S. W. Sears and wife's miraculous escape from the Langham Hotel fire

“The Langham Hotel, Chicago, was destroyed by fire on the night of the 14th ult., and great uneasiness was felt by the friends of S. W. Sears and wife, of Salt Lake City, who were known to be at the hotel at the time of the fire; Mr. Sears, however, has since reported their escape in the following graphic manner: We were in our room, he said, when we heard the cry of fire. I opened the door leading into the hall, but was compelled to close it on account of the smoke and flames that filled the corridor, and which rushed into the room with such intensity that I was blinded and nearly suffocated. As I withdrew I hastened to the window and threw it up, but at the door, the smoke was still more dense and poured in at the open casement in such volumes that before I could lower the sash, the room was filled. My wife threw her arms about me and sobbed, 'It is certain death.' So I thought; but I tried to calm her, though I felt certain that death was but a few moments distant. But my wife suddenly tore herself from me and said there was a bottle of chloroform in the room and that we should both take it to make death more easy. I was reasoning with her against it when I heard sounds at the window, which I could not see, and in a moment more, firemen sprang through the casement, and taking my wife in their arms bore her down the ladder in safety. I followed, and thank God we are unharmed, unless the terror of the experience results seriously to my wife, who is in a delicate condition. My wife's and my own wardrobes, which could not be replaced for $1,000 are lost, and I also lost $1,200 in currency. We escaped with only what we had on. — Millennial Star 47:16”