Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-12-05

smoks. blaoksned and csumbiing walls,
towering up above steAmiuR, smoking,
emoldering mass of machinery, brick end
burning debris, are all that now remain
Of the eight-stcry brick building at the
corner OF First avenue South and Fourth
street, in which uutil yesterday had been
printed three daily and one weekly news
papers, and where was located the Min
neapolis Tribune, besides numerous othe-
offices. All day yesterday o constantly
changing and ever increasing crowd OF
Right.seers thronsed the streets, watch
ing the efforts Of the tiromen TO suhdue
entirely the flames which they had
brought under control at about 2 o'clock
IN tho morning.
The plan of the building was such as
10 make il we'll nigh impossible for any
one who delayed ate the alarm hid bSeo
given to make his escape from the build.
ing. Az there were not legs than 100 men
ct work on the upper stories al the time
the fire broke ous, and the warning was
late az wells as the means Of egress limited,
some loss of life was certainty. Several
times there have been small fires in tine
building, but they were quickly ez-
tinguished. The building has been con
RideRad dangerous for some tine, It's oofe
construction permitting the heavy ma
Ch.nery to jar the whole sttucture.
There was but one tire-eacape, and il was
Of the end of the building where the Gre
ragged fiercest. The single stairway wns
spiral, narrow and dark aua wound
around the elevator shaft. Three years
ago the Inadequate fire protection OF the
building was considerably RgitAted, the
matter being taken up by tho Trades and
Labor Assembly and carried finally TO the
city officials, an attempt being made 10
have the building properly protected or
condemned, but nothing came " IL.
THE DEAD.
Seven bodies have been found around
the building, all of whom have been iden.
tiisd. They were:
Milton Pickett, assistant city editor Of
the Pioneer Press.
James L. Igoe, Associated Press night
operator.
Walter E. Miles, night agent and day
operator OF the Associated Press.
Edward Olsen, president Of the Univer.
slty Of eouth Dakota at NaTmilicn.
W. H. Millman, commercial editor OF
the Tribune.
Jerry Jenkinaon and Robert Lie
Outeheon, both printers.
Other bodies are known to be in ths
building, but just how many Is uncertain.
Two men who could not be identified shot
themselves rather than be burned 10
death, and to-day the body OF man
caught in the ruins was in plain sight OF
the crowd on FodFth street. II is be-
lieyeh that the number Of victims will
reach 20, and perhaps %; but mil the
debris cools off, no positive information
90 TO the loss cannot be obtained. The
fire department withdrew from the ruins
last night, and the search for the bodies
will begin just Oh soon aa it ia considered
safe.
The last man of the Tribune editorial
staff to leave the building was Charles
Alfred Williams, the managing editor,
and although himself badly burned about
the head and handH, ne gave the follow
ing statement OF how each Of those above
reported met with his death, having been
On eyewitness of the deatha OF all but
one:
HURLED To DEATH.
''Miles and Millman, together with q
number OF printers started down the
fire escape. A blast OF hot smoke and
flame struck MillmRn as he was starting
and he lost his hold. In f0lling he
knocked Miles or, both falling from the
Eeventh floor 10 the ground, and Of the
sixth floor knocking OF Pickett snd
Prof. Olsen, who had reached tie fire.
escape from that door. The mon in fall.
ing struck against the lowest platform
aud bounded away from the building,
and We're dead when they Etruck
the ground. When Williams started
down the ladder tho fire was
burning his hair and neck, aud he
narrowly escaped the fate OF those
who had preceded him the heat hnd
smoke bting overpowering. The priat
ers on the ladder escaped with slight
burns. Igoe and JeDkinson sought K
egcape by the wires out had been weak
ened By the smoke Dnd flames 80 tina
both soon fell of, striking on the go0t Q
the Tribune boiler room, Jsnkinsnn BEN!
dead when picked mp. Mc0u'cheoi
ilmped from the window ledge for ta
Extension ladder, but his bands slippe,
ana he fell to the pavement. A ne. hat
been stretched TO Catch Ljm bat 40 WI
too heavy for Il, and striking the grount
Ee was so seriously injn-ed thst he dis,
soon after. Pickett, Igos, Miles mi
MoOutcheon ware mAsGlsI men, ant
JeAkiubSu WIZ W iitf7 peth ihArFlsu y
short time Millmsn lost his wife b
asphyEiation couple of weeks ago ga
had just resumed work. "
JOINING BEFoKE TEEN rr4rEs.
Last mont a. IA m,ngtas ae5, IA
y,hnr fI,e alarm ,,au sC,irsaI Il y,,a ,,s
TegarIed ssriousIy no tbs ynsn q, ,sa,i
nltbon0n maav If f,rnt star,od ioW
gtsira. M danger or seriors Tas,,tt, III,
tbopgLt az ,gEsn NE me-, alosts4 an