davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-02

on the Goth of August, 1S4S. In 1858 his
parents removed to this country and set
tied near La Crosse. Wis. He remained
there until he was eighteen years of age
ENJOYING only such educational facili-
ties as those offered by the country
school of those days. But his mind
craved for learning, and, aided by his
brother, he took two years prepare
tory course at Beioit college. Thence
he went to the University of Chicago,
where he took a full course, graduating
with distinction. His mind was turned
toward religion, and he entered upon a
theological course at the Baptist Union
seminary, supporting himself by teach
ing at the University of Chicago. He de-
cided that he preferred teaching to eX-
pounding the gospel, and, to perfect
himself for his life work went to Eu-
rope, and spent year each at Halle,
Gottingen and at Paris. Possessing
profound acquaintance with ancient and
modern languages, he returned to
America. and was appointed to the pro-
fessorship or modern languages at the
University of Chicago. On the death of
Prof. Boise DR.. Olson became professor
of Greek, which chair he held until that
educational institution ceased to be.
He was for two years connected with
Morgan Park Theological seminary, and
left there to take the presidency of the
University of Dakota at VermilliOn, and
under his guidance it became one of
the best colleges in the country.
For the past three years DIR. Olson has
been factor in the Chautauqua assem-
blies, and last summer was sent to the
Oriental congress at Stockholm. He
was the only American representative
there who could address the assembly in
every language used at that conference.
DR.. Olson was noted for great strength
of mind and gentleness of nature. The
testimony of all who knew him is that
he was q man whom no one knew but to
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-02
WANTED TO SAVE MONEY.
The Reason Why Fire Escapes
Were Not Erected,

Building Inspector HaZen, whose de-
partment has charge of the erection of
FIRE escapes, did not hesitate to shift
any responsibility which might be at
tached to his department to where, in
his opinion, it rightfully belongs. In
an interview yesterday. he said: The
ordinance of the city council requires
all buildings in Minneapolis three
stories high or over to have one or more
fire escapes, and it is left with the build
ing inspectors 10 say where they
shall be located and how they shall be
erected. In March last served notice
on the owners of the Tribune building
to erect substantial f1re-eScape on the
First avenue end of the building. Since
then [ have had several talks with them
on the subject. A good, safe escape will
cost all the way from 800 to $500. and
they objected to the expense as unneceS-
sary. They claimed that the cOnstruc-
ton of the building was such that in
case fire should start tue combustion
would be so slow that everybody would
have plenty of time to get out.
[ did not hold the same opinion.
for | knew something about the
combustible nature of the contents of
the upper floors. They wanted to erect
a pipe with ianges east on the side,
patterned after the one now on the
front of the Hotel Brunswick. This l
would not allow, and pointed out the
necessity of balconies at each story. A
woman or a man with weak nerves
could not go down a straight ladder for
seven or eight stories, but if there was
a balcony every twelve feet the decent
would not appear so hazardous. They
xr-or,ld nof avPna m hnil6 an pSpann ike
this, and for the reason that would
not allow them to erect a cheap affair
they did not erect any. The public is
at liberty to draw its own conclusions.
and to place the blame where it prop
erIv hpIOnVS''
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-02
THE BURNED BUILDING.
But Little Trace Left of Its
Former Grandeur.

But Little Trace Left of Its
Former Grandeur.
The Tribune building. the scene Of a
calamity second to none in the history
of Minneapolis, is q wreck. The hand
some pressed-brick front is blackened
and twisted. Everything inside the
four walls. which was not consumed by
the fire, has fallen through to the base
ment. The hallway in which the ele-
vatOr was situated is filled with
burning mass of debris on which the
firemen were still playing heavy
stream at midnight. A large portion
of the front fell into the street, and
Fourth street Is blocked with tons of
bricks and rubbish. What remains of
the two upper stories will have to be
taken down before any work can I've
done towards getting at any of the
safes which are buried in the basement.
\ large portion of the rear wall has
already fallen, and the rest of it is con-
sidered unsafe. The rear wall fell
upon the one-story building on First
avenue south. occupied by the Journal
as composing room, crushing that
structure and Diling tons of brick and
mortar where the compoSitorS stood.
Fears are entertained for the safety of
the books and files which are in the
vaults. Yesterday smoke was issuing
FROM the upper vault in what was once
the Journals business Office. and 1t is
generally supposed that the contents
have been destroyed, but nothing
definite will be known until the ruins
cool sufficiently to permit an examina-
tiou. Inside there is nothing left of the
once handsome building but mass of
twisted iron and the seething, smoking
ruins.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-02

opinion that the existing provisions
were adequate. IL thew were not
satisfied. but still foresaw the present TRACE
oy. what have they been during during the
past two years.
Fourth-Not far from the same time Chief
Set>oa, of the fire department, mailed or
handed to me printed copy Of Minnesota
statutes on this subject. and III subsequent
interview recommended the erection OF an
additional fire escape. His attention was
called 10 the folding ladder escape above re-
tsiI>S9s to which has Just been put or was
about 10 be. The public authorities did not
think other provisions sufficiently necessary
20 insist on them, and before anything else
was done the property had passed out OF my
control
Finally, IT, through any omission or mis-
Judgment of mine as the former owner Of
the Tribune building. am ever remotely re-
sponSible for any part nf the ueploraole
Calamity which shadows this community, L
shall not shrink from the re possibility, but
| shall insist upon sharing thai responsibility
euntably with every citizen who now claims
q he has all along known the building 10
b. a-dangeruus, but has consciously
neglected IL sound the alarm or amply the
timely remedy. Fen dollars ext e lded in
rofeS by tenants themselves would have
saved every life. With the best advice could
get fully believed the b,ilding 10 &C ade-
quaJely equipped during my ownership of it,
Making all due allowance for blunders at
tending the fire itself, the outcome proves
mis- belief In have been a miStake-provided
those equipments existed on Saturday last as
high buildings in either city can this not be
said? II is easy 10 be wise after the event.
Yours truly, A. b. NErrLEToS,
MINNEAPOLIS Dee l. 1881
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-02

asked themselves, and thousand silent
prayers for the safety of the men went
up from as many stout hearts. Higher
and higher the ladder mounted, and rs
it was swung into position and Jones
grasped the top round mighty cheer
went up. Quickly he secured footing
and assisted his companions to the lad
der. The terrible strain bad been too
much for Barnes, and he would have
fallen from the ladder had itnOt been for
the strong arm of his companion, which
hell him until he was safely landed
ON the ground. In the windows of the
seventh floor fifteen men were frantic
ally shouting for help and groan of
anguish went up from the constantly
increasing crowd as they realized that
the ladders were too short to reach them.
The ladder was swung around under q
window at which dozen men were
struggling with each other. One man
had fastened strap on the inside and
graSping the end dropped out and with
dcXterOus swing jumped into the win
dow on the sixth floor. Another fol-
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-02
GEN. NETTLEToN's DEFENSE.
He Absolves Himself From All
Responsibility and Blame.

To the Editor of the GLOBE.
In reference to the action of the Typo
graphical union | have this to say:
First-I have had no share in the owner
ship OF control of the burned Tribune build
ing for more than two years past II there
were any serious omissions or defects in the
building or its equipment during nv owner
ship those who now say they knew of such
omI ssions or defects have had ample time to
effect needed reforms, by calling ON the new
owners and managers for them. Has any
such demand or request been made? If not.
where does the fact leave those who claim to
have had this fatal knowledge, and yet neg
lected to make any use Of it until too late?
SecOnd-During my management of the
Tribune building. no tenant of the building
and no person employed by any tenant ever
made 10 me the request or the suggestion
that better facilities for escape in case of fire
be furnished. So far as l know and believe
10 such request has been made TO the new
management during the two years Of their
cOntrOl-but they can speak for themselves.
Third-Some three years ago, three men
called on me. saying they were a committee
representing, as l remember it the trades
and labor union, and that they called to
confer with me about the fire escape facfli-
ties in the Tribune building. greeted them
cordially, and spent a quarter of an
hour enumeratilg exactly the provisions
which had been made against
fire and against loss of life in case of fire
had been used instead Of studding and lath
all partitions. all walls and ceilings being of
tile; that q solid framework Of extra heavy
iron posts and girders formed the interior
supports: that all floors were double and
filed between with two inches of cement or
grOut: second, that q firSt-class iron stand
pipe f. escape. as they could see, extended
from roof to first story on the outer wall of
the north end, accessible from the hall on
each floor; that four large iron pals of
water were kept in plain sight in the open
hallway OF each floor from top 20 bottom to
use IN extiDguishing an incIpient blaze; that
hand grenades we're well Distributed through
the building, and that q folding iron
ladder escape had been or shortly would
be placed IN TIE seventh floor composing
room for the special use of the printers. l
referred TO the further facts that the ele-
V2tOr man constituted an excellent night
watch, passing each floor many times each
hour, and that with two OF three dozen able
bodied men occupying the building all night
II seemed next TO impossible that q fire
should get any Roadway. l mentioned that
several fires had In fact started and with this
result-one burning four hours before dis
eovery, and then not getting beyond the
small room in which it began. l then in
vlted the members of the committee 70 90
through the building from cellar to roof with
the superintendent and see for themselves.
They did SO, and to the best Of my present
recollection and belief never heard another
word from them. and sHsumed that. on ex-
animation. they eoncurred In my expressed
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-02
HOW THE FIRE STARTED.
Supposed to Have Been Caused by
Sponta neOus Combustion.

Supposed to Have Been Caused by
Sponta neous Combustion.
One of the first persons to see the fire
in the roOmS formerly occupied by the
Republican league was Mandeil Marks,
who was employed as an "ad" man in
the Tribune composing room. At the
fir. cry OF fire MIR. Marks grabbed his
hat and Overcoat and started for the
street. He is one of the few who saved
all his effects. When asked last night
what, in his opinion, was the cause of the
fire he replied: That is hard to tell.
But think it was either due to the
steam pipes or spontaneous combustion.
When reached the third floor | saw
the fire in the vacant rooms. There was
a big pile of papers on the floor, and
some of them were pretty close to the
steam pipes, but most of the fire was
away from them. Joe ManniX was hold
ing the door shut while one of the men
went after hand grenades. The gren-
AIDES were thrown into the room, but
they didn't break, and when the glass
in the window gave way the
flames drove US all down the stairs.
looked up and the fire had gone clear to
TIT, top of the elevator shaft. My own
theory is that spontaneous combustion
caused the fire." Joseph L. Mannix,
who was one of those who tried to eX-
tinguish the fire, is of the same opinion.
Chief StetsOn says that steam pipes may
have caused it, but he will not say what
the cause was until he can make an in
vestigation. The general theory, how
ever, points to spontaneous combustion
as the cause.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-02

under such shock. While it is I'M
practical to waste breath at this time in
talking of what might have been, many
cannot help but reflect how efficient a
body OF firemen, we'll trained in the
life-saving service, would have been on
that fatal night. A police officer who
saw McCutcheon fall states that he
climbed out on the ledge to crawl along
it to the place where the department
had h0isted their ladders. He had no
more than got out on the ledge than he
lost his balance and rolled sideways
from the narrow footing. A man be-
hind McCutcheon followed him out on
the ledge despite the fearful fate he had
just seen his brother workman suffer.
He, however, was more fortunate and
gained the next window, and in doing
so located the ladder. climbed within.
and within another minute clambered
out and down the escape.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-02
HOW DIR. OLSON DIED.
His Fall From the Fire Escape.
as old by His COMPANION.

Prof. Bristol, who came to the city
with DIR. Edward Olson, was in the
Tribune building when the fire broke
out. To a GLOBE reporter he told the
following story of his own escape and
of DIR. Olson's death:
'Dr. Olson and | left S. f. Olson's
store at 10 O'clock and went
up to the sixth floor of the
Tribune building to- see Mr..
Grevstad. We were talking: for a few
minutes, when L heard light cry or
fire. | do not think the others did hear
il. then smelled smoke and went out
into the hall to see what was the matter.
saw flames and saw many persons
leaving the building. l warned DIR.
Nelson and Mr.. Greystad and we started
down the stairs. Mr.. Grevstad got
ahead of us and succeeded in escaping
by tho stairway. lie must have been
the last to get out that way. =
"Dr. Olson and | were driven back by
the flames and smoke. We returned to
the seventh floor, and succeeded in
reaching the fire escape. There were
several going down at that time. aud all
seemed to be cOol-headed. Seeing that
every one went down the fire escape on
Il NCuG uOWH iiioiuVs hSA
the building. DR.. Olson was ahead OF
me. When near the bottom | looked
down. and Immediately saw him fall.
1t seemed to me that he had reached
the last round of the escape, and
thinking there was another.
reached down for it. His whole
weight was thus thrown heavily and
suddenly upon his hands and he lost
his hold. He seemed to fail OIL his
back. prOduc n conclusion of the brain.
] jumped from the bottom of the fire
escape directly over the body of DR..
Olson, and with the assistance of pO-
licemcn he was removed to the coffee
house near by, and that appearing UNI
safe, he was taken to CIrkler'S drug
store. All was done for him that could
be Ie, but it was too late. Death was
probably instantaneous. His face bore
no look of pain, the only outward evil
dence of INJURY being the blood whic n
flowed from his V0Ssa and mouth
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-02

lowed him and landed in the window.
1t was a desperate chance which
few cared to take. Suddenly one
of the firemen Invested him self
of his coat and jumped upon ladder
with scaling hook in his hands. 1t was
Jack Hoy. memuer Of the Minneapolis
pompier corps attached 10 Ladder Com
pany No. /. There was no fearin Jacks
heart as he swiftly ran out the ladder.
Halfway up he had to pause and SWING
himself aside to allow the man who had
first swung himself from the seventh
floor to the sixth To pass him. A few
feet further be again had to pause to
allow the second man to get
down. Quickly he mounted to
the top. and, bracing himself, threw
the hook of the scaling ladder
into the window above. Hardly had
he hook touched the window sill when
a man stepped out and came down the
slender rod. STEADY, boys" cried Jack,
who was as cool as if going through the
regular drill. Zone at time. Step
lively and hold on tight" Cheer after
cheer went up from the crowd as one
after another of the men safely clam
bered down the ladder. But there was
one man left. The flames were over
his head, the heat was intense. and the
had not strength enough to climb over
the sill. Up went Jack through smoke
and fire. Into the window he jumped
and grasping the man lifted him in his
arms. Swapping his safety hook around
the ladder he swung out on the frail
pumpier. Carefully he descended until
the mans feet touched the main ladder.
Another fireman caught him i'll his arms
and assisted him to the ground. AS the
fireman lifted the last man through the
windows mighty roar went up from
the crowd. Men went wild from excite
ment, and frantically shook hands and
Rugged the men next To them. The
cheering was kept up for fully FIVE min
utes. and that fireman could have had
any personal property in the possession
of the crowd, but Jack quietly put OH
his coat and went abOnt his work just
as if the saving of twelve human lives
was an everyday occurrence.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-02
A BRAVE FIREMAN.
Jack Hoy, With His Pompier Lad
der. Saves Twelve Lives.

The first hook and ladder truck to ar
rive on the fire ground was the Hayes
truck, No. l, stationed at fire depart
ment headquarters. When the appa-
ratus swung around into Fourth street,
with the horses on full gallop, the
driver took in the situation at glance
and urged his horses still faster. AS
the truck stopped in front of the fire
the building presented sight never to
be forgotten by those who witnessed it.
Flames and great clouds of smoke
were belching forth from the up
per floors. The windows were
filled with men crazed with fear
a thousand blanched and cOlOrless up
turned faces and the weird light of the
flames ever and anon concealed by the
heavy cloud of smoke, made a picture
more horrible than human mind can
conceive or human skill portray. Away
up at the sixth story. on narrow ledge,
which sloped outward, stood three men.
One of them grasped an electric light
wire. which ran into the building, with
one hand, while with the other he
steadied the man next to him. The men
were Messrs. Jones, Barnes and Cha
pin, of the Pioneer Press. A dozen will
ing hands grasped the crank which
raises the ladders, a. slowly they
mounted upward. "Will the ladder
Teach?'' was question a thousand men
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-02
WASTES OF INTEMPERANCE
DIR. Tiffany Gives Some Interest
ing Statistics in a Temperance

luS StdtictiSo III q temperance
Sermon.
At the Hennepin Avenue Methodist
Episcopal church Rev. DR.. o. ii. Tiff
any diScoursed upon the WASTES of In
temperance" from Matt. XVI, s.: TO
what purpose is this waste?" and
said in substance: "Intemperance has
no defenders. Even to suspect man
of it is to endanger his reputation and
hinder his usefulness. The question
of intemperance may be argued in
any way except from a Christian stand.
point The book of God has settled
that with its mo drunkard shall enter
the kingdom of heaven" Tonight l
denounce it or its waste; defining
waste to be whatever does lasting
damage to the freehold, or dis
sipates property through wanton-
ness or luxury" He then gave
the statistics of the annual
production OF grain used in the produce
ton of spirits. and in a very humorous
manner made this into flour, the -four
into bread. the bread into lOayes and
then paved a street ten yards wide to
the length of 1871 miles. There was
ABOUT 500. 100000 spent in drink in one
year. And with this you could have
given one years schooling to every
man, woman or child in the United
States that could not write, and had
over s6,O0O,00O left with which to do
something else that was good.
All the papers in the United States cost
only 0,0OO. 600. and all the taxes $780,
O00OOO, and that does not use half of the
money spent for liquor.
He tnen mentioned the waste of time
in drinking and the loss of muscular en-
ergy and animal vitality.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-02
To the Public.

The Journal will be issued as usual
to-day. but from the Times Office, Mr..
Nimoeks having kindly rendered the
journal every facility. The business
Times Office. Il Third street south; the
editorial rooms on the second floor. The
journal also wishes to express heart
felt thanks to the Pioneer Press, News
ana Dispatch. of st. Paul. for the ten
der of their respective plants.
l.. SWIFT JR., Manager.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-02
The DAM Concert.

The DAM concert yesterday afternoon
drew out the largest audience of the
series. Harmonic hall was completely
filed. Miss Fremstad, the sophranO,
quite captiyated her hearers and was
enthusiastically recalled. She sang an
aria from THE Huguenots" for her
first number and an aria from "Mign-
on" for her encore. Paul Kreuger's
harp solo in Gounod's Ave Maria''
was also encored, as was "Lien Die
Ball." while the other orchestra mum
bers were all warmly applauded.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-02
THE LOSS Is HEAVY.
1t Will Amount to at Least $780,
900.

The losses and assurances can be now
more approximately estimated. The
building is total loss, which amounts
s150.000 at least. There is an insurance
on it of 100000. The loss of the Tribune
Publishing company is $4,000; inSur-
auce $4,000. The journal loss is
1000; insurance $4,000. The loss of
the Tribune Job Printing COM
pany is heavier than was
Supposed, amounting to 100000
with only $4,000 insurance. w. ID.
Booth & son, publisherc of blank books.
state that their loss is s15,-
600; insurance, $4,000. Anton j.
Dahl, bookbinder, puts his loss at
$1,000; insurance, 5000. The Folkelts
Tidning's loss is $1,000. The losses of
other tenants cannot be estimated. but
may reach up as high as $4,000, which
will bring the total loss up to $3.50, 900.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-02

BALTIMORE, Dec. lit is stated that
syndicate with headquarters in New
York is negotiating to buy up all the
large cotton mills of the country and
place them under the control of one
great corporation. The undertaking
will require capital of s15.000.000.
English financiers are said to be inter-
eSted in the project.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-02

in the building, but could not find where
it came from after a careful search.
Returning to my work, i noticed that the
smell became stronger and stronger,
and finally saw the fire. Going to the
top Of the building, l called out that
the building was on fire. At first
not many considered the case at all seri-
Gus. If they had all started out when l
first gave the alarm no one would have
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-02
MINNEAPOLIS.
Continue,. Eros, FIRST Page.

caught on a girder on what was
once the second floor. \ mass ot RAGS
and paper could be seen ia the spot III
diealed, but As close an invest gator. as
could be made failed 10 verify me sturT.
Men WHO escaped from the composing
room mingled with the crowds and were
tnrcedc! :a.sSain and again 10 REPEAT the
story al lheiF escape. They were pnSi-
tive that all the men known To have
keen in the composing room at the time
of the fire had been accounted tor. An
aiher rumOr which WAS started IN the
crowd was To the effect that several law
students slept in the building ANA were
lost. Diligent inquiry, however. failed
50 verify the TumOr.