Connecticut western news., 1889-12-04
MET DEATH BY FIRE.
Fearful Holocaust In Minneapolis...
 Tribune Office in Ruins.
EscNpe Cut on for Many of the Employes- Twelve Bodies Already Recovered From the Ruins-Death List Will Probably Number Twenty.

The seven-story Tribune building at Min neapoliS, was destroyed by fire which start ed about 10.30 o'clock, Sunday night. Nearly 100 people were employed in various eapaci- ties on the seventh floor, where the fire broke out. The fire originated in law office on the third floor of the building. The elevator man noticed the smell of smoke, and called the attention of some of the persons around the building to 1t. The cry of ''Fire" was raised, and several persons went down stars from the seventh story to investigate, and then returned to work. Before long smoke began to fiji the narrow stairway, and every one began to make leisure preparations for departure, no immediate danger being fear ed. The only exit to the building, which was, us usual, erroneousiy supposed to be wide enough for two persons to come down abreast, the elevator and single escape at the north end of the building.
 Several persons had made their escape in the mean time, but in less than 10 minutes the flames sought the elevator shaft, which, acting as mammoth f1ue, conveyed the fire to the top story, and soon the editorial rooms in the same side of the building where the fire originated were a seething mass of flames. In few minutes 1t reached the other side, where the composing room was situated. A general alarm was turned in, and all the engines in the city responded to the call. The imprisoned printers gathered at the window in the south end and shrieked despairingly for aid. ''Hurry the ladders" 1" was the awful refrain that burdened the air. "Hurry the ladders, for Gods sake," shrieked with all their vehemence and power by dozens in peril of their lives by an awful death, was all they could utter.
 The long ladder seemed to move up at a snaiPs pace, but was finally rested in position and the crowd began to descend, the flames making steady encroachments on the corner where the frightened men had huddled like animals. The life nets were brought and some were saved by this means. The entire building at this time, less than an hour after the blaze was discovered, was on fire. High above the hoarse cries of the firemen and the rattle Of the engines could be heard the agon- iZed screams for aid sent forth by the crowd of men hemmed in by the swirling masses of flame which surged around the top windows of the doomed building. When the ladder printers and spectators alike seemed an eter- nifty, the employees of the Tribune began to descend. So eager were they to get out of their scorching prison that many would have fallen headlong out of the window and been dashed to pieces on the sidewalk. seven stories below, had they not been restrained by their more cooLheaded fellow-workmen. As 1t was, however, two of the terror-stricken men broke away from their would-be preser- vers, and dropped from window to the side walk. They were both instantly killed.
 So far as known, the death list Is as fol. lows:
 EDWARD OLSEN, president of the Univer- sity of South Dakota at Vermillion. MILTON PICKETT, assistant city editor Pio- | neer Press, Minneapolis.
 W. H. MILLMAN, commercial editor, Fri bune.
 WALTER MILES, night agent of the Asso- ciated Press.
 JAMES IGOE, night operator of the Asso- ciated Press.
 ROBERT McCLUTCHEON, compostor. WILLIAM COLwELL, compositor. GEORGE STEVENS, cOmpOsitOr. WILLIAM TURNBULL, compOsitor. HARRY WHITLOCK, compositor. JERRY JENKINsON, compositOr. One unknown.
 Other bodies are known to be in the build ing, but just how many is uncertain. Two men, who could not be identified, shot them. selves rather than to be burned to death. II is believed that the number of victims will reach 20, and perhaps 25, but until the debris cools of positive information as to the loss cannot be obtained.