West Baden, Indiana

Mineral Springs Hotel Fire

June 14, 1901

HALF MILLION DOLLAR FIRE

Mineral Springs Hotel Entirely Consumed – Many Lose Their Effects.

(By the “Gazette’s” Leased Wire)

WEST BADEN, Ind., June 14 – The Mineral Springs Hotel was destroyed by fire early today. The fire broke out at 1 a.m. in the bake shop at the south end of the building. It burned rapidly and by 3 o’clock the large frame building had been completely consumed. The loss is $500,000, insurance $100,000.

Two hundred and twenty-five guests registered at the hotel last night. All of them escaped uninjured. Most of them lost their effects.

The guests were transferred to the French Lick and nearly all left for their homes on the morning trains.

Reno Evening Gazette, Reno, NV 14 Jun 1901

A HOTEL BURNS.

Indianapolis, June 14 – The Mineral Springs hotel at West Baden burned this morning and is a total loss. No lives were lost. The loss is estimated at $500,000.

West Baden, Ind., June 14. – The West Baden Springs hotel burned like tinder. It caught about one o’clock in the kitchen. The guests streamed out the kitchen. The guests streamed out in the night clothes and bare feet and many had narrow escapes. Many had to jump from the balconies. None were seriously hurt nor were any lives lost so far as known today.

Bedford, Ind., June 14. – T.H. Anderson of Monon railway who has just returned from West Baden, says there is the greatest confusion about the hotel and he fears that some lives were lost as no report had been received from several guests up to the hour of his departure.

The Mineral Springs hotel at West Baden was erected 12 years ago, and contained 700 rooms. The owners recently refused $1,000,000 for the hotel, springs and grounds. The hotel can be rebuilt for $500,000. Nearly all the leading fighters of the country have trained at West Baden. Some of the guests rescued from the fire were invalids who were taking the waters. Their rescue in some cases was difficult. The hotel was owned by J.M. Persise, and L.W. Sinclair, of Salem, Ind., and E.B. Rhodes of West Baden.

Newark Daily Advocate, Newark, OH 14 Jun 1901

Transcribed by Loraine Jordan.  Thank you, Loraine!

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