Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1896-09-11
ELEVEN FIREMEN BURIED BY
FALLING WALLS.
Brave Laddies Carried into the N
World While at work at
Their Posts.


Mich, says:
The most horrible holocaust, with the
greatest loss of life that has ever oc-
Cured in this part of the state, occur
red last night at midnight Wien
Yore's opera house took fire, and in the
fight to save the buildings and other
blocks adjoining, II firemen, one VOL
unteer, met their fate at one tiliie'
death being instantaneCu US with hNe
of them. Six lived only few hours IN
awful agony, while several others met
with severe bruises and burns. During
the evening the play, "A factoly
Girl" had been given by local taleht'
and had closed but a half hour pelo'e
the fire was discovered.
The building was filled from base
ment to the forth floor with suffocat-
| ing smoke, which burst into a sheet
of flames throughout the entire audi
ence room, almost instantaneously be
| fore the fire department could respond
| with a single stream of water. There
was some confusion at the outset, ow-
| ing to the hook and ladder facilities
being short. although the local fire
companies had closed a two days
| tournament, exhibiting the utmost
| skill in quick work st. Joseph was
called on for assistance at the OUTSET.
! The firemen approached the build
ing through an alley, unloading LADDERS
in the rear of the building, and while
| hosting them the upper walls Tell
over without a seconds warning, COW
ering the men. This was witnessed by
hundreds of spectators. The following
were killed.
| Frank Watson of st. Joseph.
| John Hoffman of Benton Harbor.
| Thomas Kidd of Benton Harbor.
Frank Woodley of Benton HarboT.
| Ed H. Gange of ST. Joseph.
Scott Rice of Benton Harbor.
| Will Mile of Benton Harbor.
| Louis Hoffman of Benton Harbor.
| Arthur c. Hill of St. Joseph
| Frank Seaver of st. Joseph.
| The injured are: John Crawford, eX-
chief Of the Benton Harbor fire depart
ment overcome by heat and smoke,
burned about the head, will recover;
Will Fecund of st. Joseph, leg bruis-
ed by falling brick Frank Woodley and
| Thomas Kidd were on top of an ad-
joining building with hose, when they
encountered live electric wires, on
which they We're hanging when found
| Policeman Charles Johnson narrowly
escaped as falling bricks tore his coat
| half off, while another was protected
| by a telephone pole.
| The work of removing the debris was
| commenced at once, and those pinned
in were removed within a few minutes
! except Cahill, whose body was recov-
cred at o'clock this morning. The
origin of the fire is unknown, several
| theories being given.
| Guy Prescott is under arrest as be-
! ing one who knows of its origin, but
| when asked by a reporter for the
! cause he remarked that "he was not
going to give anybody away" assum-
| ing that he was in possession of Facts
that caused his detention.
| The building was comparatively new
| having been erected seven years ago
at a cost of $4,000 by Patrick Yore, a
wealthy farmer, who had since leased
| it to ]. A. Simon, who has had charge
| for six years.
| A two-story brick block owned by
Joseph Prick, which stood adjoining
| was demolished by the opera house
| walls falling and crashing through to
| the basement without apparent resist
| ance
The opera block was occupied by the
| Evening News, S. NJ. Austin's bakery,
j, Bernstein, clothing; John Holmes
| barber.
| The Frick block was used for a re-
tail boot and shoe business and dwell
| ing. The building and stocks destroy
| ed, with losses, are as follows: The
| opera house block loss was $50, 900; in
surance, $4,000; Evening News plant
$4,000; insurance, $500; j. Bernstein
$4,000; no insurance; S. M. Austin, $4,000
no insurance; ]. NJ. Prick, $1,000; insur-
ance, $4,000; ]. N. Herr, grocer, across
| the alley, damage to building md
stock, $1,000; fully insured; Dr. Hunt
and S. M. Austin, grocers, across the
alley, damage to building and stocks
respectively $500 and 5000; fully in
| sured
| A high wind prevailed, which caused
the walls to fall outward, and adioin-
ing buildings We're saved only with
the greatest efforts. A large quantity
| OF stage scenery belonging to Harry
Emery of the Katie Putnam company.
| j. c. Simon and others was DESTROYED
with no insurance.
Thousands witnessed the confagra
ton, and with difficulty the crowds
were kept out of dangers way. The
work of clearing up the streets was
continued through the day.
j. V. Hote lassoed one of the ST 10
seph firemen who was half buried
with brick, and pulled him out of the
| intense heat that was choking him.
Inc st. Joseph funerals will be held
| on Monday, commencing at 1920 a. m.
while the Benton Harbor unfortllna fas
Will be inferred Tuesday with services
by various secret orders
An inquest was commenced TODAY
and the examination was continued IN
til the question of electric wires WIS
| reached, when adjournment was taken
Soon after the discovery of the fire
the flames broke through the roof and
illuminated the sky and streets with a
lurid glare which served 10 make vivid
the general scene of confusion and ex-
cItement. AS soon as the flames broke
through the windows and walls. the
burning block was known to be DOOM
eo. 1t soon became q fiery furnace.
The falling of the walls was dangerous
To everyone who was working to stay
the progress of the flames or assist in
saving goods.
Ihe first to go down was the ton
Part OF the alley wall, which buried in
It's crushing descent with tons of de-