Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-01-12
ApprrrorAx KILOGRAMS.


1900 SOS~e
The Milwaukee uerres--the barned
uosel..Lsss Of Lafe. 1nesdaeaas. DC.
Cmcloo Jan. 10.-The Se,es' special
has the following concerning the Mil
vaukee holocaust: The b1ilding has
long been known as q death trap, and
il only required half an hour TO CON-
pIeteIy envelop il in flames. II had
eiohty-six employees, mostly lodged In
the sixth story. Eight hundred guests
could b. accommodated. Exit by the
roof was impossible ON account OF FIRE,
and for some reason the two stand
pipes and fire ladders were not avaIla-
be. Ben Hall, fireman, was crushed
under a large, heavy cornice. but was
quickly gotten out from the red-hot
plates of galvanized iron, seriously if
not fatally hurt. The department
fought the flames hsroicaliy but were
only able 10 prevent their spread. The
hook and ladder companies were most
active, and saved about twelve people
by we'll directed efforts.
At the morgue was a hideous sight.
Two small biers were soon filled with
bodies tightly packed, and these bodies
of girls, women and men were laid pro-
miscuoualy on stone hags. almost in
heap, a. the patrol brought IN the bodies
three and four at time.
In the American Express Office Allen
johnson and wife lay stretched On the
hard floor, evidently dying. fSince
dead They we're forced to jump from
the window ON the third floor. The
blankets held TO catch them we're too
weak, and their backs were injured so
terribly that cries Of pain were vruug
from them.
Edward Pollock, of Lancaster, awoke
nearly az soon AZ the flames broke out,
grabbed his clothes and swung from a
balcony on the fourth fat to the one
beneath, where q dozen others we're,
and by means of knotted bed clothes all
reached the ground.
Long after the flames had ragged in
the interior, Miss Chellis, a dressmaker
at T. A. Chapman d Co., was seen at
her window on the fourth floor. She
was recognized by friends below and
implored to make leap upon the can
vass, but abe remained standing at the
window until the flames envelopea her
and she sank to be seen no more.
In three quarters of an hour after the
discovery Of the 6re the building was q
total loss. At 3 o'clock the Broadway
front gave out and came laundering to
the pavement.
Shortly after that the lettering walls
Of the southern corner followed, tearing
heavy telegraph pole to the ground,
feIled Ben Van HoaQ, brakeman of
hook and ladder company No. 2, be-
meath its weight. He died in few
hours afterward. The deeds of heroism
recorded arc worthy Of unqualified
praise. Ed. Kyemer and q man of
Truck No. 1, appeared on the roof of the
bank building at critical junoture. di-
rectly opposite the servants quarters.
With ladder in hand. For a moment
the unwieldy thing poised in mid air,
then descended with crash through
the window of tho hotel. Il formed a
bridge across the alley, and before it
had become steady in position man
had crossed over into the hotel, and
dragged the helpless creatures across
the slender bridge until full a dozen
were rescued, all of them in night
clothes. Many we're badly frozen be-
fore taken to shelter.
A woman In dead faint, unable to
help herself, was dragged across in safe
| ty, but at ono time the whole of her
body was hanging over, clear of the lad
der, while the brave man held her by
one of her ankles.
Tho crowd below held their breath in
suspense, expecting every moment to
sec the ladder turn over or break be
meath the terrible strain. BY herculsan
efforts he pulled her upon the slender
bridge, finally placing her out of dan
ger, while the crowd, which endured the
most painful suspense for fully ton min
utes, burst forth in round after round of
applause. Two brothers named Clay
ton rescued four women, carrying them
bodily ont. The police rescued dozen
persons.
There il talk of incendiarisu in which
the Chief concurs, also the police, who
BILE ground can b found for incendiar-
ism, beyond the breaking ont Of the
fire near the foot of the elevator.
Regarding the origin of the fire Autes-
del said the night Waterman saw it
first. but before he could do anything
the flames shot up the elevator burning
in every door. ! am confident that it
started in the.elsvator, but how it origi-
mated ! cannot say. A number Of guests
who were rescued cay the fire. started in
the basement and went through the ele-
vator before An alarm could be given.
One Of the most trying scenes was an
incident witnessed ut the morgue ut 6
O'Clock. Fifteen bodies were loid upon
marble slabs and floor. The allotted
space was too small to accommodate all.
One Of the frat bodies recognized was
that Of Mrs. John Gilbert, Of Warren
county, married yesterday in Chicago,
and bFidD Of night. Il lay upon the
cold marble, oharrsd and bruised al
most beyond recognition. VIM. Cra-
NOR, editor Of the EceDing Wisconsin,,
and wife, Who had. rooms on the second
story, received serious but not fatal in
iuries. The story Of q hairbreadth es-
cApe from terrible death is related by
Lixxie AuRland, one Of tho dininQroom
girls. She woke and heard q noise at
o'clock, awakened her room mate, and
the two girls hastily dressed and at
tempted 10 descend BY the stairway.
only to ind themselves facing sheets Of
flames. Miss CounoB vas terribly
frightened and screamed cut, my God.
Lizzie, We can't get through there"
Lizzie replied, I'VE must got through or
perish" With this Lizzie rushed
through the flames and succeeded in
reaching the o6ice floor, whore abe fell
insensible, terribly burned about the
neck. lower portion Of the face and
arms and limbs between the feet and
knees. Injuries though severe are not
fatal. From Niss Augland the. fate of
Aollie Connors vas learned. She says
when abe started through the flames
abe turned 10 zee il Mollle was coming
and saw her fall ON the stairway, An
other escape 10 be recorded ID that Of A
man whose name could not be learned.
He was seen swinging himself from the
NTH door Of the building until his feet
touched ON the window below. KICKING
in the window he dropped ON the sash.
This he repeated until hs reached the
balcony from which be was rescued. It
was reported that there were $50 guests
in Tho hOuss last night. II this Be- true,
the horrors that win be found by the
removal Of the debris will be dreadful.
The Nevhall was known to every tray-
eler In the northwest. and every person
n Milwaukee Who residod hare Tor a
year OK two - IRE trap Of che vosst
description. The wonder prevails that
any traveller or resident could be found
70 take up their abode within its walls.
n citizens meeting WA held and ~