The Dickinson press., 1889-02-09
SAD SEQUEL TO A FIRE.
The Falling Walls of IL Recently
Burned Omaha IsuiIAin.
Crush Two Houses.
Six Persons Already Dead from the
Catastrophe, aud Others Fatally
Injured.
Twcnty-Four Persons Drowned by Sink.
ing Ships in Collision-The Cas-
ualty List.

OMAHA, Neb., Feb. 5.-AIaN Mevcr's
three story building, corner Farnum and
Eleventh streets, occupied by barrow &
Logan, Max Meyer & Co.'S branch store,
and S. Seljgnan, was burned out about
a fortnight ago. The r%ooflcss walls re-
manned standing, and it was intended to
repair them and add a fourth story. The
wind has been blowing a gale and at 2
O'Clock p. NJ. it caught the east wall and
blew down a portion OF it on tho build
ings adjoining with a tremendous crash.
The structure which caught the brunt of
the wreck was Max Meyers two story
brick. No. LOIS Farnum street. 1t was
occupied on the foo" by p. I8oyer's safe
store. and in the second story by II. c..
Dunbar's engraving and printing house.
Adjoining OH the east was an old one
story frame building, occupied as a
clothing store by L. Olsen. There was a
warning, a white puff of crumbling
mortar, the rattling of a few bits of
plaster, and the crash of the wall fol-
lowed in quick succession. When The
cloud of dust blew away it revealed
Dunbar's Office crushed flat. The roof,
walls and stock of Olscn's store
were crushed to the ground.
\ shanty in the rear. occupied
by Mrs. Hengen, was also wrecked. y
fire alarm was sent in and the force was
called to the scene. The liremcn with
ropes sought to pull down the walls on
Il other side and give access to those
who were imprisoned. The street filled
with curious people who did not realize
that anyone was hurt until they saw
men and wolnen crawling out of the dc
bris and others cut and limping brought
out by the tiremcn. The scenes were
heartrcnding. and those who had friends
in the wreck could hardly be kept back.
Means and tears were heard and seen as
brought out. The ruins were crowded
with business men and men in all con-
ditions of life. who worked earnestly
when they found an opening, to save the
lives of the unfortunatcs. When the
escucrs first arrived ut the scene. the
cries of Olson We're heard in the
northeast corner of the ruins. The res
cuers went to work to save the %unfortu-
nate man. but it required too much
time, and when they reached him,
Olson was dead. The body of Mike
Martin, Dunbar's fireman, was taken
out from the ruins in tho vicinity OF the
boiler. The body was roasted and mu-
tilated and presented Il shocking appear
ance. Miss Emma Oliver. the stenog-
rapher for Dunbar. was found about 2::30,
half an hour after the wreck. living be-
tween the safe and the walls. One leg
was broken and she was severely bruised
and sustained a serious conclusion of the
brain. She will die. Tom Houston, of
Dunbar's st%ereotyping department, was
found lying up near the boiler. His
body was horribly burned from head to
foot and his screams could be heard for
blocks. He will probably die. John
jackson, aged II years. was rescued with
a leg broken and other injuries. Daniels.
the driver for Halls safe agency, was
taken out badly bruised and injured in
ternally, but will survive. Two girls
employed by Dunbar. fell from the sec
ond floor and were severely bruised.
Mrs. Hengen. who lived in the cottage
in the rear of Olsen's store. was buried
under her own roof. but was extricated
after sustaining Il broken rib. Charles
Cesar, engraver. sustained Il broken leg
just below the right knee. a list of the
killed up to s O'Clock, is as follows:
Mike Martin, fireman of Dunbar's: P.
Boyer, agent Halls Safe and Lock com
pany: Il. Olsen. clothier: Mr.. Lombard,
bookeeper: Rudolph Mitchell, agent
Equitable Insurance company.