A Fiery Sepulcher

CAUGHT IN A FIRE-TRAP. Buffai.o, N. Y., March 19.- The new Richmond Hotel which stood at the corner of Main and Eagle streets, St James Hall and other adjacent property were burned down early yesterday morning. There were 125 persons sleeping in the hotel at the time the fire broke out, of whom serenty were transient guests, eight were boarders, and the others were the proprietors of the hotel, their families, etc. Of these nine are missing or are known to be dead and twenty-six are burned or otherwise injured, many of them badly and soma fatally. The total number of those who have perished is not known and may never be. By some it is estimated as low as nine, the number of the known dead and missing, and others believe that without doubt at least thirty are dead. Tho fire spread with frightful rapidity, cutting off escape by natural ways of the guests who were aroused by the loud rineing of electric bells. Some of the terrifled prisoners ran to the roof whence they leaped to adjoining buildings and so escaped. Some leaped f rom the roof to the ground, and others threw themselves in their fright and agony from the high windews to the pavement below, where they were picked up mangled and blecding. Others made ropes of their bedding and by them lowered themselves in safety to the earth. The shrieks of the wretches who found escape from the dames shutoff were pitifuL Five girls who roomed on the fifth floor made a rope out of the bed-clothes and huns it out of the window, itfiis making their escape. The fiamos spread to the southeast side of the hotel first It soon reacbed and gutted St James Hall, occupied as Bunnell's Museum and Tivoli Hall, adjoining and fronting on Washington street. Perhaps the most tlirilling escape of any was that of President Whittaker, step-son of Proprietor Stafford.' He roomed in the fifth story, and when aroused stepped to the window and looked down for a few seconds. Then he deliberately dressed himself, and, emerging from the window, stood on the stone capping above the window beneath. From this capping he stepped to the next one along the front of the building, and proceeded in this manner to the Hayes truckladder at the other extremity of the front. The nerve and coolness displayed were remarkable. The total money loss by the flre will be f400,1100. Of this amount the Buffalo library loses f130,000 on the hotel and museum buildings, which were insured for f90,000. Fulier & Townsend, clothier, were insured for f45,000. Their stock was a total loss and was valued at f80,000. Peter Paul & Bro. and Albrich & Kingsley, stationer, each lose f40,000, with 130,000 Insurance. Several minor losses were sustained. Büffalo, N. Y., March 21.- Six dead bodies were taken from tha hotel ruins on Süturday. Five persons are dead or missing and twenty-oiie injured. Henry B. Rumsy, whose famüy live at Fort Wayne, Ind., was among the killed, and he carne tu his death by boldly attemptiug to rescue a littie child from the flames. The overhead wires in the streets prevented the flro department from working eftectively and led to the loss of life, and at a meeting of citizens it was determined that all wires would have to be put under ground.