Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1889-12-01
CAUGHT In A FIRE TRAP.
Minneapolis the Scene of a
Holocaust.
"TRIBUNE" BUILDING BURNED.
Escape of Employees Cut Often
to Fifteen Lives Lost-Operator
Igoe's Last Good Night.

MINNEAPOLIS, November 30.-Fire was
discovered on the third floor of the
Tribune building about 10:45 tonight,
and soon the entire building was wrapped
in flames. On the seventh floor were
situated many of the offices of the Tribune
staff, editors and compositors. A num-
Der of employees, in attempting to
escape, jumped from the windows. A
number of lives were lost, and at mid
night seven bodies had been taken out OF
the ruins. The only body yet identified
is that of Prof. Olsen, of Vermillion,
(Dak.) University, who had gone to see
o friend. lie jumped from the top floor
and vas instantly killed.
LATER PARTICULARS.
MINNEAPOLIS, December IL q. m.-
The number of lives lost is over half o
dozen, and possibly ten or more. The
building is an eight-story building at the
corner of First avenue and Fourth strset.
1t is occupied by the Tribune, Tribune,
Star (evening edition of the Tribune,
Minneapolis Office of the Pioneer Press
aAO LStCHtty JOH VUtt Jcblleb b laIR6
number of other Offices. The Tribune
editorial force is on the seventh floor,
and their composing rooms above it. On
these two floors there were nearly hun.
dred persons employed when the fire
broke out. Access to the building is by
way of an elevator, around which mar
row and dark stairway wound. At night
this stairway was the only means of in.
gress or egress. The building might be
called
A vERITABLR FIRE TRAP
And the danger to those located there
had been often commented upon. The
fire broke out in the third floor and soon
the upper floors were cut off from the
street. The building was on corner,
and the adjoining buildings were one
story in height, so no means of escape
was afforded in that direction. The
flames cut off the escape of the Pioneer
Press force on the sixth floor, as we'll as
that of the Tribune folks on the seventh
and eighth. Reporter Barnes, Of the
Pioneer Press, had narrow escape from
the building, and left behind Milton
Pickett, assistant city editor, end one of
the Oldest men in the service Of the pa.
per. Pickett WAS lost in the burning
building. The Tribune force suffered
most, they being located higher up and
had less warning of their danger.
AN OPERATORS SAD DEATH.
James F. Igoe, night operator of the
Associated Press, met with sad death.
He was at work on the seventh floor
when the report of the TIRE was received,
and Immediately opened the key, stating
the fact to the head Office at Chicago, aud
asking for minutes time to investigate.
| Soon he returned to the instrument,
apparently thinking he was safe, and told
the sending operator to continue. In a
moment he said he would have to skip,
and found too late that his escape was
cut off. He jumped from the seventh
story window, and was g. badly injured
that he died before reaching the hospital.
He leaves family.
rRK OTHER VICTIMS,
An old man, Pierce, prirfter, was
also killed. One report says ten have
been killed, but up to midnight only six
bodies had been taken from the ruins,
which were then falling In. Those
known to be dead are: Assistant City
Editor Pickett, w. E. Miles, agent OF
the Associated Press; James F. Igoe,
Associated Press operator John Olson.
President of the Vermillion, OAK, col.
lege; Harry Colwell, McCutcheon and
Pierce, printers.
tFHE IMPRISONED PRrNTERs.
general alarm WAS turned in and all
the engines in the city responded to the
call. The imprisoned printers gathered
at the windows in the south end and
shrieked wildly, deepairiDgly for aid.
Hurry the ladders for Code sake" was
shrieAed with all the vehemence and
power that the apguished dozens in peril
of their lives could muster. A vast
crowd from the opposite side who viewed
the fire wIeak its work of destruction.
shouted words of encouragement and
good spirits to them, in strenuous en-.
beavers to buoy them up. The long lad
der seemed to move up at a snail'e pace.
but was finally rested in position, and
the crowd began to descend. The flames
were making steady encroachments on
the corner where the frightened men had
huddied. Life nets were brought and
some were saved by this means,
THE BURNED PROPERTY.
The entire building at this writing in
less than an hour is a mass of ruins.
Sparks are flying in all directions. and
the adjoining buildings, occupied by a
restaurant, saloon and tailor shop. are
doomed. The Tribune building was
hve-years-old brick structure, and valued
at $500 900. The loss will probably
reach 81 ,0OO, 900; insurance not ascer-
tanned.
AT THE MoRGUE
Lie five bodies; that of Professor Olson
enclosed il pine coffin. On the floor
is the body of Jerry Jenkinson. a
composition on the Tribune, a young man
who was shortly to be married. Beside
him are two bodies, 30 bloated and
burned, with the blood still oozing from
their terrible wounds, that thus far thew
have not been recognized. On
two tables are the corpses OF Rob-
and Milton Pickett, reporter
on the Pioneer Press. Jenkinson en-
dsavored to make his escape on the
heavy telegraph wires. He clambered
down short way, but was unable to re.
tain his hold and was obliged to drop to
the ground. When picked up he was
dead. McCuteheon jumped and was in.
stantly killed. James F. Igoe, Aesoci.
ated Press telegrapher, made q vain
endeavor 10 escape by coming down the
wires. He had descended till within
fifty feet OF the ground when he was
to loose his hold, and died
while being conveyed to the hospital.
n a Ioowou q rusfo aud 70 x,,sIxx