The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-09-07

DEIROIE, Mlch., sept. t.-A special
to the Free Press from Benton Har-
Dor. Michigan. says: The most horrible
holocaust with great loss OF lie that
has ever occurred In this part OF the
state occurred last night at midnight,
when Yore's opera house took fire. and
In the fight 20 save the building and
other blocks adjoining. eleven fremen.
one volunteer. met their fate ut one
fell swoop. the deaths being instantan-
eou5 with five OF them. six living only
q few hours In awful agony. while
several others met with severe bruises
and burns.
During the evening the play, "a Fac
tory Girl" Bud been given by local tall
ent. and had closed but half hour be-
fore nre was discovered. when the
b1!ldilS was filled from basement to
TIE fourth floor with 4 suffocating
smoke, which burst into n sheet OF
fame throughout the entire audience
room, almost instartaneously before
TIE G;e department could respond with
! single stream OF water, there being
some confusion at the outset, owing TO
lack OF hook and ladder facilities being
short. although the local fire companies
rad that day closed two days touru-
amelt exhibiting much skill in quick
work.
ST. Joseph was called on for assist
aHce at the outset, they approaching
The building through Oh alley, unload
ing ladders in the rear OF the building:
and while hoistlng them, the upper
walls fell over without seconds
warning. covering the men, which was
Witnessed by hundreds OF spectators.
The fSiIIsd.
The following were killed:
Frank Watson. OF st. Joseph. legs
broken, skull crushed: leaves wife.
John Hoffman. Benton Harbor,
crushed into an unacceptable mass:
leaves wife and five children.
Thomas Kidd, Benton Earbor, un-
married, killed by live electric wires.
Frank Woodley. Benton Harbor, Kill
cd BY live electric wires: leaves 4 wife
'1Ei three children.
Edward IL Gange, St Joseph, dray-
Eaa. head crushed and legs broken.
Scott Rice. bell boy at the Benton
hotel. skull fractured, Internal Injuries;
lived but a few minutes.
Viii I. Mltten. Benton Harbor. both
legs fractured and internal injuries:
lived TWO hours; leaves q wife and sew
en- children.
Louis Hoffman, Benton Harbor, head
smashed and thigh crushed: widowcr,
leaves two small children.
Arthur C. Hill. St. Joseph, foreman,
s. Joe Hose Co.; legs broken and ter
;.bly burned; lived one hour.
Frank Seayer. St. Joseph. leg broken.
AID badly cut and burned: lived three
hours
Robert L. Rofe, St. Joseph, COM
pound fracture Of left leg and burned.
Internal injuries; lived one hour.
The injured are: John A. Crawford.
cX-chief. Benton Harbor fire depart
n"rti overcome BY heat and smoke,
and burned about the head; will re-
cover VIII Freund. ST. Joseph, cut
ABOUT head. Frank Paget. St Joseph.
leg bruised by falling brick Frank
frank Woodley and Thomas Kidd were
on top OF adjoining buildings with
h1se when they encountered live cleo
i-lc TIres. on which they were hanging
when found.
Policeman Charles johnson narrow
II escaped. as falling bricks tore his
'oat half on. while another was pro-
lscted by telephone pole. The work
G! removing the debris was commenced
a; once. and those pinned In we're re-
moved in few minutes. except C. A.
Hi. whose body was recovered at
o'clock this morning. II was believed
that several more bodies were under
ihe pile OF brick and search was con-
t!hued till every doubt had passed.
Cause OF the Fire.
The cause OF the fire Is a mystery. sew
cral theories from a cigar stump to
lamp explosion are given. Guy Pres
colt is under arrest as being one who
knows OF the origin. but when asked by
reporter the cauGc. remarked that
He was not going 10 give anybody
uway," assuming that he was In pos-
session OF facts that cause his detention.
Inc building wnJ comparatively new,
having been erected seven years aEu at
cost OF 10000, by Patrick Yore. Il
wealthy farmer who has since leased II
70 j. y. Simon. who has had charge for
SIX yeara. y two story brick block own
cd Dy Joseph Frick. which stood nd-
Joining, was demolished by the oD4ra
mouse walls falling on top and crashing
through 10 the basement without ap-
parent resistance. The oper, block
was occupied by the Evenln, News s
NJ. AuStln's bakery. ]. Bernstein. cloth
Ing, John Holmes, barber shop and rruIt
packing In the basement. Tho Frick
block was used for retail boot md
shoe business and dwelling,
The buildings and stocks DESTROYED
with losses. are as follows: Opern hGusq
block loss $4,000. insurance s1o oon.
Evening News plant $1,000, Insurance
$500; J. Bernstein $1,000, no insura nrn.
) M. Austin $500. no insurance: uolnea
400, no insurance; ]. II. FrIck InqS
5000. insurance $1,000; J. y. Herr. gro-
Gerry store acros3 the alley, damage In
building and stock $1,000, fully Insured:
Dr.. Hunter and s. NJ. AuatIn. Erocrrs
across the alley, damage to building and
stocks respectively 5000 and $500. fully
Insured.
What Caused the Walls TO Fall.
y high wind prevailed which caused
tHA walls to fall outward and the nd-
Joining buildings were saved only with
nc greatest efforts. a large quantity
r' stage scenery belonging to Harry
Emery, OF the Katie Putnam company,
a. Simon and ". C.. Hooks, was de-
fTuyeb. with no insurance
Thou1ard1 witnessed the cnnfIagra-
,0'n oHd with difficulty the crowds were
'.'pt out Of dangers way. The work OF
earring M the streets has continued
'hipuSh the day. J. V. Howe. lnssoed
,''" OF the st. JOe fremen who wng half