Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-09-08
rInE wIFn Loss OF Lirr.
An Opera House at nonton tIart0E.
nIch.. naaIrnYsh

Mich. Dssiroysd.
DETROIT, Sept, "A special 10 the
Free Press from Benton HatUOf, Mich,
uAyG
Tue mos, horrible holocaust, with
the greatest loss OF lite, tnnt haa ever
occurred ~ this paft OF The state,
ocourfcd last night ~ m dnight whrn
Iort'a opera house took nfc, AuI IN tho
ngnt to save tho building and other
blocks Edj dining, eleven ilfomsn, ono n
volunteer, met tneir fate at Ons time,
death being irstanlaneuuB with five OF
them. Six lived only n few houfs In
awful agony, while several otheIs met
with severe bruises and burns.
Dunug the evening toe play Of A
Factory Gil hal bgen gwen by local
talent anu had closed but n half hour
before tho fife WIS discovered. The
building was filled from basement 20
fourth story with u euIOcAung smoke.
which Dutst into a sheet OF flames
throughout the entire audience rtom
before tho fire department could
respond with single slrenm OF water,
there being acme confusion at tho
outset.
Tue hremon approached tho building
through au alley, unloading ladders In
the rear OF the building, aud while
hOisling them the upper wAlls fell over
without seconds warning, covering
tue men. rhis, waa witnessed by hun.
dTeds OF spectators.
The origin OF th1 IRE IL unknoN %,
several theories being given.
Guy Prescott II under arrest a. be.
ing one VINO knows OF tho origin, but
When aBked by n reporter the cause, he
remarked that she was not going u
give anybody away assuming that
no was In posteaslon OF facts that
caused his detention.
The building was comparatively
new, having been erected seven years
ago at n cost Of $4,000 by Patrick
NOre, wealthy falmsL
A two-stoTy bricK block owned by
Joseph Friok, which stood adjoining,
was demolished by the opera n1uBo |
walls falling on top aud crushing |
through TO the basement without AZ.
parent resistance.
The building and elocka destroyed,
with losses, nte Ms iollows.
Opera house block, loss $4,000, 10.
surRncr, $4,000.
Evening News plant, $4,000; insur.
anee, $500.
J. Bernstein, $4,000; no Insurance.
3. NJ. Austin, %, 900; no Insurance.
J. NJ. Fflek, $4,000; insurance,
$4,000.
J. n. Herr, grocery store, across the
alley, damage TO building And stock,
81 900; fully Insured,
Dr.. Hunt ana ;. M. Austin, grocsfs,
aer.ts tue nlley, damags TO building
and stock, 5000 each; fully Insured.
a nigh wind prevailed, which
caused tue walls 10 fail outward, aud
ndloining buildings were saved only
with the greatest efforts. A large |
quantity Of stage scenery belonging 10
Harry Emery OF the Katie Putnam
company, j. A. Slmon ana w. O. |
Hooks was destroyed, with no lnSur.
ance.
]. A. Howe lassoed ono OF the ST. |
Joseph bremen, WAC was halt buriai
with brickf, anu pulled him cut OF tue
intense heat that was o0okisg him.
The ~. Joseph iunerala will be held |
on Monday, commencing at 1880 a.m.
while the Benton Harbor uni0Ilunales |
will be inferred Tuesday with services |
by various secret trIrrs.
lnqurals over the remains were |
commenced ana the examinatlon con. |
tinued mill tho question Of live cleo
trio wires were reached, whom n ijOuTn- |
mont WINS made until nrNt Tuesday |
wben yOung Prescott viii |
H...N /. La -. - 4 -.