The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1906-01-25
CHURCH FIRE IS DEADLY.
FIFTY OTHERS HURT IN NEGRO
CHURCH AT PHILADELPHIA
DURING SMALL BLAZE.
CHICAGOEXPLOSlON FATAL
Racine Hotel Guests More Fortunate
Iowa Hostler May Die from Effort
to Save Race Horses.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Jan. D.
Eighteen persons were killed and prob
ably half a hundred injured in a panic
following the cry of fire" last night III
st. Paul's negro Baptist church on the
west side of Eighth street. between
Poplar street and Girard avenue.
The services were being held on the
second floor of the building. A defec-
tive flue set fire to the chimney, causing
smoke to issue through the crcvices III
the floor near the pulpit. The fire threw
the congregation into panic.
Rush Made for Stairway.
A wild rush was made for the stairs
despite the efforts of Rev. r. W. John:
son, the pastor, to ahay the fears OF
the frenzied people. All wanted to get
out at once, and men, women and chill,
dren alike were knocked down ana
trampled upon by those pushing from
behind.
The stairway to the first floor had one
sharp turn in it, and the frightened peo-
pie became so tightly wedged III the
bend of the stairs that the frail wooden
banistcr gave away, preclpltatmg many
to the first floor. -
Eighteen Stamped 10 Death.
The crash and the screams and shrieks
of the women and children added to the
frenzy of those above. They did not
stop in their onward rush to get oGt.
Notwithstanding the wide open doors on
the first floor leading to the street, the
crush was so great that eighteen per
sons had the life stamped out OF them
before the panic was ended.
\ general alarm was sent in for am
balances. firemen and policemen. In the
the greatest confusion reiSned.
Men and women ran about the streets
calling for missed ones. A great crowd
gathered and the work of rescue was
promptly started. .
The dead and injured were quickly
taken to hospitals and nearby houses.
The fire was only trifiing, the flames be-
ing eNtinguished before the tiremen ar
rived.
Pastors Attempts in Vain.
f. W. Johnson, the pastor of the
church. said:
The church was not crowded. The
collection was being taken when n wom-
an sitting in front pew cried, fire and
started to run down tue aisle.
smeled smoke, but felt sure there was
no danger. My congregation, however,
became panic stricken, and no human
being could stop the rush for the doors.
tried my best to calm the people, but
it was no use"
Death in Explosion at Hotel.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, Jan. 22.-A panic
among the guests of the Windermere
hotel. Fifty-sixth street and Cornell ave
nue. followed the explosion Sunday of
a steam boiler in the basement. The ac-
cident caused the death of John Rap
koch, engineer, and the serious injury of
Mrs. Seeta May, Il guest.
The explosion partially wrecked the
hotel building and damaged adjacent
residence and apartment buildings. The
guests of the hotel were left in darkness
aud many were obliged to await the ar
rival Of iiremen who battered down the
doors of their apartments and released
them. Fire followed the crash but was
soon under control. The damage was
estimated at $4,000.
Hetty Green's Tenement Burns.
Six persons were hurt and many res
cues were the feature of fire that de-
Stroyed three-Story frame tenement
house in Cottage Grove avenue, the prop
erty of Hetty Green. John Wall. his
wife and wife's mother, Mrs. Hemes,
jumped from a window on the second
floor. Three men were injured when
the south wall fell in upon them, two of
them so badly that their recovery is
The property loss will reach
$40, 900.
Racine Guests Escape Panic.
RACINE, Wis, Jan. 22.-Several
guests of the Racine hotel. the leading
hotel of this city, rushed to the lobby at
/ o'clock this morning when the fire
alarm was rung, following the discovery
OF blaze in the barber shop on the first
floor. Spontaneous combustion is said to
have started the blaze. The fire depart
ment had the fire out in Il few minutes
with 4 loss amounting to less than 50.
There was no bad panic and an hour
after the incident the disturbed sleepers
We're again in bed.
Town Wiped Out by Fire.
MINOT, \. D., Jan. 22.-Lansford. IA
town twenty-five miles northwest Of
here, was almost wiped ont by fire Sat
urday. The estimated loss is $4,000.
The fire started in the Office of the Lans-
ford Times and spread rapidly. In all
ten buildings were burned.
Chrome Works Are Burned.
BALTIMORE, Nd, Jan. 22-Firc
was discovered shortly after midnight in
the plant of the Baltimore Chrome works
and before it was controlled about a third
of the main buildings of the extensive
plant had been destroyed. The loss IS
100000.
Gas Explosion Is Fatal.
RICHMOND, Ind, Jan. 22.-Mrs.
John w. Cook is dead and four persons
are injured as the result of an explosion
of acetylcne gas at the Cook home, three
miles east of this city, Saturday night
The house was almost wrecked and Mrs.
Cook was pinioned under a hot stove
Mrs. Burgoyne and two younger children
were blown through II window and
Frank Cook escaped with minor injuries.
The property loss is $1,000.
Find Jewels in Hotel Ruins
MINNEAPOLIS, Mimi, Jan. %
Part of the valuable jewelry which was
supposed to have been stolen from the
body of Mrs. Samuel Spiesberg, one of
the victims of the West hotel fire, has
been found in the ruins. Mrs. Charles
H. Wood, the proprietor of the hotel, re-
covered Il pearl necklace and a diamond
studded watch. 4 ring. said to be
valued at $500, is still missing, but
Mrs. Wood is confident that it will be
found. Jewelry belonging to other vic
Tins has also been recovered since the