The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-12-29

Chicago Coliseum Fire Not So
Fatal as First Reports Rep.
scented the Same.
NELs JOHNSON THE OILY vIOTIn,

And lie Hero Who Had Saved the Lives
of Thirty O;hers-Loss Reaches 100000
Other Fires and Fire Casualties Claim
Dozen Lives xplosion of Powder
Spoils Christmas Festivities at Asheville,
n. C.-Death on the Rail.
Chicago. Dec. 27.-The total loss OF the
Coliseum fir, Friday night is estimated
at 100000. The only insurance was
$4,000 carried on the building. which
was valued at 100000. 1t turns out
however, that but one life was lost in
the blaze and that one life was a
hero's. His name was Nels II. Johnson,
fireman of the building, 40 years old.
1t was through his assistance that
score of people escaped through the
door i'm the northwest END Of the build
ing. Hemmed in by the rapid spread Of
the flames. the performers in the
Streets Of Cairo and other exhibits of
the midwinter carnival were unable to
reach the front of the building. John
son led the way TO the north entrance
George b. Irving was with Johnson
as he led the way TO the door. 1t was
found locked and nailed up. Selling
several hammers and axes the ty D
men, with others who had Joined them
broke down the doors.
His Quick Work Saved Thirty.
Irving was at work among the ruins
Saturday gathering up the few remains
OF his electrical trapeZe.w He was dunn
founded when told that Johnson's body
had been found. Il can't believe that
Johnson is dead" said Irving. I'VE es-
capped from the burning building to-
gether. At least thirty were saved by
Johnsons quick work. In getting out
Johnsons head and face were badly
scorched. We ran about the west side
of the building and / took him to a
drug store, where we bought some cold
cream, for his burns. waited hut a
minute or so and ran back to the build
ing to try and get in by the front
entrance. Johnson was in the drug
store when l left. He must have run
back after me. i tried to break into
the building on the west side 10 "a
tempt to say = some of my property. but
II was too late"
Other Fires in the Lake Metropolis.
Three firemen were injured, one fatal
ly and two seriously, and $3.50 dam
age done by the fire in the six-story
building at the corner of Fifth avenue
and Monroe street Saturday. Captain
Dennis insolvency fell from the sixth
story when the roof collapsed. John
Kenney. truckman. and James Nc
Cambridge. pipeman, were injured. +.
A. Foster q Co., dry goods, sustained
the heaviest single loss, $4,000.
Saturday morning for the third time
flamesd estroyed the building of the Quad
rangle club, of the University Of Chi
cago. There were seven persons in tho
building, but all escaped. Two were
more or less injured. Loss. $4,000 on
the building. The club was composed
Of professors and past graduate stu
dents. who lose heavily on the furnish
ings. which included number of valu-
able paintings, sculpture, etc.
Ten of "a Family Cremated.
London, Dec. IA Mrs Jarvis and
her nine children. the youngest a baby.
were burned to death at 3 o'clock yes
terday morning in a four-room cottage
occupied by the Jarvis and two other
families i'm Dixie street, Bethnal Green
London. The unfortunate family occu-
pied the upper floor BY a strange
coincidence Mr. Jarvis, the woman's
husband, who had been suffering from
consumption, died in the workhouse in
Urinary Saturday afternoon without
having heard of the disaster Mrs.
Jarvis earned a scant livelihood by
making match boxes and her rooms
were filled with inflammable material.
Two Children Lose Their Lives.
Franklin, Pa, Dec. q. - Grace and
Annie Nelson, whose parents live near
here, were left alone in their home
Saturday evening. The former fell into
the CRATE fire and her clothing was
ignited She was burned to death. In
trying TO save the life of her sister
Annie was also badly burned and it is
believed she cannot recover.