The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-09-07
BURIED AND BURNED.
Eleven Brave Firemen Made Vic
tins to Duty.
NClNERA1ED UNDER FALLING WALLS
Benton Harbor and st. Joseph, Mich,
Mourn the Loss.
THE OPERA HOUSE HOLOCAUST
The Names of the Killed and Injured.
Losses and Insurance-Theory
AZ to the Origin.
THE OPERA HOUSE HOLOCAUST

to the Free Press from Benton Iiarhor
says a terrible holocaust with the greatest
loss of life that has ever occurred in this
part of the State. occurred last night
when Myers opera house took fire and
in the fight to save the building and other
blocks adjoining, eleven fremon, one a
volunteer, met their fate at one fell
swoop, the death being instantaneous
with five OF them, six living only few
hours in awful agony while several 9th
ers met with severe bruised and burns.
"a Factory Girl" had been given by To-
cal talent and had closed Il half hour be-
fore the fire was discovered. The building
from the basement to the fourth story
was filled with a suTocating smoke which
burst into a sheet Of flame through the
| entire audience room, before the fire de-
partment could respond with single
stream of water, there being some con-
fusion at the outset owing 10 hook
and ladder facilities being short. The To-
cal fire companies had that day closed
a two days tournament exhibiting much
skill IN quick work. ST. Joseph was called
on for assistance at the outset They ap-
preached the building through an alley
unloading ladders in the rear OF the buili.
ing and while hoisiing them the upper
walls fell over without a seconds warn
ing covering the men. Thls was witnessed
by hundreds Of spectators.
The following Were killed:
Frank Watson. ST. Joseph, skull crush
ed leaves wife.
John Hoffman, Benton Harbor. crushed,
leaves wife and five children.
Thomas Kidd Benton Harbor. unmar-
ried, killed by live wires.
Frank Woodloy. Benton IIarbor. Killed
by live wires, leaves wife and three chill
dren.
Ed Gange, ST. Joseph, drayman; head
crushed. legs broken.
| Scott Rice. bell boy at the Benton Hotel;
skull fractured.
William Mitten, both legs fractured. in
ternally injured. lived two hours.
| Louis Hoffman, Benton Harbor, head
crushed, thigh crushed. widower; leaves
two children
Arthur c. Hill, st. Joseph foreman hose
company, legs broken, terribly burned;
lived two hours.
| Frank Zaver, St. Joseph leg broken:
badly cut and burned; lived three hours.
Robert Boefe. ST. Joseph, compound
fracture left leg, internal injuries.
The injured;
John A Crawford. Benton ITarhor fire
department, overcome by heat and smoke.
VIII F'reund St Joseph. cut about the
head
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