Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2022 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Ludington Daily News December 11, 1934 13 DIE IN LANSING HOTEL HOLOCAUST 5 LEGISLATORS ARE VICTIMS OF TRAGEDY RECORDS DESTROYED BY FLAMES, NUMBER LOST MAY NOT BE KNOWN FOR DAYS Lansing, Dec. 11. - (AP) - Smouldering ruins of the Kerns hotel and the icy waters of the Grand river today hid the fate of an undetermined number of guests, as police announced that only half of the approximately 200 persons lodged there when fire broke out this morn- ing had been accounted for. Chief of Police ALFRED SEYMOUR said that the appalling number of unaccounted for indicated a "heavy loss of life," although there were only 13 known dead and many of the missing guests were expected to be found safe. The hotel was well filled, due to the special legislative session, when the fire broke out, about 5:30 a.m., and within a few minutes the flames were raging through much of the building. Screaming men and women, their escape cut off, jumped from windows, to the street below or into the Grand river, which flows at the rear of the building. Five on the known dead drowned when they chose the icy waters if the river to the flames that had trapped them. Six others were killed or fatally injured when they jumped to the streets before firemen could reach them with ladders or spread nets at the base of the walls. A few threaded their way through dark corridors and down flame-licked stairways. They had no time to dress and several suffered frozen or frost-bitten feet, for the temperature was near zero and snow and ice covered the streets. EXTENT UNKNOWN Police and firemen warned that it might be days before the full extent of the tragedy becomes known, for the hotel register was destroyed and anyone caught in the holocaust undoubtedly was burned beyond recognition. Police broadcast an appeal to all survivors to communi- cate with them. of the missing, gravest fears were felt for Sen. JOHN LEIDLEIN, Saginaw, who did not respond to warnings pounded on his door. For 20 minutes after the fire was discovered a bedlam of shrieks resounded from the flame-swept building. Then the screams either were silenced or were drowned out by the roar of collapsing walls and floors. Anyone who had not escaped by that time was doomed, firemen said. NO ESCAPE IN REAR Many of the trapped persons were unable to reach the fire escapes. At the rear of the building, where the river flows, there were no fire escapes. A few identifications of the dead were made as the morning passed. The bodies of Representatives CHARLES D. PARKER, Otisville, and JOHN W. GOODWINE, Marlette, were found to be among them. Rep. DONALD E. SIAS died at noon of a skull fracture suffered when he jumped from a third floor window to the street. Rep. JAMES W. HELME, Adrian, an occupant of the hotel, made his escape by climbing out onto a roof and dropping to the street. He made his way to another hotel in pajamas. It first was reported he had plunged into the river and swam ashore. Rep. WILLIAM GREEN, Hillman, who fled in pajamas and bare feet, told a graphic story of the fire. "There were women with their hair on fire," he said. "They ran through the smoke, screaming. That terrible screaming was the worst. Women on fire, screaming up and down the hall." BATTLE 2 HOURS As he spoke a doctor was treating his frozen feet, but he said he "thanked providence" to be alive. For more than two hours the hotel, built in 1906, burned before the flames were brought under control, leaving a shell. The building was four stories high, and of brick. LIST OF DEAD Lansing, Dec. 11. - (AP) - A list of the dead and injured in the Kerns hotel fire, compiled at noon today: KNOWN DEAD: Rep. T. HENRY HOWLETT, Gregory Rep. JOHN W. GOODWINE, Marlette Rep. CHARLES D. PARKER, Otisville Rep. DONALD E. SIAS, Midland Rep. VERN VOORHEES, Albion DAVID MONROE, assistant manager of the hotel I. WISHNEFF, Los Angeles Six unidentified persons, including a woman, about 65 MISSING AND FEARED DEAD Sen. JOHN LEIDLEIN, Saginaw R. S. MacFARLAND, Dayton, O. INJURED Rep. MAURICE E. POST, Kent county Dr. F. C. THIEDES, Grand Rapids CLARENCE SMITH, Coldwater A. BOSMER, Grand Rapids, serious FRED VAN DYNE, Owosso, fair THOMAS SHEDALL, Caro LLOYD KECK, Lansing C. H. THOMPSON, Grand Rapids WILLIAM JACOBI, Rutherford, N.J. FRANK SOCHIA, Lansing HARRIS SILVERBERG, Detroit M. S. NOLAN, Battle Creek Rep. CHARLES T. KIMBALL, Jonesville Rep. D. KNOX HANNA, Caro, serious E. S. ALLEN, Mancelona A. D. CARR, Bloomington, Ind. A. B. HANSON, Oscoda C. B. HERRENDEEN, Grapnd Rapids R. C. BLISS, Saginaw JAY PECK, Detroit D. W. PIERSON, Cadillac TED KLEIDNEST, Blissfield ================================================================================