Niagara Falls, New York, USA
1909 - NIAGARA FALLS FIRE - Columbia Hotel Damaged and Two Employes Injured - Guest Who Gave Alarm Disappeared.

NIAGARA FALLS, Jan. 5. - Fire was discovered early to-day in the Columbia Hotel, a five-story brick structure. The seventy guests all got our safely but two employes, LYDA BILLINGS, an Indian, aged 21, and MARY SWIACZECK, aged 17, were found later lying unconscious in an alley where they dropped from a rope to descend from the fourth floor. Miss Billing's legs were broken and she was injured internally. Mary Swiaczeck was badly injured about the ankles and feet. William King was badly burned.

The fire was discovered by a man who registered as William Bailey but did not give his residence. He disappeared after giving an alarm and has not been seen since. The property loss is about $15,000.

Syracuse Herald
Syracuse, New York
January 5, 1909

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