The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-12-03
SCENES OF HORROR.
THE FIRE IN MINNE:APOI.IS
SATURDAY NIGHT.
Appeals of the Unfortunate Men-
Cut of in the Seventh story of
the TPuiIClinG From Amy Means
of EScape-The Dead.

Appeals of the Unfortunate Nell
Cut off in the Seventh story of
the PNiIding From Any Means
of Escape-The Dead.
MINNEAPOLIS, Mimi, December l.
-Four smoke-blackened and crumbling
walls, towering up above stcaming,
smoking, smouldcring mass of machin-
cry, brick and building debris, is all that
rcmaing of the ciGht-story brick building
at the corner Of FIRST avenue, South ana
Fourth streets, in which, until to-day,
had been printed three daily and one
weekly newspapers, and where was
located the Minneapolis Tribune, besides
numerous other offices.
All day to-day a constantly changing
and ever increasing crowd of sightseers
thronged the streets, watching the
efforts of the lircmen to Sub1ue entirely
the flames which they had brought under
control at about two O'Clock this morn
ing. The fire was fierce one while it
lasted, and it was due to the effective
work OF the department that the flames
were kept from spreading to wooden
buildings on adjacent lots.
The plan OF the building was such as to
make it well nigh impossible for any one
who delayed after the alarm had been
given to make his escape from the build
ing. As there were no less than one hun
dred men at work on the upper stories at
the time the fire broke out, and the warn
ing was late, as well as the means OF
cgrcsS limited, some loss OF life was a
certainty. Several times there have been
small fires in the building, but they were
quickly cxtinguishrd SO that, although
oil realized the COmbuStible nature OF the
building, the warning was less likely to
bc needed The building has been con-
sidered dangerous Tor some time, its loost
construction permitting heavy machinery
to jar the whole building. There was
hut one fire escape, and it was at tn,
end Of the building where the fire ragged
IlcrccSt. The single stairway was spiral,
narrow and dark. and wound around
the elevator shaft. Three years ago the
inadequate fire protection of the build
ing was considerably agltated. the mat
ter beng taken up by the trades and
labor assembly and carried finally to the
city officials, an attempt being made to
have the building property rotected or
condemned, but nothing came of ii.
made in the building.
Last night, Il few minutes after ten
O'Clock, when the alarm was sounded, ii
was not regarded seriously by the men
at work. although many of them started
down the stairs. No danger of serious
results were thought OF when the men
started out, and many of then jOkingly
speaking OF it as a lalsr alarm. This
feeling OF safety resulted in the death OF
number and narrow escape of the
Others.
For some time the Union League club
room, where the fire started, had not
been used, and the fires origin is a mys-
terry. This room is close to the elevator
shaft, and i'll the attempts to put out the
| flames window was broken open, bring
ing i'll a draft of fresh air. The flames
then shot across the hall and up the ele-
vatOr shaft in a moment and cut off the
escape of those who had been delayed. A
few broke through the sitting smoke and
Scorching flames, but others sought es-
cape elsewhere. Being at the south end
Ut the building, while the only fire escape
was at the north end, the printers found
their way to the stairs, as well as down
them, cut off. A number of them climbed
out OF the windows and cung to the
window lodges, waiting for help, which
i'll several cases came too late. Their pit
couS cries tor help directed the tiremcn to
them, and a number were saved. Others
iell off their narrow resting place, OF
dropped from the telegraph and tele-
| phone wires, over which they had tried
to escape, to their deaths on the frozen
ground below. The sight OF the sutferngs
Of the burning, struggling men, brought
tears to the eyes OF the braveSt, and
women prayed and strong men breath
| IcSSlv watched Associated Press Opera
tor lgOe's brave attempt to escape. He
had got clear of the building and was
gradually working his way along the
wires to safety, while the silent, prayer
iul crowd below anXiously and llelplcssly
watched his brave attempt to save to
| his wife and four little ones their bread
winner But the wires cut his hands,
and his strength failed, and groan
went up from the upturned faces far
below INN when he was seen to slip from
his slight support and fall to the roof OF
the boiler house. Men lifted him gently
and started with him to adrugstorc, but
on the way, alter last word of loving
care for his family, he breathed his last
Other heart-rcnding scenes were wit
messed. but no fight for life could have
been pluckier than this, and its fatal termi.
nation was matter for universal regret
Seven bodies were found around the
building last night, all of which have
been identified. They were: Milton
Picket, assistant city editor the Pioneer
Press James +. lgo, Associated Press
night operator; Walter Z. Miles, night
agent and day operator of Associated
Press; Edward Olsen, president of the
university OF South Dakota, at Vermil.
lion; W. H. Millman, commercial editor
OF the Tribune; Jerry jenkins and Robert
McCutchen.
DistressinGly Fatal Fire.
| PHILADELPHIA, December 2.-The bak.
cry OF Gustavc Cross, on the corner oi
Second and Huntingdon streets, was to,
tally destroyed by fire about 3 O'Clock
this morning. Mr.. Gross escaped from
the flames halt dressed, but his wife and