The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-07-07
Early Reports of the st. Panl HolO-
canst Slightly Exaggerated the
Loss OF Life.
~ ~~ ~~
Three Dead, One Probably Fatally and
About Ten Slightly Injured,
Sums 1t Up.
Would Have Been Much Worse Had
Not Most Of the Occupants
Been Awake.

sSSS -
the FIRE at the, Bethel at the foot Of Sib-
ley street, was slightly exaggerated by
6rst reports. It is now believed only
three were killed and one probably
fatally injured. Seven others were
quite seriously hurt but viii recover.
OF the three persons who met death
hl the boat. only one had been identi-
fed at 10 o'clock; that was
Mrs. Jennie Peak. matron Of the boat.
The other two were men whose
names were unknown. Louise Morgan,
daughter Of Rev. David Morgan, super
intendent o: the Bethel, was 30 badly
burned that 1t Is feared she viii die.
She seems to have been completely en-
veioped about the body, for she Is badly
burned about the face, limbs and body.
She is now at st. Lukes hosl ital, where
every thing possible is being done for
her. AT the city hospital are James
Shaughessy, who il bruised in the side
and slightly burned, Pat Ryan, whose
hands are badly burned, but whose in
o ~ies are not serious, and Harvey
hompson, who is slightly burned about
the thighs. Four others whose names
have not been learned, were also injured
but not fatally. The rumor that two
other bodies were in the hold Of the boat
has not yet been verified.
Cause OF the Fire
1t ia supposed that the fire was caused
by the explosion of lamp in the
kitchen. Jerry Mousse, one Of the
lodgers, appears to have been the first
to discover the fire. He went into the
hallway for q drink OF water and
smelled smoke. He ran to the end OF
the hallway from which the smell came
and saw the flames creeping mp the
walls. He returned at once and tried
TO rouse the inmates by shouting fire
and pounding ON the doors. Fortunately
most of them were awake and lost nc
time in attempting 10 escape. but even
then they found the avenues almost
closed by fame and smoke. Before
Mousse could reach his room he saw
the flames bursting from the door and
knew that the whole boat was in
flames.
Jumped For Their Lives.
Most of the inmates found it neces
eary to break windows and jump from
the sides of the boat. or get away by tho
shortest route that offered itself. with
ont regard to the danger threat
ened in the way of broken limbs
or from other sources than FIRE
Many jumped across TO the Milwaukee,
tracks, which run alongside the thiri
story OF the boat. Finally some Of th,
cooler heads threw plank across th'
space between the boat and the trucks
and many women escaped across this
Coroner Investigates.
Coroner Whitcomb made an examina
tion of the burned boat, but no furthe
bodies were recovered so that it is prob
able the list of dead now given is com
plete. After viewing the wreck, tn
coroner went to the morgue, and late
will take steps toward holding an in
quest.
The Dead.
MRS. JENNIE PEAK. matron of the Bethel
aged 35.
JOHN SINGLETON. engineer of the boat.
One rnan unknown.
Injured.
MISS LOUISE MORGAN, aged 10, burnel
probably fatal.
JAMES SHAUoSEssY. side burned, slightly
PATRICK RYAN, hands badly burned.
HARVEY THOMSON, slightly burned abou
the thighs.
nn.r,w. py - .l;..bxf.v a.,~r.a .ca Aara
badly cut.
KATIE MoR0AS, slightly burned,
-Four men. as yet unknown.