Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1889-12-04
1t Was ! Firs Trap.

hCCosb W tno UuNuAuk ~ W way " ssAO
elevator, around which narrow and dark
stairway wound. At night this stairway
was the only means Of ingress and egress.
fire-trap, and the danger to those located
there has often been commented upon.
The building burned with such rapidity
that the occupants were envelcped in the
flames and smoke before they were aware
of it. The sixty i've men working on the
seventh floor made dash in body for
the stairway. Forty made the run safely
and got out. The rest made q frantic
effort to get through the binding smoke.
Five of these were cut off at the fourth
floor and jumped to the pavement. Three
of them were badly hurt and the other two
killed.
Tho victima.
The Tribune editorial force il on the
seventh floor and their composing rooms
above it. On these two floors there we're
nearly 1Oo persons employed when the fire
broke ont. The flames cut off the escape
Of the Pioneer Press force on the sixth
floor. as we'll as the Tribune folks on the
seventh and eighth. Reporter Barnes, ol
the Pioneer Press, had narrow escape
from the building and left behind him
Milton Pickett, assistant city editor, and
one Of the Oldest men In the service Of Tue
paper. Pickett was lost in the burning
building.
A South Dakota Victim.
Edward Olsen, president OF the Univer.
sity Of Dakota at Vermillion, s. D., was in
the composing at the time the
flames broke out. He jumped from one o1
ho ,ISSy k<,a hA fn1u md sAf
with even a more horrible death from
shattered limbs and body.
Tho Fatality List.
The following Is list Of the victimt
identified Immediately after the catastro.
phe:
James f. lgoe, Associated Press operator.
Walter r.. Miles, Associated Press agent.
w. H. Milhan. commercial editor.
Jerry Jenkinson, compositor. late OF siou'
Robert Mccutcheon. compositor..
Prot. Edward Olsen, Nermillion, g. ID.
Milton Pickett reporter.
There we're doubtless several more peo.
pie at work in other parts Of the building
and it is feared some of these did not es,
cape. Several persons suffered injuries
from burns. 1t is probable that the num-
ber of dead viii, reach fifteen and perhaps
more.
Notes.
The Tribune building was years Old,
brick structure, and valued at $3O0, 900
The loss will probably reach $1,000. 900
pretty we'll insured. The entire building
was mass of ruins in less than an hou
after the first alarm. The rescue of thos'
in the upper stories was by means OF
long ladder. which seemed to the anxiou
witnesses both above and below to moy,
mp at q snail's pace, but was finally restet
in position and the crowd began to de.
scend. the flames making steady encroach
ments in the corner where the frightened
men had huddled. Life nets were alst
brought out and some we're saved by thiI
means.
James +. Igoe, night operator OF tht
Associated Press, was at work on th,
seventh floor when the report OF the FIR
was received and immediately opened tn
key, stating the fact to the head oface =
Chicago and asking for minutes time I.
investigate. Soon he returned to the in
strument, apparently thinking he wa
safe, and told the sending operator I.
continue. In moment he said he said b
would have to skip and found, when to-
late, that escape was cut Of He jumped
from the seventh story window and was 81
badly injured that he died before reaching
the hospital. He leaves family.