HOTEL BOARDERS TRAPPED

Waipawa Mail, Volume LXVI, Issue 95, 18 May 1938, Page 3

HOTEL BOARDERS TRAPPED

IN BLAZING FURNACE TWENTY-FOUR FATALITIES ATLANTA (Georgia), May 16. At least 24 people were killed and ten injured when fire due to an explosion in the basement kitehen destroyed a five-storied brick-framed hotel. The flames broke out while the 50 guests were asleep and spread rapidly, dense smoke making impossible the attempts of many to escape. The roof collapsed and plunged through the charred floors to the baser ment, ending the hope of survival of any of those trapped. 1 Sixteen bodies have been recovered from the ruins. Five died in hospital, five leaped from windows, one man breaking his neck. The switchboard operator attempted to awaken the guests by telephone, but suffered burned hands and body, and narrowly escaped death.