The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-09-07
A MICHIGAN HOLOCAUST !
Appalling Sunday Morning Fire in
Benton HarbOr.
ELEVEN DEAD AND THREE INJURED
The Fire Started in a Theatre Not Long
After the Audience Had Left-A High
Wind Prevailed and Caused the
Flames to Spread Rapidly.

BENTON HARBOR Mich, Sept THE
most horrible holocaust, with great loss
of life that has ever occurred in this part
Of the state occurred Saturday midnight,
when Yore's Opera House took fire, and in
the fight to save the building and other
blocks adjoining eleven tircmen, one a
volunteer were killed, the death being in
Simultaneous with five of them six living
only IA few hours in awful agony, while
several others met with severe bruises and
burns.
Soon after the discovery of the fire flames
broke through the roof and illumined the
sky and streets with a lurid glare that
served To make vivid the general scene OF
confusion and excitement. As soon as the
flames broke through the windows and
walls and let in the draft the burning
block was known to he doomed 1t soon
became fiery furnace. The falling walls
proved TO be not only IA death trap for the
fire fighters but dangerous to every one
who was trying TO help stay the progress
of the flames or assist in saving goods,
One could see portions of human bodies
through the fallen bricks. Parties going
in to save the imprisoned men were over
come by heat.
During the evening the play "a Factory
Girl had been given by local talent, and
had closed but half hour before fire was
discovered There was much confusion at
the outset, owing to lack of hook and lad
der facilities St Joseph was called on for
assistance, the tlremen approaching the
building through an alley in the rear of
the building. While hoisting ladders the
upper walls fell over without "A second 5
warming covering the men. The tragedy
was witnessed by hundreds of spectators.
The following We're killed Frank Wat
son of ST Joseph, leaves n wife; John
Hoffman, of Benton Harbor, leaves wife
and five children; Thomas Kidd of Ben
ton Harbor, unmarried; Frank Woodley
of Benton Harbor, leaves wife and three
children; ID. II. Gange of st. Joseph dray-
man; Scott Rice, bell boy at the Benton
hotel, lived but a few minutes VIII /.
Mitten of Benton Harbor, leaves wife and
seven children; Louis Hoffman of Benton
Harbor widOwer, leaves two small chill
dren; Arthur c. Hill of st. Joseph, fore
man Of st. Joe Hose company, lived one
hour; Frank Seaver of St Joseph, lived
three hours; Robert l.. ROfe of st. Joseph,
lived one hour
The injured are: John 4. Crawford, eX-
chief of Benton Harbor fire department,
overcome by heat and smoke and burned
about the head, will recover; VIII Fround
of st. Joseph, cut about the head; Frank
Paget of st. Joseph, leg bruised by falling
brick.
Frank Woodley and 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 mystery, Sew
eral theories from cigar stub to a lamp
explosion, are given. Guy Prescott is un-
der arrest as being one who knows of tho
origin. When asked by reporter the
cause he remarked that he was not going
to give anybody away This remark
caused his detention.
The injured and dead were taken from
the ruins rs fast as possible, and at
o'clock the last man had been removed.
The dead were removed TO the city hall 70
be identified. There were many heart
rending scenes as wives, parents and chill
dren scanned the distorted and mutilated
remains of those lying cold in death upon
the floor. Words cannot express the ap-
palling force of this great horror, the sor-
row in the stricken homes or the shadow
of grief that rests on these peaceful com
munities.
The building was comparatively new,
| having been erected seven years ago at a
cost of $4,000, by Patrick Yore 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
Frick, which stood adjoining, was de-
molished by the Opera House walls fall
ing on top and crashing through to the
basement. The total loss is S56, 800.
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, G.
Hooks was destroyed, with no insurance.
Thousands witnessed the cOndagratiOn,
and with difficulty crowds were kept out
Of danger.
The st. Joseph funerals were held today,
commencing at 10 80 a. m, while the Ben
ton Harbor unfortunates will be inferred
tomorrow, with services by various socie-
ties. This calamity is "A greater shock to
the twin cities than the Chicora's loss a
year and half ago, owing TO its suddenness
and destructive results
Bickert's Cafe.
Our free lunch tomorrow morning will
consist nf nicp f1lad haef and dragsino