Evening journal., 1889-12-02
A MINNEAPOLIS HORROR.
Fires Fatal Work in the Trib.
une Building.
SEVEN HUMAN LIVES WERE LOST

frinters and Newspaper Mon Hemmed
in by tho Cruel Flames-Dashed to Death
ON the Pavement Below-Two Despair
ing Sufferers Shoot Themselves.
MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 9.-Seven human lives
and $500, 900 worth Of property were sacrificed
Saturday night by fire that originated in
the rooms Of the Union league, on the third
floor Of tho Minneapolis Tribune building
The fire was discovered shortly after lC
o'clock by a district messenger, and almost
before an alarm could be turned in every
door and window Of the immense seven story
building was bolching fire and smoke. There
we're upward OF eighty men, including the ed
itorial staff and force OF compOsitors, al
work on the seventh floor, and these Were
penned in like sheep by the sheets og Game
that separated them from the elevator and
stairway. Then began a frenzied stampede
for the windows and roof Meanwhile the
fire department had raised ladder 10 tho
sixth floor, and from there thirty or forty
men were taken out OF the building and
landed on terro drmn Those who were on
the roof eareu not descend, and several
jumped to adjoining roofs and escaped with
few bruises
Oisen's Frightful Fall.
DIR. Olsen, president Of the University of
Dakota, at vermillion, was among those on
the roof. and seeing all means OF escape cut
Off, he essaysd to jump to an ad Joining build.
ing. He slipped and fell to the ledge Of the
window on the sixth story, and from there
10 the ground He fell head foremost and
was instantly killed, every bone In his body
being broken
j. +. lgoe, night operator for the Associ-
ated Press, stuck to his post till It was too
late to escape He was frightfully burned
on the head, and in his agony he, too,
jumped from the burning building and was
killed
Agent Miles, Of the Associated Press.
whose home is in Detroit, Mich, attempted
to follow Igoe, but foil back into the crater
OF flame and was burned to a crisp.
Reporter Roasted and Crushed.
Milton A. Pickett, reporter for The
Pioneer Press, whose Office was In The Trib-
une building, was caught, with a com
panion named Pierce ON tho stairway, and
there they were roasted to death and sub
sequently crushed to a pulp by falling
tmbers. While the fire was at its height
J. McCutcheon appeared in one of the win
dows Of the composing room and jumped
into net held by the firemen below The
weight Of his body carried tho net 10 the
stone pavement, and he died in few mo-
ments after being picked up.
He blew His Brains Out.
A few minutes after he had jumped, an
other of the printers appeared AZ a window
ON the opposite side Of the rooms He was
told 20 wait moment and a ladder would
be sent up to him. He appeared crazed by
fright, however, and instead Of waiting,
pulled revolver and, placing tho muzzle
70 his head, fred. The report was heard in
the street, and the man was seen 70 drop to
the floor. His name could not be learned
1t was rumored that another man had also
shot himself, but this report could not be
verified. There are doubtless several people
in the ruins, but just how many will not be
known until the debris is removed.
Losses and Insurance.
Mr.. Blethen, proprietor Of Tho Tribune
says that his loss is about S250, 900; insur-
ance, $4,000. The paper was issued as
usual Sunday, The st Paul Globe giving the
use Of its presses. The adjoining buildings
were saved by the eXertions Of the firenen
The Tribune building is a smoldering mass
OF ruins The Tribune loses its entire files.
Hitchcock, the court stenographer, loses the
evidence in all the cases taken for a number
of years in the district court The Tribune
Job Printing company is among the heaviest
sufferers. Its loss can be roughly estimated
at about S55, 900; insurance, $4,000 Hart &
Brewer and Cross 81 Carleton lose valuable
law libraries. Booth the legal blank man,
loses between $4,000 Asd sl5,0OO covered
by insurance. The total loss is about $780,
600; insurance, Sl50,OOO.
A List Of the Dead.
The following is a complete list Of the dead
and injured so far as can be learned:
Milton Pickett, assistant city editor of
The Pioneer-Press.
Edward Olsen, president OF the University
Of South Dakota at Vermillion.
Jerry Jenkinson, printer.
j. McCutcheon, a printer.
W. II. Millman, commercial editor OF The
Tribune
Walter z. Miles, operator and agent Of the
Associated Press.
The Injured Men.
William Lawn, printer; burned on
hands and face.
L. c. Andrews, printer; burned on hands
and face.
Frank Gerber, a deafmute printer; hands
and face burned
Adam Weishiem, printer; hurt about
hips.
Charles A. Williams, managing editor Of
The Tribune; badly burned about the head
and face.
W. II. Williams, foreman Of the compos-
ing room; badly burned about the face and
hands
S. II. Jones, Pioneer Press reporter; hands
and face slightly burned.
Frank Hoover, printer; burned about the
neck.
Denounced by INDIGNANT Printers.
The printers held meeting and appointed
a committee Of five to meet various local
unions and take some action. There is in
tense indignation felt at the owners Of the
buildings Some three years ago the print
ers claimed the dire possibilities that might
arise in case Of nre, and demanded that an
additional fire escape be placed ON the build
ing. The request was not granted by the
owners Of the building, and an appeal was
taken TO the city, but there was no legal
way Of compelling the owners to place an
additional escape on the structure.
The Elevator Mans Good Work.
Charles A. Smith, the elevator man on the
night service, did very creditable work After
the fire started he made five trips, the last
when the shaft was aetually on fire, aud
saved number Of people. Smith says he
smeled Gre for three-quarters Of an hour
before he could find it, location. After look
ing ON all the floors he finally felt tue heat
on the third floor, and was about 10 break
in the door Of the faueful room whom tho