The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-02
THE SILVER LAKE HORROR.
How Forty People Were Burned to
Death on Christmas Eve.

Portland, Jan. IA letter from the
Associated Press from silver Lake, Or.
gives the number of raopse burned 10
death in the fatality of Christmas as
forty. Fully as many more were i'll
jured. come fatally.
Following Is a list Of the dead: Mrs.
Judith Abshier, aged AZ; John III. Buick,
81 David Buick, 4; j. r. Buick, 3s; Ja-
net Buick, 5; Il. a. Bowen. %, Fred Blu
sick, S; Mrs. l.. Coshoy, IS. Mrs Ger
yrude Howard. 10; Harry Howard, 5.
Bessie Howard. = Woodfofd Iiearsi.
IS; Ada Hearst, is: IRA Hamilton. ;;
Laura McCauley. is, w. C Martin. 80;
Mrs. w. C. Martin. IS: Mrs. w. NJ.
Ousley. 81; Lille Ousley. 20; Bruce ous-
Smelling, SO; Easson Smelling. ::
Frankie Horning. s.; Mrs. NJ. ]. Paine.
Is; Robert Small, II; Samuel 4. Ward.
Sc; Mrs. y. u. Ward. 10: Mrs c. L.
Williams, 81: Henry Williams. 5. Rus
sell Ward. l. Frank Ross. q; Mrs Belle
Phillips. ~; Lille Phillips. 5: T. Fl.
West, 81; Mrs. f III, West. 81; Berthi
West, S: Herbert West. ).
Fatally injured: Robert Smelling,
Ray Ward. Mrs. Thomas Lahrie.
George Paine, Charles Hendricks, Bert
Gowdy, Mrs. Charles Hamilton. Annie
Anderson. Mrs. Ward ard three chill
dren OF Mrs. Egli.
Seriously injured: -Four Buick chill
dren. Jack Henderson. l.. Cosilow.
Clara Smelling. Mrs. c, Marshall. Mrs.
r. Hofning and Mrs. L. RiiicT.
Many OF these who fserissled were
burned beyond recognition.
About 900 persons were in the hai
together All had met at Chrisgatan
Bros hall to hold a Christmas uees
festival. While the presents were be-
ing distributed George Paine. Il young
man, started 10 go to the door, walk
ing ON top of the seats His head
struck a large Rochester lang The
lamp began to swing to and fro. and fe
caught 1t with his hand to steady 1t.
The lamp began to flash up Francis
Chrisman took the lamp. which he'd
about q gallon OF oil, ofst of the bracket
and saarsei for the dAor Some orc
knocked II out of MS hand and IT fell
on the floor. It was Knocked around
and kicked at several times In al
ttssgpting to cxtInguish the ffasnps the
oil was spilled on the iioo~ and the
flames started to run alongside II the
building and acrsss The rear OF the
building. wllere tise only outlet ~ the
hall was, cutting of al cgrwszs. 4 pan
ic followed, and bat little thought was
given To the screaming women ard
children. 1t was q case of survival OF
the nttcst. a number Of pefscns got
out AT one OF thss twHo windows in the
hall A ladder was thea placed aa this
window and few more were saved
soon the entire building was enyeioped
I'm flames. shutting off all hope Of es-
cape for those stil1 IN she ball The
fearful oalanity has prostsaaesl the
whole country. Every house III the
village is a hospi 81. People have come
for Iea miles 20 minister 10 fIse injured
ard inter the dead.
James Small. q well-krewn stocknan
os the county had started East wisn n
hard OF herxsS and had reached Burns.
Harvey county. when hc heard thai mis-
son was one ef the vigfirns ~ the fire.
Tie started 20 refurn Immediately. end
in ninefessn hours covered q diSsAnse OF
80 EnSles on horseback. He returned
iust "a tlr4e On sae this hs-ez ~ hss ssss
Laid 90 rest sn the ctsraEon graise with
the other victims.