The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-12-02
The Loss of Life in the Tribune
Building Fire Due TO One
Mans Neglect,
Only One Fire Escape Provided
Despite Strenuous Exertions
to Secure Another.


MNSEAroLIs, Dec -Four blaokened
walls, towering mp above towering, steam
ing, smouldering mass Of machinery, brick
and building debris, is all that remains of
the eight-story brick Tribune building, in
which, until to-day had been printed three
daily and weekly newspaper, and where
was located number of offices, Al today |
a constantly changing and ever-increasing |
crowd Of sightseers has thronged the streets,
wntching the efforts of the nremen to sub
due entirely the flames, which they brought
under control about . o'clock this morning.
The building has been considered danger
ous for some time, its loose construction
permitting heavy machinery TO jar the
whole building. There was hut one
fire escape, and il was at the end OF
the building whore the fire ragged the fercest
The single stairway WAS spiral, narrow and
dark, aud wopnd around the elevator shaft
Three years ago adequate fire protection Of
the building was considerably ngitated, the
matter had been taken up 10y the Trndes
and Labor assemblies, and carried finally
TO the city officials, an attempt being made
10 have the building properly protected or
condemned, but nothing came of IL. For
some time the Union League club, where
the Gre started, has not been used and its
origin il mystery The room is close 10
the elevator shaft and the breaking Of the
window in the effort 10 extinguish the
flames gave draft which quickly carried
the fire 10 the elevator and cut of the es-
cape Of those who had delayed,
Ia few broke through the sitting
smoke aud scorching flames. but others
sought escape elsewhere. Being nc the
south end of the building, while the solitary
fire escape WAS at the north end, the printers
were cut OF. A number of them climbed
out of the windows and clung 10 the lodges,
waiting for help. which in several cases
came too late. Their plteous cries attracted
the attention Of the iiremen and number
Of them were saved. while Others fell of the
lodges or dropped from the telegraph and
telephone wires, down which they tried ~
escape The sight OF the suffering. burn
ing struggling men brought tears to the
eyes of the bravest.
One Of the most pathetic incidents was
the attempt of James Igoe 10 escape He
gradually working llis way along the ewes 10
-liety. while the crowd below an1iously
watched his brave attempt 10 save 10 his
wife and four little ones their bread, hut
his II rength failed and a groan went up
from the crowd as lac was seen Ia slip and
fall TO the roof Of the boiler house, rete wing
fatal injuries. lie was lifted gently and
tnken 10 a drug store, hut died in few
mOmrnls breathing n last word of loving
care of his family.
Seven bodies we're found last night oil of
which have been identified. They were:
Milton Pickett, assistant city editor of the
Pioneer Press: James r. lgoc, Associated
Press operntor; Walter Il. Miles, night agent
OF the Associated Press; Professor Olson,
president Of the South Dakota uniyerityi
Z W. II. Millmnn, commercial editor of the
Tribune; Jerry Jenkinson and Robert Nc
Cutcheon, compositions. Others ARE known 10
10 be M the building, but how many is un-
known. Two mon who could not bc identi-
fed were seen to shoot themselves before
the flames reached them, aud to-day the
body of man caught in the ruins is in
plain view from Fourth street. ID IN believed
the number Of victims will reach twenty,
and perhaps twenty-five, butun the debris
cools OF. positive information cannot be OBJ
tanned.
The last man of the Tribune editorial
, staff TO lenyc the building was Managing
Editor Williams. He was badly burned about
,, the head and hands. Mr.. Williams gives
the following statement Of how several of
! those named above lost their lives;
. Miles and MIllmnn, together with number
OF printers started down the FIRE escape. A
blast of hot smoke and flame struck Mill
man and lac lost his hold and fell, knocking
Miles of. Both fell 90 the sixth floor, where
they struck and knocked of Pickett and
Prof. Olson. The four men IN falling
, struck against the lowest platform of the
escnpe, and bounded nway from the build
ing and were dead when they struck the
ground. When Williams started down the
ladder the fire was burning his hair and
hands, and he narrowly escaped the fnte Of
those who preceded him. The printers on
the lhddef escaped with slight burns. lgoe
and JenhinRon sought % escape by the wires
aud McCutchcon jumped from window
ledge for the extension lhdder. but his hands
slipped and be fell 30 the pavement.
net was stretched to cateh him, but hc
was too heavy for IT, and striking the
ground was fatally injured. So inr as
learned nine Of those IN the building were
quite seriously burned or bruised in eHcap-
ING. but II ~ not Thought their injuries are
dangerous"
Minneapolis Typographical union, No
~ met this afternoon aud adopted fesOlu-
tiOns, stating the records of the Tribune
. | nllU bouffiul cnbptlN hlbH tbfuhllltfth uNO
been repeatedly appointed 30 confer with
A. Is. Nettleton, who at the time had charge
of the building, and begged him 10 furnish
proper means Of escape In Cuse Of FIRE This
he refused to do. The case was taken
up by the Trades and Labor assembly.
and a committee Of that body labored
long and earnestly with Nettleion, but all
efforts failed. The position In which the
only fire escape on the building WAS placed
rendered il practically useless. and a prom
inent member Of the fire department has
said he had been trying for three months 10
have an additional fire escape placed on the
building We most severely condemn those
whose duty il WIS 10 place n sufficient num-
bcr Of fire escapes on the Tribune building
for not 30 doing and in our judgement this
is proper subject for the coroner 10 care.
fully and fully investigate, and place the
blame where II belongs.
Anton 1. Dahl, bookbinder, was ON one
Of the upper story floors, and IN believed 10
be among the lost. The elevator man who
made three trips after the fire broke
out says he saw man come
from Rn office and try 10 escape,
but q sheet Of flame struck him, and the nn-
fortunate fellow drew a revolver and shot
| himself IL ia thought this was Dahl.
Chief Stetson, of the fire department,
laid the blame for the loss Of life toIthe
lack Of FIRE escapes. He said the depart