Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-12-27
ALL SAFE Save ONE.
Chicago Coliseum FiFs Not So
Fatal - First Reports Rep.
sented the Same.


Asd He Hero whe Hsd Saved he Live
Of rhirsy Othen-Loss Reaches esoo.ooo
-Othsr Hires and Fire Casualties Claim
. Desen Lives-Exploslea 81 Powder
spoIls Christmas Festivities e AshsviIls
N.C.-Deaah % The Rail-
Chicago. Dec. 27.-The total loss Of the
Coliseum IRE Friday night ID estimated
at 10000. 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 q
hero's. His name was Nels H. johnson,
fireman Of the building. 40 years old.
1t was through his assistance that q
score Of people escaped through the
door In 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. SEEKING
several hammers and axes, the two
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. He was dunn
founded when told that Johnson's body
had been found. Il can't believe that
johnson II dead" said Irving. I'VE es-
capped from the burning building to-
gether. At least thirty were saved by
Johnson's quick work. In getting out
Johnson's head and face were badly
scorched. We ran about the west side
OF the building and I took him to a
drug store. where We bought some cold
cream for his burns. I waited but q
minute or 30 and ran back to the build.
Ing to try and get in by the front
entrance. Johnson was in the drug
store when I left. He must have run
back after me. tried to break into
the building on the west side to at
tempt to save some Of my property, but
II was too late
Other Fires In the Lake Metropolis,
Three firemen were injured, one fatal
~ 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 McSweeney fell from the sixth
story when the roof collapsed. John
kenney. truckman. and James Nc
Cambridge. pipeman. were injured. F..
A. Foster Il Co.. dry goods. sustained
the heaviest single loss. $4,000.
Saturday morning for the third time
fiamesd estroyed the building OF the Quad
rangle club. Of the University Of Chi
cago. There were seven persons In the
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 a number of valu.
able paintings. sculpture, etc.
Ten Of . Family Cremated.
London. Dec. IA Mrs. Jarvis and
her nine children. the youngest a baby,
were burned to death at 5 o'clock yes
terday morning in a four-room cottage
occupied by the Jarvis and two other
families In 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
hrmary 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. Tie 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.