Bill Black

BLACK

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 6/17/2019 at 09:47:40

14 December 1916 - The Clinton Advertiser page 1

ONE IS DEAD IN HOTEL FIRE AT CEDAR RAPIDS
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Dec. 14--"Bill" Black, 38 years old, who came here last Saturday from Fairfax, was suffocated, and several others, partially overcome by smoke, were rescued by firemen about 10:30 Wednesday night when fire in the cellar of the Stark hotel, First street and Second avenue, drove a score or more of sleeping lodgers into zero temperature scantily clad.

With the stairway blocked by billowing clouds of dense choking smoke the occupants of the hotel were forced to flee down fire ladders, fire escapes and down handy awnings, some with clothes and some with none. A half dozen carried their wearing apparel under their arms and donned it after reaching a place of safety. With the exception of Mrs. Condon, wife of Daniel Condon, the proprietor of the hotel, there were no women in the building.

The recovery of Black's body after he was missed by the other lodgers, and was thought might yet be alive, was made under difficulties by Detective John Cook and Patrolman Royer. The found Black on a landing between the first and second floors behind a door that opened in. Unable to reach him from the outside they went out up the first escape to the second floor and then down the stairs. Black was lying on the floor, scantily clad, a bag in one hand and clothing in his arms.

It is believed that Black was already dead for he had been there for perhaps fifteen or twenty minutes. Ten minutes in thick smoke is sufficient to suffocate according to Dr. Murphy, who was called to the police station where Black was taken. The police department lungmotor was used for twenty minutes but efforts to revive Black were unavailing.

It is thought that Black, whose room was on the third floor was trapped when he returned for his clothes, after being awakened by Landlord Condon.

The fire was first discovered by the hotel proprietor, D. L. Condon. Sitting in the pool room on the first floor of the building he noticed smoke coming up the stairway from the basement. He opened the door but the smoke drove him back. While he went to arouse the roomers, George Kechan, night watchman, turned in an alarm. This was about the same time that Frank Zastera, a druggist across the street, telephoned to the fire department after Bert Tee, of Harry Goodhue's merchant police, had told Condon of the fire and informed Zastera of the blaze.

When the firemen arrived smoke was rolling from the doors on the Second avenue side of the hotel. They were able to keep the flames in the basement and it is believed that the damage to the building will not be more than a few hundred dollars.

It is said that Black has a brother living near Marion.