St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-04-10
Highest all in Leavening PowerLates U. Govt Report
ROYAL B Bsl!idgs1I
ABSOLUTELY PURE
among those on the roof when the crash


came. SAID:
1.-The members of Engine Companies
3, 4, 5 and II were on the 1oof. where
the main portion OF the fire was raging.
y Suadenly, without moments warning,
the roof gave way and down Invent
with all the men. Third Assistant
Chief August jameson was among those
who went down with the crash. He
managed to catch fire escape Just as
the roof was swaying aud held on. We
have tried all we can to, rescue the men.
but cannot reach; Them Assistant
Chief Janesen is among those who are
missing. l think he is buried in the
Debris"
JOHN YEO, PIPEMAN
of Company No. 4. was stretched out on
one of the comfortable cots at the Elmer
gency at $3.50 O'Clock, frightfully in
jurcd, but as calm and cool. apparently,
rs if he had retired for nights rest.
YeO said:
I'VE were all on the roof of the build
ing-NO. as men-when she sunk with
us. There were near me at the time
Capt. Lnehan, Lieut. Freeman, Pipe
man O'Neill and Pipeman White. OH!
it was terrible thing. Pm afraid some
of those poor fellows are done for. l
never saw or heard from them since.
bad wonderful escape. 1t seems al
most impossible that | should be alive
here at this moment. but. thank God,
am, lowing to the presence of mind 1 had
when down i'll the ruins, and the quick
work of the relief party that came after
me. When struck the bottom 1 was
pinned down by bricks and timbers,
and | wiggled around to get loose.
There were flames all around me
and plenty of smoke. My cloth
ing was tangled up with something.
and so began to strip off my clothes,
and that's the way got loose. undress-
ing myself i'll the flames, with the ruins
piled over me, and still falling. On.
men! it was close rub for me, and if
my back is not broke l may be all right.
Anyway. / hope l shall be saved. My
head is badly burned and cut. How did
| finally reach place OF safety? Why,
the boys got a line to ME. l made it fast,
and was yanked over wall into the
alley OF somewhere"
ESTIMATE OF LOSS.
The guests of the Davidson, which
occupied part of the building, fled
panic stricken from their rooms when
the alarm OF fire ran through the CORR
doris. They were really Ill no danger,
and had ample time To get out. None
were injured.
The LiliputIans' loss is heavy. Rosan-
field Bros, of New York, prophet tors
of Miners theater in that city. own the
SHOW. 1t is one of the most deliberately
costumed productions on the road, and
lis scenic property was generally con-
sidered magnificent.
The Davidson tleater was opened in
September, 1891. by the Emma Juch
opera company. Manager Sherman
Brown stated. as he stood watching the
smoke curling up to the studded and
frescoed ceiling, which had been his
pride: ..'',.izss''+ - -e-sz- :-
"rhe original cost to John and Alex
amber Davidson was between $3.50, 600
and 100000. The loss, of course, is
mainly OH the interior. The walls will
stand when all else IS gone. There is
no way to estimate the loss, but it may
be above half Of the original Investment.
1t will be at least year, of course,
before we can reopen. l bave no doubt
the theater will be rebuilt"
FIGHT FOR FIREMAN CROWLEY.
The work of rescuing the bodies of
the killed. and the men who were not
killed began Immediately after the roof
ELL 49,,
ruins for several hours and his COM
rades put forth tremendous exertions
to save him. There was fire all around
him, and the spot where he was pinned
down was kept flooded. Along about
10 O'Clock the firemen got near enough
to him to speak to him, and were a
good deal surprised to fluid him cOn-
scious and able to talk. He asked his res
cuerS to be careful and not drown him
with the streams. He said there was
dead man uear him but he did not know
who it was. After that Crowley's voice
could not be heard for some little time,
and il was feared that he had died, but
self heard again. He said the body near
him was OF man who had been
drowned. Some iron rods pinioned
Crowley down and the iiremen did
not stop throwing water on
the burning ruins above him
for fear that the unfortunate man would
be burned to death. An engine was
drawing water from point directly
under Crowley, and it was hoped that
he could be kept alive. At noon the
awful alternative was considered of
cutting off CrOwley's legs to save him,
and ii is said the poor fellow requested
this TO be done. There was ten feet of
burning debris about the pinioned man.
1t seems that the men were not Oh the
roof when 1t collapsed, but were i'm
mediately under it in the dining room
and kitchen apartments of the hotel.
When they were at work the trusses
holding up the rooms over the audi
forum collapsed, and let them drep
into the seething furnace below At
1915 Fireman Crowley was released
from the ruins, and taken to the
emergency hospital. He is badly hurt,
and may die. He had been imprisoned
for seven hours.
The origin of the fire is unknown.
The flames were discovered in the meat
room, adjoining the kitchen of the
hotel, over the auditorium.