New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-07
ELEVEN FIREMEN KILLED
.,srnEssING RESULT OF FIRE IN BEN
TON HARBOR. MICH
r Mem BURIED UNDER FALLING WALL
suyERAL BADLY 1NJURED-BuRNING OF

ssr MEN BURIED UNDER FALLING WALL
SEVERAL BADLY INJuRED-BuRNING OF
AN OPERA HOUSE.
,.cton Harbor. Mich. Sept. 6.-Yores Opera
.,,u.e and adjoining buildings were burned early
49,. morning. causin the death of eleven fire.
~, and injury to number Of others. and en-
.'r,e loss Of about $4,000. The killed are as
iuows
',vsE Edward H.. of st. Joseph Mich married
v ~, Arthur c.. OF St. Joseph. married.
nrrNAN Louis Of Benton Harbor single.
srrNAN John. OF Benton Harbor married
snp Thomas. Of Benton Ksrbor. single
nrrEN William. Of Benton Harboi.
~ rE Robert OF st. Joseph. single.
,.-E Scott OF Benton Harbor.
-,vrR Frank Of St Joseph, married.
sr.rsoN Frank OF St. Joseph. married
rooDLEy Frank. OF Benton Harbor married.
r,s seriously injured are: EX-Fire Chief John
=. crovford Benton Harbor, burned and over
~, heat and smoke Frank Paget, st. Jo-
s.n, legs hurt by falling brick; VIII Freund
.sfA ,orh emf about the head and burned :;
r,.cx" Mccormick. Benton Harbor. legs broken
and internally injured
S.,.ar.l others we're injured by falling walls.
but will recover ,
shortly after midnight the opera HOUSE,
,.-ss four-story brick structure. was discovered
=. y. m fire II had gained much headway
su,ore the alarm was given and when 'he city
s-.r,en arrived the building was mass OF
enes The St Joseph fremen were sent 1or'
,,a arrived soon after The fire continued 10
..,r and was spreading to other buiidings
.ha ,oo, and ladder companies went 10
~. roo~ ., the building hoping to be able TO
s,u... s,raar into the mass Of flames from
socord-storv window. Hardly had they arrived
there when the wall. with a crash came down
unon them buryng fifteen men unoer feono'
bricks Other portions of the wall were "aVer-
,rg ane The rescue NJ the Imprisoned hremeh
,os dalaved as Il was expected every moment
,,e remainder of the wall would fall Flnany
como ~ the crowd rushed into the mass 10 res
cue the shrieiline and struggling NEIL A..
Frank Watson Of 81. Joseph was the iiS'
tsien ont but he was dead and his pooy was
mass oS broken bones and nantied heSh ne
ea,rch Vas continued until ocloch' WheII INC
last victim. Arthur Hill. was removed. % lhree
,vare carried 10 Offices and private houses Where
doctors from both cities were in waiting 10 renuer
sd Some OF them died on the way ana others
while being cared for. The dead were taken 10
IN, CITY Hall which was turned INTO 'ei,-
norarv morgue. SOM OF the men were so paulv
nangled that identity was only had by letters
and papers in their pockets. After the railing
~ the rear wall the roof and other wails soon
collapsed. one Of the side walls falling upon
two-story brick building owned by Wllham
Frick completely demolishins it and It's con-
tents. a. A..
The FIRE had not been confined alone to the
pnera House but had crept across the alley ana
Soon the rear Of the two-story buildings was
aeame They however were got under control.
TIE loss 10 Patrick Yore on the Opera house
block is $4,000. insurance Sl9,ooo; Mli1am
Frick on brick block and stock OF shoes, SlUVoo;
.Fsaning News' plant $1,000: j. A. Simon,
scenery in opera House. $500; S. NJ Austin
building and grocery stock. $1,000; d. Hunt,
building and grocery stock Sl.ooo. Ihere were
also many small losses. .--
The origin Of the fire is unknown, but Guy
Prescott. who said to-day that he knew now the
FIRE started hut not going 10 give any one
away" was arrested. The wardrobe of the
Katie Putnam company, which gave perform
arce for the benefit of the firemen in the even
ing was burned. The two cities ST. Joseph ana
Btnton Harbor are draped in mourning In honor
.. their dead The funerals will be held together
on Tuesday.