The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-28
IN 4 MAD PANIC.
st. Louis Salvation Army LOdg-
ing House Burns.
Guests Leap From Windows In
Sane From Fear.
CRUSHED DONPAVEMENT
Six known Dead and Many
Are Injured.
Bodies Burned to a Crisp and
Unidentified.
NAKED in THE STREETS
Terror Stricken Inmates PuT-
sued and Caught.
>OId Elevator Shaft Helped
Spread the Flames.
Bodies Burned to a Crisp and
Unidentified.
in THE STREETS
Terror Stricken Inmates Pur-
sued and Caught.
Old Elevator Shaft Helped
Spread the Flames.

St. Louis. Nov. 2s@The Lighthouse
hotel, three story structure on the
northwest corner of Ninth and Market
streets. utilized as a Salvation army
barracks, was damaged by fire early
today when probably 500 homeless
men were lodged within it.
Six lost their lives and probably S5
were injured, about half that number
being seriously injured, some not being
expected to live. Four were burned to
death and two died from injuries re-
ceived in jumping from upper windows.
Six others Of those who jumped are
lying unconscious at the CITY hospltdI
and are not expected to recover
The fire started on the third moor
and swept through the old building
rapidly. Men fought at the windows
to secure the life lines and slid to the
street but great was the frenzy
with which the ropes were seized ana
held that they were of little avail ana
those who could not escape by the
stairway leaped from the windows a
large number of those who jumped
were caught in nets, but many jumped
before the nets were stretched ana
were injured
There was but one stairway and the
panic stricken men surged down this
only to find the street door locked A
jam resulted and probably greater loss
firemen promptly burst the door open,
permitting the frenzied men to pour
out into the street
the cause Of the hre has not vet been
Three months ago the salvation
army barracks at the corner of Eighth
and Walnut streets was completely De
stroyed by fire and. one man was killed.
Killed.
-FOUR UNIDENTIFIED.
OSCAR F. DAVIS. 76, old soldier OF
Quincy. H.. jumped, died at hospital
GEORGE ID. ROSE, jumped, died at
hospital
&c years old, serious internal injuries
Charles J. Ross 80 years OF age,
shoulder fractured and internally
John Shaw. 81 years of age. one leg
ged man. leg fractured
Burned in fire:
Alfred Broad, z years of age, hands
Thomas Callahan. fireman. face and
James clark. 80 years of age, all over
body serious.
WIiliam Hadt. 50 years Of age, face
and hands
James Burkhartdt. 50 years Of age
James Lynch, 46 years Of age.
Charles Ross. day clerk
Thomas Mooney, 3S years of age.
d. F. Mueller. 3S years of age.
Oscar Anderson. Is years of age.
George Miller, 40 years of age.
Frank Louise, 35 years of age.
William Giland. 50 years of age,
Hagerstown. ILL.,
John Moore. 90 years of age
Charles Boland. 80 years of age.
James Varley. unconscious. burned,
jumped
George NJ. Perry, 76 years old, un-
conscious. burned. jumped.
Thomas Walsh, aged so. unconscious. !
burned. jumped
Thomas Fleming. jumped. unable to
talk because of injuries.
John Butler. jumped. unconscious.
Charles Meier, aged y, No. &c Park
avenue. Chicago. burned, jumped. un-
conscious
Rapids, Mich. face and body burned
Following burned win probably re-
cover:
William Wiley. leg fractured
Pearl Heyt, aged 21, Indianapolis, /
fractured ribs and knee.
y Edward Howard, aged 46, badly
burned, condition serious
The building was three story struc-
ture and fully 500 men were sleeping in /
it when the fire broke out.
Watchman O'Connel who was sta I
toned on the third floor, discovered the |
fire He said he had gone to the clothes /
closet to get some wearing apparel for
several of the men who We're practical /
" without clothing, and upon opening
4he closet door. q sheet of flame belched |
forth, burning off his hair and eye
brows-
The watchman was unable to shut the |
door and the whole room was quickly I
filed with flames and smoke. O'Connell I
gave the alarm and hurried around
waking up the sleeping inmates.
The closet had formerly been an old
elevator shaft and with the door open /
q draft resulted that quickly spread the /
fire throughout the building At every /
window could be seen the forms of
half naked men. calling to firemen in /
terror, and a few moments later lean
ing from the burning building to be /
crushed on the sidewalk below. Life
lines. fastened at windows. provided
means of escape for scores of the 500 /
dodgers.
Terror took possession of the men
and a number of them started to run /
through the streets as soon as they
escaped from the building Thinlv
clad the frenzied men ran wildly un- /
til they were pursued and caught and /
taken i'm ambulances to places of /
warmth Many of them were taken to I
No. engine house nearby. Dozens I
we're sick from the effects of smoke I
and gas inhaled. Some of the men
apparently not hurt at all were CRYING I
q abjectIy and were not able to tell what <
was the matter with them.
About IS men were crowded into |
ne basement when the fire was dis }