The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-09-07
a MICHIGAN HOLOCAUST.
Appalling Sunday Morning Fire
\ in Benton Harbor.
ELEVEN DEAD AND THREE INJURED

The Fire started In q Theater Not Long
After the Audience Had Left-A High
Wind Prevailed and Caused the Flames
to Spread Rapidly.
BENTON HARBoR, Mich, Sept. 7.-The
most horrible holocaust, with great loss
af life, that has ever occurred In this part
ef the state occurred Saturday midnight,
when Yorss Opera House took fire, and In
Ahs fight to save the building and other
baocks Qdjoining eleven ars'nen, one o
volunteer, were killed, the death being in
ptaptansous with five Of them, six living
only few hours In awful agony, while
Several others met with severe bruises and
bWns.
Soon after the discovery Of the fire namea
broke through the roof and illumlned tho
sky and streets with lurid glare that
served to make vivid the general scene OF
confusion and excitement. AS soon as the
6ames broke through the windows and
Walls and let In the draft the busnng
block was known to be doomed. 1t soon
became a fiery furnace The falling walls
proved to be not only u death trap for the
Gre fighters, but dangerous to every one
D.. who was trying to help stay the progress
Of the flames or assist in saving goods.
Ono could soc portions Of human bodies
through the fallen bricks Parties going
In to save tho imprisoned men were over
sope by heat
During tho evening the play "A Factory
Girl' had bosn given by local talent, and
had closed but half hour before fire was
discovered There was much confusion ut
the outset, owing to lack OF hook and lad.
der facilities. st. Joseph was called on for
assistance, the flremen approaching the
building through an alley In the rear of
the building. While hoisting ladders the
upper walls fell over without seconds
warning, covering the men. Tho tragedy
was witnessed by hundreds of spectators.
The following were killed Frank Wat
son Of St. Joseph leaves wife; John
Hotimannof Benton Harbor, leaves wife
and hve children Thomas Kidd of BEN
ton Harbor, unmarried; Frank Woodley
Of Benton Harbor, leaves wife and three
children; D. H. Gange of ST. Joseph, dray-
man; Scott Rice, bell boy at the Benton
hotel, lived but few minutes; viii I.
Mitten of Benton Harbor, leaves wife and
seven children Louis Hoffman of Benton
Hnrbor, widower, leaves two snnll chill
dren Arthur C. Hill of ST. Joseph, fore.
man of st. Joe Hose company, lived one
hour; Frank sSeaver of st. Joseph, lived
three hours; Robert L. Rofe Of St. Joseph,
lived one hour
The injured ore: John A. Crawford, ex-
chief of Benton Harbor fire department.
overcome by heat and smoke and burned
about the head, will recover Will Fround
Of St. Joseph, cut about the head; Frank
Paget Of st. Joseph, leg bruised by failing
brick.
Frank Woodley aud Thomas Kidd were
on top Of adjoining buildings with hose
when they encountered live electric wires
On which they were hanging dead when
found.
The cause of the fire is q mystery. Sew
sral theories, from cigar stub to lamp
explosion, are given. Guy Prescott Is un-
der arrest as being one who knows Of the
prigin. When asked by a reporter tho
cause he remarked that he twas not going
10 give anybody away" This remark
caused his detention.
The injured and dead were taken from
the ruins as fast as possible, and at
o'clock the last man had been removed.
The dead were removed to the city hall to
be identified. There were many heart
rendlng scenes as wives, parents and chill
dren scanned the distorted and mutilated
remains of those lying cold in death upon
tho floor Words cannot express the mp
palling force Of this great horror the sor-
row in the stricken homes or the shadow
Of grief that rests on these peaceful com
munites.
The building WAS comparatively new,
having been erected seven years ago at o
cost of $40, 900, by Patrick Yore, q wealthy
farmer who had since leased it to A. ]. Z
8imon, who hns had charge for six years.
A two story brick block owned by Joseph
Frick, which stood adjoining, was do.
molishcd by the Opera House walls fall.
ing on top and crashing through to the
basement. The total loss ia $4,000,
A high wind prevailed, which caused
the walls to fall outward, and adjoining
buildings were saved only with greatest
efforts. A large quantity of stage scenery
belonging to Harry Emery, Of the Katie
Putnam company j, A. Simon and w. O.
Hooks was destroyed, with no insurance.
Thousands witnessed the conaagration,
and with difficulty the crowds were kept
out of danger.
The ST. Joseph funerals were held today,
commencing at 10 80 q. m, while the Ben
ton Harbor unfortunates will be Inferred
tomorrow, with services by various socie-
ties. This calamity is q greater shock to
the twin cities than tho Chicora's loss, u
year and half ago, owing to Its suddenness
and destructive results.