ground. In falling, the girl struck the railing around the base ment entrance to the building and then rolled down the stairway to the basement door. Practically all the down-town fire apparatus was called out to the fire as the result of the second alarm and all available ' policemen were also rushed to the scene. The majority of the firemen,. however, were set at the work of rescuing the 60 residents of the structure rather than attempt ing to put out the flames, which were weeping the structure when the first apparatus arrived. With flames and Bmoke pouring from every window and from ths roof, the fire was one of the most spec tacular in the history of the city. Many deeds cf heroism were per formed by the firemen and police in making rescues. O. F. Thompson, fireman of truck 2, was overcome by smoke when rescuing a woman from a fourth story window. On only a small scal ing ladder he pulled the woman from the smoke and flame of the building and held her on the window ledge until Charles Abbott, truck 1, went to bis rescue. ' Girl la Carried to Safety. Abbott took the girl on his shoul ders and carried her to safety and Thompson made his way to the ground. "When be stepped from ho ladder he collapsed and was rushed to the police emergency hospital for treatment. He soon recovered, bow ever. It was Fireman Abbott who was at tempting to rescue Mrs. Chaney when she fell. The fireman had mounted a long ladder which had been put up to the fourth story on the Yamhill street side. He had rescued a man from the roof, where a number of the residents had been driven by the flames, and then attempted to rescue the woman, who had appeared at one of the windows. The Fireman managed to get hold of the woman's hand and her robe, but was unable to maintain his grip and she slipped and fell to the bottom of the ladder. With the exception of a few people on the upper stories who managed to make their escape down the fire escape, practically all the residents on the upper floors of the hotel were rescued by means of ladders. An unidentified girl Jumped from a third story window into the arms: of Patrolman Kehberg. She was unin jured. The policeman later was cut on the arms and face by glass while he was trying tp rescue some people from a window of the building, Jfa trolman Kelly also received burns and had his uniform badly scorched while assisting in the work of rescue. Thrilling Escapes Made. Among the thrilling escapes from the burning structure was that - of John, Medard and Hardy Jenny, who roomed on the upper story of the building. They were driven to the roof of the burning structure in their effort to make their escape. When the roof became so hot that they could no longer remain they began crawling out on a couple of electric wires which led from the building. Thewires broke and fell over the roof" of the -residence of Jack London, 409 Yamblll street, ad - Joining the burning building and they lt themselves down upon that building and waited until rescued by ladders. Hardy Jenny, in relating the story of their escape, said that they did not - waken until the blaze had reached the door of their room. When they threw -it open tbey were met by a 'wall of hissing flame. Escape was Impossible except by the win cow and onto the roof. When we climbed on the roof, we found the fits blistering bot to our bare feet he said, "and we were driven to the last recourse to save uur lives. Jack London also participated In the work of saving residents of the burning structure. He said that when bewas aroused by the screaming of vomen, and calls for help his first thought was to send in the alarm. Part way down the street, how vir, he met another man who ad viod him that the alarm had been sent in. Partially clothed as he was. heuhen rushed to the work of rescue He managed to throw a small rop to second-story window down which about eight people made their way to af ety. J Knotted Sheets I'aed. C- F. Townsend. one of the injured, sated his life by a life line which he improvised from a couple of sheets anj spread from his bed. When he awoke to find the building in flames he," knotted the covers and lowered himself from a fourth-story window. Wa'en he was almost unconscious from babging In the - smoke which was sweeping from the windows below him he was taken down by firemen I who arrived with ladders. He was laker treated at the police emergency hospital. The fire was replete with Incidents where many people saved their lives and those of others by their presence of enind. Many hung to window ledges until the firemen arrived and took them down in spite of ' the choking sniske which enveloped them and the tongues of flame reaching out everywhere. Many took wet towels and. wrapped around their heads to prevent being overcome by the smoke. There were, on the other hand. m4ny who "lost their heads" and it was this which caused the greater number of injuries and at least two off the deaths. Many women were carried in a fainting condition to the ground by rescuing firemen and policemen. As the firemen were ar )ivT4ng and rushing out their equip ment pandemonium reigned among residents of the hotel caught like rats In trap, and the air was filled with screams and cries for help. The injured were rushed to tbe po- . ' J.IIL . Illlll ... I ll ) Z - ; K::,.:.-;,-.: A - y i ' ' m s-;" ' " i ; "1 " l, ,r - - , , : H MM - ' ' a h J ' X - ' v ' ' 1: VA . ' :r : " - IS t v: , jh . , - ' N ; v If t4' ' ' ' ' ' . i , iiJf'"" , : 'll: SCRUMS K. A. -JES&CLD ROUSED BY GIRL TRAPPED IX HUJ.. MRS. JOSEPUrAE J. CHANEY. ice emergency hospital for treat ment and the more serious were sent to St. Vincent's hospital. Drs. Blair and Wooley of the emergency hospi tal staff were in charge of the hospi tal and gave first aid to the injured. Probably a large percentage of the residents of the hotel suffered minor njuries as a result of their experi ences, and many had singed hair or clothing to show for their .narrow es cape. Few even had time to secure personal belongings or valuables, and the greater majority made their es cape but partially clothed. Rescue Work la Done First. A feature of the fire was the speed with which it swep't through the en tire building. Owing to arrangement of the hotel, with an elevator running up the center and a circular stairway passing around it all the way to the top, the fire rapidly swept from the obby up to the - roof. The efcvator shaft served. as a huge chimney for fanning the flames, and it was but a few minutes from the time the fire started until the entire building was mass of flames. The speed with which the structure was gutted may be Indicated by the fact that the first fire alarm was sent in at 6:01 A. M. The recall, indicating that the flames were under control, went in at 6:45 and the fire was en tirely out at 6:38. The flames were so hot in tbe In terior of the hotel that metal coins and trinkets were melted, and prac tically everything of value left In the structure was destroyed. The arrival of the fire department was delated by the fact that wires leading irom me alarm dox in me basement of the building had been burned off and tbe first attempt to reach the department was futile. It was only when the alarm was sent In from an outside box that the de partment responded. Later, acting Chief Young sent in a second alarm. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, although Fire Mar shal Grenfell and assistant Fire Mar shal Roberts are making a close in vestigation. , Miss Marie Cooper, who works at the Union station and returned to her apartment on the first floor of the building, from her work, at 2 A. M., told of hearing some sound in the lobby of the hotel about 4 o'clock. She' said it sounded as though someone had stopped in the lobby, and was looking at a news paper. It is thought it may have been some man who may have dropped a lighted cigarette stub on the couch or on the floor where it ignited the building. Mrs. Chaney, first of the victims of the fire, was well known in Portland because of having been a teacher in the Sunnyside school foy the past 23 years. The death of Mrs. Chaney was the third death of an unusual char acter in the Chaney family in recent years. Her husband, P. D. Chaney Portland contractor, died 'n the late 90s as the result of an operation for appendicitis. Her son. Dr. Fred R. Chaney. died as the result of an accidental fall at Valdes. Alaska, In 1908. Dr. Chaney had graduated from the University of Oregon medical department in 1907 and had gone to Alaska, where he met his death. Senrem for Will Made. He was an associate at the univer sity of Dr. Earl Smith, present cor oner, and Dr. Anna Klddell. He was a roommate of Dr. Sm'th. Mrs. Chaney had expected to go to the hospital for an operation in a short time, and she is said to have complied a book with the addresses of various friends and relatives. She is also said to have written a letter which she Intended to serve as a sort of a will for her various personal be loneriners in case of her death. An attempt is being made to find these. She is survived by three Drotners, Dr. C. I. Welsh. Agenda, Kan.: P. J. Welsh. Caspar, Wyo., and John Welsh, formerly of Enterprise. Or., but now living somewhere in eastern Wash ington. -Miss Gertrude Evans, another vic tim of the fire, had been working for the past year as a stenographer in the office of adhams c K-err. Her mother, Mrs. Kate Evans, lives at Great Falls. Mont. Miss Edith Bogue, the third victim. wasa daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C W. Bogue, Hauser, Or.. As aunt, Mrs. O. E. Moore, lives in Oregon City. The bodies of the three women were turned over to Coroner Earl Smith, who announced that an in-' quest would probably be held Mon day night. The three Jenny boys, who were among the injured, are former resi dents of Mount Angel. Or. Miss Grace Kirk, another of those injured, 1 " formerly lived at Brownsville, Or. Residents of the Hotel Arthur, an adjoining structure on Eleventh street, were driven from their quar ters by the fear that the fire might spread to that building. The hotel, however, was saved from damage by a fire wall. Residents of the Elton Court hotel, who were driven from their apart ments by the blaze. Included: Miss Marie Cooper, Miss Violet Johnson, Mrs. George Frost, Miss Diva Sarff, Miss Pearl Long, Miss Eva Patton, G. T. Griffith. J. Ross, A. Upton, A. R. Vanturier, Miss Rena Shaw, Miss Christine Johnson, Mrs. L. Ai Beck. Mrs. Currans, Miss Eva Bowerman, Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Martin. Miss Ann Fitzpatrick, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Brophy, Miss Gene Olds and Miss A. W. Resterup. Resident Crashes Bodily Tbrongb Glass JDoor in Leading Young . v j - Women to Fire Escape. Several girls screaming outside his doox In the hall where they wers cut off from escape by the roaring ilamea up the elevator - shaft' and stairway awakened R. A. Jerauld, traffic mana ger of the Wadhams tc Kerr company", who occupied a room on the third floor of the Elton Court hotel, wbch was burned yesterday. . Jerauld, who was severely cut as a result of crashing bodily through the glass door Into a fire-escape room, last night was resting with badly shattered nerves at the Hanthorne apartments, 261 Twelfth street. His injuries, which consisted of deep cuts In both arms and right leg and a scalp woand over three Inches in length, were treated at the emergency hospi tal, where he was taken in the same automobile that carried the uncon scious body of Miss E. Evans, who died later at tbe St. Vincent's hos pital. "I heard the girls beating on the door and screaming," said Jerauld. When I opened It up a wall of flame and smoke swept Into the room. The girls were crouching against the walL The flames were roaring up the ele vator shaft and the stairway. They tried to force their way Into my room, but I knew that there was no hope of escape that way, so I forced them back. '- " "At the end of the hall was a glass door leading into a fire escape room. which was locked. Whoever had been living in that room, had made his escane and left the door locked be hind him. The girls had been trapped In the hall for several minuteB. but In their excitement had not thought of breaking through the glass. I had no way to break the glass except to sro right through it with my bar hands. I "When I broke the glass. Intend ing to reach through the opening and unlock the door, the girls behind me,' urged on by the flames that were singing their hair and the choking smoke, forced me bodily through the door. We clambered out on the fire escape, but the end of the fire escape was a good 20 feet from the ground. The girls were all for jumping to the pavement but I held them back. Later the firemen arrled and got them all down by means of ladders." Jerauld's presence of ' mind prob ably saved the lives of the girls in the trapped hallway. He himself was taken to the emergency hospital in a semi-fainting condition due to loss of blood from his severe cuts. Jerauld was outspoken In -his con demnation of the Inadequate fire es cape facilities provided by the build ing. The building was a fire-trap of the worst description, he ealdv Nearly all the rooms facing on the court and some of the rooms facing on the street were absolutely cut off from escape in the fire, he declared. the hotel about 4 o'clock yesterday morning and " apparently loitered in the lobby reading a paper. He was heard to rustle papers for some time. xne chief, said that he could find no reason for an arson theory for the fire. i said there was the possibility-Ubat electric, wiring might have started the fire, but that he doubted that. "There is just one thing, though that looks peculiar to me and that is that tbe fire should have gained such headway before the department was notified," he declared, but he ex plained that by the fact that the fire would spread .rapidly In a building of that character. -. J -V" f ' , , I -lii?--'" : .- . , , , "r-ttrrrnvlfr'rr-iTi -rJ nri mT" m hmn -ininnriniirt iftil s Smoker Is Blamed for Fire. Carelessness on the part of some smoker is believed by Fire Marshall Grenfell to have been the cause of the disastrous Elton Court hotel fire early yesterday morning, according to an announcement made last night following an all-day Investigation. The chief said that further Investi gation would be made. He cited the report that a man was heard to enter Our Shoe Customers Are Returning for MORE SHOES! When you can buy high-quality, all-leather shoes at prices like these, you may well come back for more! Take advantage while this August sale is on. . j v, ' - . Women's Smart Footwear at Real Savings Women's Pumps in black and brown Russia calf and PQ Q(T patent colt; a wide range of widths and sizes, the pair Women's Kid Oxfords in black and brown; welt soles JQ Qf? and Cuban heels; the pair.. 5a0 Women's White Nubuck and Reignskin Fabric Lace C? QC "Boots; Goodyear-welt soles; the pair. ...I.... D I siO We Carry the Newest Styles in Laird, Schobef & Co's Smart Footwear for Women Stylish Footwear for Men Attractively Reduced Boydens Men's Russia Calf Bluchers in straight !- A QJT lasts; the pair.... 0l4.i0 Men's Brown Cordovan Lace Shoes; Goodyear-welt fl?" " Qtt soles; custom last; very smart; the pair....;...... D-LXetJ Men's Black Vici Kid Bluchers; Goodyear-welt soles; CJQ QCC guaranteed for satisfaction; the pair Di7e7J Men's Oxfords, $5.95, $9.95 We Give S. & H. Green Stamps With All Purchases 41 l .1 J- ivfj'f.vrf'id 129 Tenth Street, Between Washington and Alder Charles Abbott, fireman, who rescued three persons from the flames early yesterday and who attempted to rescue Mrs. Chaney, one of the victims of the fire. FIRM'S WORK PHASED TRIBUTE PAID BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER BIGEIOW. Blase Difficult One to Fight and Men Seriously Handicapped, Say City Officials. . Praise for the work of the Portland fire department at the - fire ' which gutted the Elton court building yes terday was expressed by Mayor Baker and City Commissioner Bigelow, the latter in charge of the fire bureau. - "The fire was an unusually difficult one to fight," said the mayor, "and the judgment used by officials in charge In rescuing guests In the hotel first and fighting the fire later was excellent. From all reports the fire fighters did heroic work, handicapped as they were by lack of firs escapes and other facilities-now Insisted upon in the building code." ' City Commissioner Bigelow was not a spectator at the fire, but after re viewing his reports he issued a short statement congratulating the men of the department in the handling of tbe fire. " "Acting Chief Toung did splendid work and he received fine support from, his men," the statement said. "The men are to be congratulated, for I am certain that had they not put forth their best efforts the life toll would have been far greater than It was. Kltsn Court has always been considered a fire menace, but existing laws did .not provide for precautions such as enclosed elevator shaft, en closed stairways and sufficient fire escapes. The present building code is not retroactive and does not cover buildings constructed prior to Its adoption." Acting Chief Toung commended Charles Abbott for his work in res cuing three persons and for his des perat effort to save the life of Mrs. Joseph E. Chaney. Chief Young also praised the men of the department for their work, which he declared excellent In every respect. BCILDIXG'S INTERIOR BURNED Elton Court Hotel Was Sold Two Weeks Ago tor $38,000. The Elton Court hotel, which was nearly totally destroyed by fire yes terday, had changed hands less than a month ago, B. H. Moore purchasing tne property from G. W. Brown and associates for a consideration said to have been $38,000. - The fire which swept the building early Saturday morning did at least $35,000 damage, according to a hur ried examination of the property. The walls were considered to be little damaged, but almost the entire in terior of the structure above the ground floor was a total loss. The structure was five stories in height and 60 by 70 feet in ground dimensions and was built about IS years ago. For the past three years it naa Deen under lease by G. A. Unrig, the property being managed by his daughter, Mrs. James Bohr- man. Unrig had been paying 400 per month rental for the structure, it was understood, his lease expiring with the sale of the- property about two weeks ago. Negotiations had been under way for a new lease between Unrig and the new owner, but bad not been completed. The furniture in the hotel, valued at about $11,000,. was the property of Unrig and was covered i by about $5000 insurance. It was stated. Coos Bay-Woman Stricken. MARSH FIELD, Or., Aug. 7. (Spe cial.) Mrs.. C. W". Bogue. mother of Edith Bogue, who died following in juries received in the Elton Court apartment fire in Portland, is a res ident of Coos Bay, where she has resided since the wreck of the steam ship Santa Clara on the Coos Bay sandspit several years ago. At that time another daughter of Mrs. Bogue lost her life while being brought ashore from the Santa Clara, the lifeboat being upset by the breakers Lalonr the shore. FIRE ESCAPE LAW I1M0 MARSHAL GRENTELIj TO FRE- SENT ACT TO COUNCIL Lesson Declared Learned by Elton Court Disaster, Where Protec tion Was Inadequate. Legislation requiring the Installa tion of adequate fire escapes and in closed elevator shafts and stairways in buildings constructed prior to the passage of the present building code will be presented to the city council by Fire Marshal Grenfell. it was an nounced yesterday. Elton Court, the building which was gutted by fire yesterday, had but one fire escape. The elevator shaft and stairway were not inclosed, allowing the fire to shoot from the first floor throughout the building and cut the occupants in one-half of the building from access to the fire escape. Elton Court was constructed prior to the enactment of the present build ing code, and was declared to be a fire menace five years ago. However, because the building code is not retro active, no proper precautions could be demanded by the firs bureau officials. "The fire at Elton Court demon strates the need of adequate fire pro tection in every building, old or new," said Mayor Baker yesterday. "Some times we have thought that ws were carrying the fire prevention work too far, and complaints have come from owners of property because of the additional money which had to be ex pended In complying with the laws. "Elton Court is but one of about 25 firetraps in Portland filled with peo ple." said Fire Marshal Grenfell. "A recurrence of the Elton Court firs can be expected at any time, because with the present legislation we are unable to force the owners of old buildings to inclose their elevator shafts and stairways and we cannot demand adequate fire escapes. M I ;. Sales! Hundreds of pieces of the best f urni ture offered at reduced prices during this series of Aueiist Sales! Liberal credit applies on every piece sold! Take advantage of so rrood an opportunity to furnish your home ! Cour teous service, with a sincere desire to please you!' Overstuffed Davenport $172.50 Full size and well constructed; spring seat, arms and black, and three loose- spring cushions; upholBtered in a good grade of tapestry. Greatly reduced from normal . price. Same Davenport in Denim Upholstery CQQ Kfl in any color you choose.' J)OeJU Massive. Tapestry Upholstered Davenport, Special $218.50 A handsome piece. Covered with very fine tapestry in a beautiful pattern. Spring seat and back and three loose spring cushions. The regular price of, this is $300! $165 Fireside Chair to Match $123.75 Solid Blahogany " . Reception Chair Regularly 565 Special $49.50 Dainty Louis XV style, daintily upholstered in striped denim. $67.50 Mahogany Rocker to Match, $51.50 Genuine Mahogany and Cane WINDSOR CHAIR Regularly Priced $39 Special $28.75 $42.50 Chair $29.85 August Sale Prices on Dining Tables $67.50 Quartered Oak Dining Ta bles; 48-inch top, 6- gg 7g foot extension ..... $79.75' Quartered Oak Dining Ta bles; 54-in top 8-ft, g6Q J5 extension plank top. $85 - Quartered Oak Dining Ta bles; 48-inch top, 6- $050 foot extension $102.50 Quartered Oak Dining Ta bles; 54-inch top, 8- y75() foot extension $117.50 Quartered Oak Dining Ta bles; 54-inch top, 8- gg7g5 foot extension Roman-Stripe Portieres HALF PRICE! Basement Special ' Six-Cup Aluminum PERCOLATORS Special S2.45 , WhittaU's Chenille Rugs and Carpets Displayed Absolutely the finest quality in the market! We show plain carpets in blue, rose and taupe, in 9-foot and in 10-foot 6-inch widths; they can be cut in any length de sired. We also show samples of these carpets in all colors, and we can promptly furnish any size and color desired. Fine Bed Davenport Regularly $165 Special $123.50 A handsome piece, upholstered completely in fine figured velour. Mahogany Queen Anne " Bedroom Suite Special $298.50 Three handsome pieces; full-size Bed, large Dresser and Chiffo robe. A suite much to be desired. Walnut Bedroom Suite Special $195.75 Four beautiful pieces of Ameri can walnut; full-size Ied, Dress er, Chiffonier and triple-mirror Dressing Table. Berth the dress er and the chiffonier have large plate mirrors. Reed and Fiber Pieces for Every Room Our showing of this much-to-be-desired furniture is a very com plete one. The greater part of our stock is reduced for the Au gust sales. Look leisurely through our stock on the third floor and choose what you may need. $26.50 Reed Arm Chair, cretonne upholstered $19.95 $30.75 Reed Arm Rocker; cre tonne upholstered $23.50 $39.00 Reed Arm Rocker, cre tonne upholstered $28.50 '$39.50 Fiber Rocker; cretonne cushion and spring seat.. $26.50 t $37.50 Fiber Rocker; cretonne cushion and spring seat. .$27.50 We Are Portland Distributors for Bridge, Beach & Co.'s Superior . Combination Ranges Visit our basement salesroom and see these truly wonderful ranges. If you wish to purchase we will make you a very liberal allowance on your old range. Washington at Fifth Advance Fall Showing of v Wilton Rugs Apglo-Persians Royal Ka-Shans Karnak Wiltons Royal Worcesters e The House of Jenning's is known as Portland's pre mier rug house. We invite you to view these new examples of the finest of American rug-weaving. We have rugs in all sizes, from the smallest to full- room size.' New patterns! New colorings! Important Showing of Wilton Rugs in Other Grades ENNING "The Home of Good Furniture' This Week's Rug Specials $52.50 Axminster Rugs," QA Q 9x12 size D0. t D $65.00 Axminster Rugs, CJCCJ 9x12 size WUU. 4 D $70.00 Axminster Rugs, QPTQ fTrt 9x12 size tDOO.DU $37.50 Seamless Brus sels Rugs, 9x12 size.. $40.00 Seamless Brus- DOI rjjr sels Rugs, 9x12 size. . . 0O4ts i O S32.50 Washington at Fifth