The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-12-01
Six Lives Lost by the Burning Of
the Minneapolis Tribune
Building
The Fire Starts on the Third Floor,
Cutting Off the Escape of
Many Men.


MiNffAiuliNt NOV. U.-fue WIS discover
ed on the third floor of the Tribune build
ing about l0ab tonight and soon the entire
was wrapped in flames. On the
seventh floor were situated many offices, the
Tribune staff Of editors, reporters and CON-
positors A number Of employees in attempt
ing 10 escape jumped from the windows
and n number of lives we're lost At mid
night seven bodies had been taken out Of
the ruins.
AZ a. m. the number Of lives lost is over
half dozen, and possibly ten or more. The
building is an eight-story one, at the corner
of First avenue and Fourth street. IL was
occupied by the Tribune, Tribune-Star
(evening edition Of the Iribunel Minneapo-
liza Office of the Pioneer Press and Evening
journal, besides u large 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 n hundred persons employed when
the fire broke out. Access 10 the building
which n narrow and dark stairway
wound. AZ night this stairway was the
only means of mgress or egress. The build
ing might be called yeritable fire trap,
and the danger 10 those located there has
been often commented upon. The fire
broke out ON the third floor, and soon those
ON the upper floors were cut OF from the
street. The building was on the corner and
the adjoining buildings we're only one story
in height. 80 no means Of escape was afford
ed in that direction. The flames cut of the
escape of the Pioneer Press force on the
sixth floor. as well as the Tribune folks ON
the seventh and eighth. Reporter Barnes,
of 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 the
paper. Pickett was lost in the burning
building. The Tribune force suffered most,
they located higher up and had less warn
ing of thoir danger.
Jamer Il. Igoe. night operator of the Asso-
ciated Press, met with sad death. He was
at work ON the seventh floor when the re-
port of the fire wis received, and immedi-
ately opened the key, stating the fact 10
the head Office NJ Chicago, and asking for
minutes time 10 investigate. Soon he re-
tnrned 10 his instrnmont, apparently think
ing he was slfe, and told the sending opera
tor to continue. In moment he said be
would have 10 skip, and found too late that
his escape was cut of. lie jumped from
the seventh story window, and was 80 badly
injured he died before reaching
the hospital. He leaves family.
Old man Pierce, printer,
was also killed. One report is that ten have
been killed. but up 20 midnight only six
bodies have been taken from the ruins,
which were then falling in. Those known
10 be dead are Assistant City Editor Pick
EFT, W. 4. Miles, agent of the Associated
Press; James II. Igoc. Associated Press
operator; John Olson, president of the Yer
million, OAK, college; Quarry, Colwell, Nc
Cutcheon and Pierce, printers.
Another whose name could not be learned
appeared at n window. and not seeing the
ladder the iiremen were raising, apparently
lost his senses, and drawing revolver from
his pocket, placed IL 10 his bead and fired.
falling backwards into the flames. w. III.
Hoover and W. II. Williams, The Inter the
foreman Of the composing room, were taken
of Just IN time 10 escape n cloud of flames
that swept the window in which
they were standing Williams was
badly burned. Jimmy Kohl, messenger
boy ON the Tribune, is said 60 be missing.
The building burned with such rapidity
that the occupants were cnycloped In flames
and smoke almost before they were aware
of it, The Hlxty-fiye men working on the
seventh floor made n dash IN body for the
stairway; forty made the run and got ont;
the rest made frantic effort 10 get through
the binding smoke, and five of these we're
cut of Mt the fourth floor and jumped 10
the pavement. Three Of them were badly
hurt and the other two were killed.
A general alarm was turned in and the
engines in the city responded 10 the call.
The imprisoned printers gathered at the
windows in the south end and shrieked
wildly and despairingly for aid. Hurry
the ladders. for Gods sake" was shrieked
with all the vehemence and power that an
guished dozens in peril Of their lives could
muster A vast crowd from the opposite
side, viewing the fire, shouted words OF
encouragement 10 the men in their
strenuous endeavors 10 hurry them
up. The long ladders seemed 20 move up at
n snail's pace, but they finally rested in po-
stiOn aud the crowd began Ia descend. The
flames were making steady encroachments
in the corner where the frightened men had
huddled. Life nets were brought and some
were saved by this means. The entire build
ing Is mass Of ruins.
Tie Tribune building was five years old,
brick structure, and valued at 100000.
The loss will probably reach n million dol
lars; insurance not ascertained.
AZ the mOrgue are five bodies, that Of
Professor Olsen being enclosed In a plain
pine coffin. On the floor are the bodies Of
Jerry Jenkinson, n compositor ON the Tri-
bune, young man who was shortly TO be
married. Beside him are two bodies so
bloated and burned, with the blood
still oOZing from their wounds, that
they have not been recognized. On two
tables ARE the copses of Robert McCutcheon,
a compositor, and Milton Pickett, re-
porter on the Pioneer Press. Jenknson
endeavored TO make his escape on the
heavy telegraph wires. He clambered
down short way but was unable to retnin
his hold, and was Obliged to drop 10 the
ground. When picked up he was dead.
McCutcheon, big heavy man,
jumped and WAS instantly killed. james
I. Igoe, associated press operator,
made vain endeavors 10 escape by coming
down the wires. lie had descended until
within about fifty feet Of the ground, when
he was compelled TO loosen his hold and
died while being conveyed 10 the hospital
He leaves n wife and family.
A couple Of bodies remain unidentified.
One or two men, supposed TO be dead turned
up alive. There were doubtless several more
people al work in other parts Of the build
ing and IL is fenred several of these did not
escape. Several persons suffered injuries