Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-12-02
rHH FIRE-FIEED AGAIN.
Fully Twenty People Believed TO Have
Pssishod In the Planes.

AxxEAroLIs, MINI, December 1.-The
bIaekensd and crunbiins walls and
. mass Of smoking debris are all that re.
mains today Of the eight-story brick build.
ing in which the Minneapolis Tribune and
several other newspapers we're printed. The
building VAS nosoriously unsafe, bat there
have been several taIse alarms Of late, and
- some Of the men started dosn stairs they
joked about the probability Of this being one.
This careless feeling of security caused the
loss Of At least = dsxen lives. For some
time the Union League club room, where
the IRE started, had not been used, and the
fires origin 10 mystery This room is
close to the elevator shsff, and 10 attempts
to put oui the flames window vas broken
open, bringing in . draft Of fresh air.
The flames then shos seross the hall and
up the elevator shaft in . moment, and cut
o6 escape from those who hsd delayed A
few broke through the sitting smoke and
scofching flames. but others sought escape
eise~ here. Being At the south end Of the
building while the only FIRE escape was at
the north, the printers found the way to the
stairs ss we'll - down them cut OF. num-
Der climbed out Of the windows and cluDg
to the window ledges waiting for help. Viii h
in several cases came too late. Their pite
Gus cries for help directed the hremen 70
them and Z number were saved. Others
fell Of their narrow resting place or dropped
from the telegraph and telephone wires to
their deaths on the frozen ground below.
Many breathlessly watched operator Igoe's
brave attempt to escape. He had got clear
Of the building and was gradually working
his way along the wires to safety, but the
wires were cut, his strentgh failed and =
groan went up from the upturned faces far
below him when he sxs seen 70 slip from =
slight support and fall to the roof of the
boiler house where he received fatal injaries.
As far as known the death list 10 40 fol-
lows: Edward Olson, president of the Uni
versity OF South Dakota at Vermillion; Mil
ton Pickett. assistant city editor Of the
Pioneer Press; W. ii. Milman. commercial
editor of the Tribune Walter Miles, night
agent OF the Associated Press; James Igoe,
night operator of the Associated Press;
Robert McCutcheon, VIM. Colweli, George
Stevens, VIM. Turnbull, Harry Whitloek.
Jerry JenkinsoD, compositors, and one Nh
known. Other bodies are known to be in the
building but just how many is uncertain.
Two men, who conld not be identified,
shot themselves rather than be burned to
death, and today the body of man caught
in ihe ruins is in plain sight of the crowd on
Fourth street II is believed that the number
of victims will reach 20 and perhaps 20, but
until the debris cools of positive information
as to the loss can not be obtained. The de-
psrtment withdrew from the ruins tonight
and search for the bodies will begin just Is
soon Ms considered safe. The last man of
the Tribune editorial staff to leave the
building WAS Charles All. Williams, mAnsg
ing editor He was badly burned about the
head and hands and witnessed the death Of
several men, When Williams started down
the ladder the fire WAS burning his hair and
he narrowly escaped the fate of the others
who preceded him, the heat and smoke
being overpowering.
As far as learned the njur,d are VIM.
Lawn, printer. burned on hands and face
E. c. Andrews, printer, burned hands and
face; George Z. Worden, printer, hurt about
head by falling; Charles Aif Williams. man
aging editor of the Tribune, badly burned
about the head and face; w. II. Williams,
foreman of the composing room, badly
burned bout the fac. and hands; s. II.
Jones, Pioneer Press reporter, hands and
face slightly burned; Frank Hoover, printer,
burned about the neck.
The total loss by fire is about $500 900.
ue 10 PioSIN - v~"fN"Ot
$50. 900 insurance. The Journals loss 10
$40, 600; half insured. The Tribune job
Office lost $50 900; about S25. 900 insurance.
The insurance foots up to el50.OOO.
The papers will all be published as usual
tomorrow. The Tribune has the use of the
St. Paul Despatch plant for the morning
Issue, while the Tribune-Star. its evening
Issue, comes out on time through the cour-
tesy of the Minneapolis Times. The Even
ing Journal will be indebted to the st. Paul
Pioneer Press for type and presses.
James +. Igoe was native Of Ashland,
Pa. and for the past two years and . half
has always been at his post, being known as
q careful, conscientious, and intelligent
operator
Walter E Miles was native of Ireland.
He served as operator during the day and
As agent at night. He Yesterday completed
his lth month without a''break," one Of
the M st ren arkable telegraphic fests in
history.
There is great Indignation at the owners OF
the building which had been considered dan
gerous for some time, its loose construction
the heavy machinery TO jar the
whole building
The elevator attendant took . couple OF
women up in the elevator few minutes be-
fore the fire broke out and they did not come
down again. He did not know them, but
says they wanted to see the city editor OF
the Pioneer Press.