Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-02-20

80 A mass of flames, $50 girls and
onen frenzied with fright, fighting
no as hot flames chased them with
INV tongues, was the beginning OF
~ last night that consumed thous-
he of dollars worth of property and
nsed the destruction of many lives.
,om outside of high building the
i, notice of the impending disaster
= the sight OF a body of girls as
Bev rushed out upon the firescapes
am the windows. Following them
mass of smoke and flames. Then
mass Of frenzied humanity, finding
egresses too small for instant es-
NO Jumped to the ground. Within
rsnty minutes after the fire started
arc we're three dead women laid upon
d floor of an adjoining store and a
hen burned or MANNED girls and wo-
On taken to a hospital. OF the 300
his and women in the building it is
resumed at least half dozen are in
be ruins. Ii was about thirty minutes
efore the closing hour in Stethimers &
Is shirt waist factory on River
rect and $50 girls and women We're
rking rapidly to finish up. In the
,tting room on the fifth floor, $50
ere closing up the days assignments
rj preparing to leave when the
bistle blew. Title Kreiger, who was
|orking near a machine, called small
|oy 10 light the gas over her work. The
Ioy struck a match and threw he
Iprping stub to tie floor. 1t struck a
HI Of rags and in an instant the girl
as enyeloped in flames. With clothes
had hair burning she rushed to a win
low and in an instant the room be-
ame struggling. shrieking mass
humanity, filling the windows,
re escapes and only stairway, jam
ing and pushing, tearing each 9th
rs clothes girls and women fought for
heir lives to get away from the fiery
ames With rare presence of mind
Policeman Farrell, who was on the
rect seeing that in a panic a number
ere liable to jump, let down an avn
BIZ over the entrance Barely was 1t
|oyn when two or three forms came
Wing down from the fifth and sixth
tories and bouncing from the avn
be- fell to the sidewalk. Lilly Krie-
Eer over whose machine the fire start
was one of these. BY this time
Iaariy every window had female
orm dangling from it and when the
tremen arrived there was hustle to
H. ladders up. AT center window
i The sixth floor. a woman, hanging
her hands. was forced cut by the
Iames licking her face. With a last
riek she let 90, and came tumbling
ami over until she struck the
Fement below. When picked up it
as found she was Mrs Margaret Car
a, Her spinal column was forced
Trough into her brain. Just below her
another window hung woman
unng appealing glances to the
owd The black smoke pouring from
re window, but as yet no flames were
s5Ie. and the crowd yelled encour-
sngly TO her TO hold on, but the high
flames reached out just then and
ed her face and in an instant her
was Febounding from the pave
ea She was Mrs. Foley, widow,
When picked up was dead.
W lhe same floor, hanging from
aather window, was salvation in the
re OF ladder almost within her
% when her strength gave way and
aen went hurting down. At least
s72en women and girls were carried
ah AZ ladders or dragged out Of the
laols The fire burned so fiercely
"a no detailed search of the building
Re made and from what can be
#a'l there are many girls and
Aea m the upper stories, either ly-
~ lainting fits or overcome by
'ke II was this fact that lead to
-ofs that At least twenty women
aead and the story even at this
alg does not seem improbable. The
a'e down through three floors
#Aek} that the Western Union
SFapn company, the Jessup &
/ HFaeN e'fockery company and Van
q lanes, collar makers, had
'Ae 9 save anything. One house
Nolher started Fireman heard
ming from two-story build
M 'he south. They discovered an
'H Neadier named Joseph Rossi,
'.at a stand in front of the
E Mnloned by the legs under a
Rthl Three policemen started
- him and with a fireman
&ef an hour They had just
g him loose when, with a
aat south wall came crash
and the Mortified
saw the brave little group
H view When the smoke
9g. Ted there was rush Of
MN workers and in a little while
fe taken out All were in
al 70 be removed to a hos
italian will probably die,
asemen may recover The
1ia escape went to their
aaf untll the roll Is called this
exact number of missing
known The total loss is
100000 with 100000 in
east 200 people are thrown
49, Fment Firemen worked