The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1906-04-10
A TRAGIC DEATH
HOMER H. HALLOCK KILLED IN
PORTLAND FIkE.
Was Formerly Editor of the Pendle.
ton Tribune and Well Known
in Athena.

Homer H. Hallook, at one time ed
itor of the Pendleton Tribune, and
we'll known in Athena, met tragic
death at Portland Friday afternoon,
when he leaped from the eighth story
of the Chamber of Commerce build
ing during fire.
Mr.. Hallock visited Athena twice
during last spring in the interest of
the Lewis aud Clark exposition and
assisted in getting up the first excur-
sion train from Umatilla county to
the fair. Lately Mr.. Hallock had
been employed with the United Rail
way Co., with offices in the Chambe
of Commerce building. Concerning
the fire and Mr.. Hallock's death, the
Portland Journal says;
1t was $50 O'Clock when the fire
was discovered. Offices on the seventh
floor were crowded, while the top floor
is occupied entirely by the CONNER
cial club. Suddenly both floors were
filled with thick clouds of smoke
which rushed through the corridors
and down the elevator shafts, pouring
through the windows and doors.
1t was the only alarm given the oc-
cupants. In the wake of the smoke
came yellow tongues of flames, lick
ing their way through the corridors
and Offices and finding easily inflam
mable fuel in the tinsel decorations
and rich tapestries.
Men and women rushed wildly to
the elevators without waiting to pack
their belongings. The cages were
locked and the elevators were stopped
as soon as the flames broke out. The
ropes and cables which control the
machines were burned almost before
the fire was discovered, rendering es-
cape by that means impossible.
FL. I'll. Hallock of the United States
Railway company and a we'll known
business man of Portland, jumped to
his death from the eighth floor to the
top of the Union Printing company's
building, falling distance of seven
stories. He was crushed to death In
stantly.
Mr.. Hallock had been dining in the
Commercial club rooms and was one
of those who was caught ON the upper
floor by the flames. Having all pos
sible chance of escape cut off except
by jumping, Mr.. Hallock made his
way to the back of the building and
crawled through a window. The
flames were rapidly rushing upon him
and seeing no alternative but to jump
or perish in the fire, he looked below,
balanced himself an instant, then
leaped into the air. He struck the
top of the building below and was
crushed to death. The body was
quickly rescued by the f1remen and
carried away from the fire. Dave
Cappa, the Chiet of the Commercial
club, dropped five stories into a life
net. Aside from losing his breath
from his rapid transit through the air
and striking the net and losing con-
seriousness for minute or two, he es-
capped injury.
w
and waved signal to the crowd be-
low. 1t knew in minute what it
meant-that his means of escape had
been cut of-that unless the flames
were put out--and that was impossi-
BILE, for the whole upper story was a
roaring furnace at that time-he
would either have TO perish in the
kitchen or jump five stories to the roof
below him.
'My God, get the nets' some one
yelled.
And at the same time 1000 voices
yelled to Cappa to "Hold on, old man,
for your lifel''
For an Instant cloud of smoke
which puffed out Of the window in
which Cappa was seated hid him
from view. A groan went up from
the crowd, for it thought the man
would fall from his seat.
But the cloud of smoke passed by
and Cappa waved his hands to the
multitude below. He signaled that
be would wait for the net.
When it had been stretched, Chief
Campbell yelled to the crowd to keep
still.
For Gods sake keep still the least
noise may mean the mans DEATH"
yelled the chief.
There was silence. The chief waved
bis hand TO Cappa TO jump. He
crawled out of the window, held by
bis hands, and throwing himself back
ward few inches let go.
He partially turned over as he de-
scended and struck the net with a
thud.
Tom Richardson, secretary of the
Commercial club, stood upon the roof
of the burning building with flames
all around him and the upper story
threatening TO collapse at any moment.
4 A..