The McCook tribune., 1892-11-04

A FATAL FIRE.
Mrs. Frank S. Granger Burned
to Death and the Eating
House Destroyed.
AN INCENDIARY FIRE
Destroys Thousands Of Dollars Worth
of Goods for ]. Albert Wells.
TWO COSTLY FIRES MONDAY MORNING.

trous baptism by fire, between the
hours 5 and 6 Monday morning. There
were two distinct fires, both being at
tended by heavy loss and one by death
The first fire was in the B. & M
eating house, and was caused by the
explosion of coal oil stove used in
heating coffee After an unsuccessful
effort to carry out the stove, the flames
spread with marvellous rapidity, COM
municating to all parts of the building
which in an almost incredibly brief
space, despite the efforts of the fire de-
partment and many citizens was de-
stroyed.
The progress Of the flames was so
rapid that the guests Of the hotel es-
capped with the greatest difficulty and
in their night clothes, some jumping
from second-s:ory windows and being
badly cut, bruised and sprained in the
act.
There was one fatality, and that one
of unspeakaole sadness. Mrs. Frank
S.Granger, wife ofthe B. & M. passenger
conductor, was the unfortunate victim.
After assisting her husband in rescu-
ing the children, she was overcome by
the smoke and flames and perished.
Her charred and unrecognizable re-
mains were recovered by searching
party about 10 O. clock.
MIR. Granger was also severely burn
ed, which with his mental distress,
makes his condition most pitiable in
deed. Miss Granger was quite painfully
burned before escaping from the build
ing.
Charles H. Mehagan, a ira Yelling man
for Strauss, Ullman & Gutham of
Chicago, Is among the painfully hurt,
with numerous cuts, bruises and
sFrained hip received in jumping from
the second-story of the burning build
ing.
Charles Jennings, who travels for
the Simmons Hardware company of St.
Louis, also received many painful
cuts in jumping through the second
story window in his night clothes.
Quite a number of others were in
jured more or less in making a similar
exit. The building is a total wreck.
The loss is $4,000.
Before this fire had died out the fire
department. was summoned to the
Phillips-Meeker building, the hand
structure in western Nebraska,
which had doubtless been fired by In
,endiaries during orbefore the first fire.
The double store room occupied by j.
Albert Wells was found to be largely
enveloped by the flames. After some
effective work here this fire was placed
lnder control, but the magnificent
stock Of over $4,000 worth of dry
goods, millinery and carpets was badly
damaged many thousand dollars
n value. The damage to the
will not exceed $500.
The sad and tragic death of Mrs.
Granger has shocked this community
IS nothing has since McCook has had
IN existence. Such bere avemens as
Conductor Granger and family are thus
alled to bear calls forth the purest and
,rofoundest depths of heartfelt SYM
,athy, and the true hearts of the people
% out to them with inexpressible
enderness in this hour of unspeakable
nguish. "May the God of our Fathers
'e with them.
Mr.. Rose, late clerk in Armstrong;,
ad his hands pretty badly cut up in
reaking the window glass, in making
lis escape. His raiment was also
bridged as were all the guests, some
ourteen in number, besides the help.
S. E. Taylor and family managed to
scape in their night clothes, without
injury, but lost all their furniture and
ersonal effects, among them three gold
7atches, amounting in all to about
500.
The remains of Mrs. Granger were
hipped to Ithaca, Saunders county,
Wednesday morning, for interment,
eing in charge Of George A. Dech.
Henry Bawdish received painful