St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-10-18
FATAL FALL AT A FIRE.
The Sherman Block in st. Paul Was
Seriously Damaged by Fire
Yesterday Afternoon.
Peter Okerman, One of the Firemen,
Blinded by Smoke, Fell Through
the Elevator Shaft.
His Neck Was Broken, and He Died
Few Minutes After He Was
Taken UP.
Loss to Building and Stock Estimated
at Not Far From Thirty Thou
sand Dollars.
Fatality at a Fire.

A light cOlored cloud of smoke was seen
coming from the second story windows
OF the Sherman block over No. 386 Waba-
sha street little before o'clock yesterday
afternoon, and an alarm of fire was tele-
phoned to Engine House No. 1. When
that company arrived the smoke had grown
thicker and fire had gotten such head
way, that before it was extinguiShed the
loss occassoned by it and the water.
amounted to $50, 900 or whereabouts and
while fighting it. Peter Okerman. of Engine
Company No. 1, fell down the elevator
shaft and was almost instantly killed.
Sherman block is of brick, three stories
high and extending from 1856 to 394 Waba-
sha street. The fire originated in a closet
on the second floor under the stairway that
leads to the upper story, and its precise or
IGN no one seemed to know. It ran rap
idly up the wooden stair casing and across
the entire third floor, which is single
large room where the st. Paul Carpet COM
pany had its goods stored. The walls and
ceiling OF this entire room were badly
burned, and in one or two places the
flames had eaten through the cell
ing and roof and daylight shone
through before they could be checked.
A considerable quantity of carpeting was
ruined by the flames. though as it was in
heavy rolls it did not burn readily. Aside
from this large store room, the only other
room was one i'll which Edward Scott, pro-
prietor of the carpet store. roomed. The
furniture in this was ruined by fire. smoke
and water. The second floor was used as
offices, and while little damage. was
done here by the flames, about every tenant
is loser to greater or less extent by wa
ter and smoke.
A FATAL FALL.
Early in the progress of the fire Peter
Okerman reached the third floor with a
hose. The smoke was binding and it was
impossible to see any distance, and it was
with difficulty that he could breathe. In
about the center of the building is the ele-
vator shaft, and Oh the sides are light
wells. Okerman entered the apartment
from rear window, and, with the hose,
ran around this shaft, containing the light
well and elevator, blinded by the smoke
and looking for the blaze The entrance
70 the elevator was clOseu by an ordinary
door, opening outward into the room, and
over the door were panes of glass to let in
the light. Through this glass the fireman
saw the flame, which was burning
the walls of the shaft, and he at
it was another room, probably. He forced
open the door and was met by fresh clouds
of smoke. 1t seems that he was a little
cautious about entering the door. for he
put one foot inside, carefully feeling if he
had good support. Between the door and
the inner surface Of the shaft is shelf a
foot or more wide. On this he set his foot.
and thinking he was all right, he took one
step further into the smoke and fell to the
bottom of the shaft, distance of over
fifty feet DR.. Ancker, who was one Of
the physicians that attended him as soon as
he could be removed from the shaft and
taken to the store of the White sewing
machine, which was at that time the dryesG
place in the block, says that he must have
struck on his head, as the neck was frac-
tured. Hypodermic injections of brandy
were given him, but to no purpose, and in
fifteen minutes after the fall he was pro-
nounced dead, and soon after taken away
to Mccarthy 81 Donnelly's undertaking
rooms. near by. The dense smoke affected
the other fremen seriously, and Merton
Meyler, of No. 8, and Billy WEIGH, of No.
8, were so overcome that they had to be
removed from the building and taken away
for treatment.
THE LOSSES.
Six steamers, two trucks and three chem
icals responded to the alarm, and a vast
quantity of water was thrown into the
building before the flames were gotten IN
der control. More damage was caused by
water than by fire. The Offices on the sec
ond floor were thoroughly drenched. The
losses here are: DR.. B. II. Ogden. loss
81, 500; DIR, j. S. Jacobs, loss $500; R. P.
Lewis loss slight; Oakland Cemetery as
ISOLATION, loss slight; DIR. W. II. Within,
loss about 5000; Dr.. Goodrich, loss about
50, 900; Castor & Shotwell, lawyers, loss
$500 to 5000; Mrs. S. B. West teacher of
painting, loss slight. The first floor was
used for stores, and some of the prOprietorS
have serious losses from water. ABOUT the
heaviest is j. l.. Lowering. boots and shoes.
whose store was No. 394. His goods were
pretty thoroughly drenched. He had
stock worth about 500 900, and the loss
was estimated at about S12, 900 or SIS, 000.
On the stock he carried $50, 900 insurance.
1t was impossible to estimate the exact
loss. Next to Coverings store was A.
Wardells confectionery store, which was
somewhat damaged, Mr.. Wardell esti-
mating it at $500. He carried an
insurance of $4,000. The retail store
of the ST. Paul Carpet company
was the next and the goods here were not
seriously wet. The st. Paul Carpet COM
pany carried stock of something over
$50, 900, and had insurance of 500. 900. 1t
was impossible, Mr.. Scott said, for him to
estimate his loss. Next the carpet store
was E. C. Varneys boot and shoe store,
where little water came through, and his
loss will be slight. The remaining store
was occupied by w. j. Bennett, fancy
goods, and the White Sewing Machine
The latter had stock valued
at $1,000 which was insured for 1000.
The loss could not be ascertained, as the
goods were some of them packed in the
basement, and were not overhauled last
night. The Sherman block was built in
1879, and was valued at S60,000 There
was insurance amounting to S25, 900 on
building. and the damage by fire ana water
was estimated at from SIS, 900 to $4,000.
THE DEAD FIREMAN.
Peter Okerman, the fireman killed, was
a member of No. 1 Engine company. He
was "a years cid. and had been connected
with the department not quite year.
having done his first duty Oct 81. of last
year. He was Swede, and was unmar-
ried and it is said had no relatives in the
city. He was member of the Firemen's
Relief association.
Coroner Quinn visited the Sherman block
afternoon and examined the con-
dition of the door about the elevator through
which Okerman fell, to see if an inquest
was advisable. He had not decided last
night. A more complete examination into
the circumstances will be made this morn
ing, and an inquest may be h cid.
Houston County Nominations.
CAI En0NIA Got IL Tho DnmOnrafia