Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-01-12

i. A. Chapman q Co.'s was seen at her |
window on the fourth floor. She was
recognized by friends below and implored
to make the leap upon the canvass, but
she remained standing at. the window Of
her burning room until the flames envel-
oped her and she sank to be seen no more
In three.quarters of an hour after the
discovery of the fire the building was
total loss. At5:30 o'clock the Broadway
front of the building, unsupported by
rafters from within, gave out and came
laundering to the pavement. Shortly
after that the tottering walls of the
southeast corner of the building follow.
ed, tearing q heavy telegraph pole to the
ground which felled Benjamin Van Hoag.
truckman of Hook and Ladder com.
pany No. 2, beneath its weight. Poor
Ben, q favorite in the department, re-
ceived fatal injuries. He died few
hours after, faithful to his post until
death.
Chief Lippert had telegraphed to
Chicago and Racine for help. Also to
the Soldiers home for the steamer of
that institution. Gen. Sharp, governor
of the Soldiers home, failed to comply
with the request. Chicago and Racine
responded at once. Three steamers left
Chicago at $50. At Highland Park,
twenty-five miles north of Chicago, the
relief train was countermanded by Chief
Lippert, the fire having had its sway IN
destroying the Newhall house, and be-
ing under control as far as surrounding
establishments were concerned. The
Racine relief train was also countermand-
ed. Deeds of heroism recorded worthy
of unqualified praise: Ed Ryeler and
Herman Stauss of Truck No. appeared
on the roof of the bank building at q
critical juncture directly opposite the
servants quarters, ladder in hand. For
moment the unwieldly thing was
poised in mid-air, then descended with
crash through window of the hotel.
1t formed bridge across the alley, and
before it had become steady in position
the men had crossed it into the hotel.
Then, amid the cheers of the multitude
below, dragged the helpless creatures
across the slender bridge until fully q
dozen were rescued, oil of them in their
night clothes. Many were badly frozen
before taken to shelter. A woman in q
dead faint, and unable to help herself,
was dragged across in safety, but at one
time the whole of her body was hanging
over clear of the ladder, while the brave
man held her by one of her ankles. The
crowd below held their breath in sus-
pense, expecting every moment to see
the ladder turn over or break beneath
the terrible strain. The man, however,
equal to the terrible emergency, by a
herculean effort pulled her upon the
slender bridge, and finally placed her
out of danger, while the crowd which
had endured the m ost painful suspense
for ten minutes, burst forth in round
after round of applause. Twelve pool
waiter girls were rescued by these brave
men. Two brothers named Clayton res
cued four women, carrying them bodily
} out. The police rescued dozen per.
sons.
!: There is loud talk of incendiarism, ir
which the fire chief concurs; also the
police who were first on the ground. Nc
tangible ground can be found for incen
diarism be yond the breaking out neal
the foot of the elevator and spreading sc
rapidly that the building was destroyed
in halt an hour.
Regarding the origin Of the fire, sur.
vivor named Antisdale says the night
watchman saw the fire first, but before
he could do anything the flames shot ur
+ the elevator, burning on every floor.
am confident it started in the elevator
but how it originated cannot say. wa.
awakened by noise and rushed out te
y find the building filed with flames and
! smoke, the people fleeing for their lives
After saving my wife / tried to save 9th.
: ers, met father and mother in theil
> night clothes and tried to get them to
leave the building, which was fast becom.
ing furnace of flame; but father
, , was apparently out of his head, and said
: he was bound to get into the flames tc
. save those in the building, but by force
got him to the street, and fearing that
= if let go he wonld re.enter the build
! ing, I took him by force down Michigan
street, and when near the alley some one
!, y fell from the upper floor to the GROUND
! few feet away and caused him to be
come frenzied.
3 A number Of rescued guests say til,
t fire started in the basement and wen
t through the elevator to all parts befor,
). an alarm could be given. A man EN-
! ploved in the baking department arrived
, on the scene abont o'clock. He state
Z that at $3.50 he passed to the third foo
e and assisted in securing number O
3 dodgers.
|. It is stated on good authority tia
e there was no fire in the rear portion o
e the building where there was wild
Il pair of stairs, by means of which 81
y those quartered in the upper floors coul'
d have made their escape. However, th
= smoke was dense, and those who wer
& not sufficated lost their presence of mind
IS One Of the most trying scenes inciden
o to the fire was witnessed at the morgu
h at 10 o'clock. Fifteen bodies were Iai
il upon marble slabs, and the floor allote
|. was too small to accomodate them al
e One Of the first bodies recognized wa
h Gilbert OF the Minnie Palmer compan,
!, They were married yesterday mornin