, 1889-12-05
SACRIFICED TO GREED !
THE TRIBUNE" BUILDING
HAD BUT ONE FIRE
ESCAPE.
twenty-five Lives Were Lost :.

twenty-five Lives Were Los :.
MINNEAPoLIs, Dec. 1.-Four blackened
walls, looming up above the towering,
Nteaming smoldering of machinery, brick
and building debris, is all that remains
of the eight-story brick Tribune building,
in which, until to-day, have been printed
three daily and weekly newspapers, and
where was located number of Offices
All to-day constantly changing and ever
increasing crowd of sishtseers throagsd d
tiremcn to subiue entirely the flames,
winch they brought under control about
> O'Clock this morning
The building has been considered dan
gerOus for some time, its loose construc-
ticn permitting the heavy machinery TO
jar the whole building. There was but
one FIRE escape, and it Vas at the end of
the building where the fire ragged the
fiercest. The single stairway was spiral,
narrow and dark, and wound around the
elevator shaft. Three years ago the in
adequate fire protection of the building
was considerably agitated matter, being
taken up by the trades and labor assem-
blies, and carried finally to the city ofIi-
Gals, an attempt being made to have the
building properly protected or condemn
ed, but nothing came of it.
WHERE THE FIRE STARTED.
For some time the Union League club
room, where the fire started, has not
been used, and the origin is a mystery
This room is close to the elevator shaft,
and the breaking of window in the ef-
| forts to extinguish the flames made
draft which quickly carried the fire to
the elevator and cut off the escape of
those who had delayed. A few broke
through the sitting smoke and scorching
| flame, but others sought to escape else
where, being at the south end of the
building, while the solitary fire escape
was ut the north end. The printers were
cut off. A number o. them climbed out
of the windows and chung to tine ledges,
waiting for the help, which in several
cases, came too late. Their piteous cries
attracted the attention of the firemen,
and number OF them were saved. while
others fell off the ledges or dropped from
telegraph or telephone wires, down which
they tried to escape. The sight of the
suffering, buring, struggling men brought
tears to the eyes of the braTest.
HOW ONE BRAVE LIFE WENT OUT.
One of the most pathetic incidents was
the attempt OF James Igoe to escape. He
had got clear of the building and was
gradually working his way along the
wires to safety, while the crowd below
anxiously watched his brave attempt to
breadwinner. But his strength failed,
and groan went up from the crowd as
he was seen to slip and fall to tho roef of
boiler house, receiving fatal injuries.
He was lifted gently and carried to
drug store, but died in few moments,
breathing last word of loving care for
his family.
THE SEVEN BODIES RECOVERED.
Seven bodies were found last night,
all of which have been identified. They
were: Milton Pickett, assistant city
editor OF the Pioneer Press; James IgOe,
Associated Press operator; Walter E.
Miles, night agent Associated Press
proof; Professor Olson, president of the
South Dakota University; w. H. Mill
man, commercial editor of the Tribune,
and Jerry Jenkinson, and Robert Nc
Cutcheon, compositors. Other bodies
are known to be in the building, but
how many is unknown.
HE PREFERRED DEATH By THE PISTOL
Two men who could not be identified
were seen to shoot themselves before
the flames reached them, and to-day
the body of man caught in the ruins
| is in plain view from Ninth street. 1t
Is believed that the number Of victims
| will reach twenty, and perhaps twenty
five but until the debris cools off, posi-
| tive information can not be obtained.
| The last man of the Tribune editorial
staff to leave the building was Manag-
ing Editor Williams. He was badly
burned about the head and hands.
| HOW THEY MET THEIR DEATH.
| Mr.. Williams gives the following
statement OF how several of those NAM
ed above lost their lives. miles and
Whitman, together with a number of
printers, started down the flre-escape.
! A blast of hot smoke and flame struck
Whitman and he lost his hold and fell,
knocking Miles off. Both fell to the
sixth floor, where they struck and
knocked off Pickett and Professor Oh
son. The four men in falling struck
against the lowest platform of the fire
escape and bounded away
from the building and were
dead when they struck the
ground. When Williams started
down the ladder the fire was burning
his hair and hands and he narrowly
escaped the fate of those who preceded
him. The printers on the ladder es-
capped with slight burns. Igoe and
Jenkinson sought TO escape by the
wires. McCutcheon jumped from the
| window LEDGE for the extension lad