The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-04

l. Chicago, Dec. 4.-Fourteen persons
| among the scores crowded into the Lin
| coin hotel at 176 Madison street, met death
shortly: before 6 o'clock this morning in a
fire which will pass into local. history as
one, of the most horrible Chicago has ever
experienced. - II 2
Death came suddenly to a few, but with
awful slowness to others who were penned
| ln'the death trap and :suffocated, or burned
to death. Some died in their rooms, some
jumped and were lost while others were
found in the Railways where they had ex-
pired with their fingers dug into the
cracks of the floor
All of the bodies were removed. The
dead: - -,= = ~ =, - ~
N. NJ. HANDY, GAINESVILLE, Wis.
H. X. WOOD, Lebanon, Ind r. r.. :,
SAMUEL l.. YOCUM,4 Davenport, Iowa.
J: G. 1oGUM Davenport. Iowa.
a. B. COON, Marengo, Ill. r... r.
Il. V. SLOCUM. Waconda,, III. <. .,-,.-...
ED TONER, Milwaukee. ~. z. w.
B: F.. BOSWE ELL, lived at the hotel.
WARD LOWE, Sechtersville, Wis. -.
F. w. CAREY, Bucyrus, Ohio. e
Three victims had not been identified uI
to noon. 80
:. The victims were taken to Ralston's
morgue and ALL day the place was filled
with anxious people interested in the dead
or seeking to assure themselves of the
| safety of relatives.
| The building was iretrap of the worst
kind, according to experts. So. ,---~
= There were but two exits, a narrow
stairway leading down the four floors OF
the building, and n-~u ncompleted fire
escape in the rear. ~
- The .FlInsy Fire Escape Broke
The fire started on the second floor, pre-
sumably from a lighted cigar dropped on
the carpet. Guests occupying upper
rooms in the front part of the hostelry
aroused by the screams of a woman, were
able to escape down the stairway, and
about thirty people reached safety by
means Of the fire escape. To add to the
horror, however, this. gave way while
others were attempting to escape and
three men were dashed to death on the
pavement Of the alley below. :. ~
For the people in the rear there was nc
escape save by jumping. The stairway
was In flames and the fire escape gone
Horror stricken faces appeared at the
windows and cried frantically for help
Firemen cried back att them to wait unit
nets or mattressesA could be brought, and
those who did.in most cases escapedSwitf
slight injuries But some, scrazed with
fright, jumped to the pavement and were
either killed tor badl hurt 4 SO. =
! With. great dif1cu1tN the fire, although
comparatively small one, was subd1ed but
1t was some time before rescuers could
penetrate the dense bank: Of smoke which
filled the place. It was an awful scene
which met their gaze. The dead or un-
conscious lying stretched on the floor, and
and in some cases, on their beds. Some
had: attempted to slip on a garment before
making for the street, but had been
overcome, but most of them were in their
night clothes. o..
An Investigation viii Be Made
Every store and other hotels In the vi
entity was filed with men and women who
had escaped with only their -nightgowns
An investigation will be made A fire.
wall around the freight elevator and other
precautionary alterations had been ordered
some time ago, but the matter has been
neglected. E-.. g.. s.-& ".