The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1906-11-30
FATAL FIRE IN CROWDED SALIVA.
TIoN ARMY LoDGIhGHoUsE
AT ST. LOUIS.
FIVE HUNDRED MEN N sulLDlns
FRENzIED OCCUPANTS, CUT OFF
FROM ESCAPE, JUMP FROM
THE WINDOWS.

st. Louis, Nov. 29.-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
in the day when probably 500 home
less men were lodged within it.
Six lost their lives and probably
thirty-f1ve 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 received from jumping
from upper windows. Six others OF
those who jumped are lying uncon-
scious at the city hospital and are not
expected to recover.
The fire started on the third floor
and swept through the whole building
rapidly. The men fought at windows
to secure lifelines and slide to the
street, but so great was the frenzy
with which the lines were seized and
held that they were of no avail and
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 and
were injured. There was but one
stairway and the panic stricken men
surged down this stairway to the
street only to find the door locked. A
jam resulted and probably great loss
of life would have occurred had not
firemen promptly burst the door open,
permitting the frenzied men to pour
out into the street.
Waterman O'Connell, who was sta
toned on the third floor, discovered
the fire. He said he had gone to the
clothes closet to get some wearing ap-
parel for several of the men who were
practically without clothing and upon
opening the closet door sheet Of
flame belched forth, burning off his
hair and eyebrows. The Waterman
whole room was quickly filled with
flame and smoke. O'Connell 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 draft result
ed that quickly spread the fire
throughout the building.
Leap From Burning Building.
At every window could be seen the
forms of half naked men calling to
tiremen in terror and few moments
later leaping from the burning build
ing to the sidewalk below. Lifelines,
fastened at windows, provided means
of escape for scores Of the 500 dodgers.
Terror took possession of some of
the men and number Of them started
to run through the streets as soon as
they escaped from the building. Thinly
clad the frenzied men ran madly until
they were pursued and caught and
taken in ambulances to places of
warmth. Many of them we're taken
to No. 6 enginehouse nearby. Dozens
were sick from the effects of smoke
and gas inhaled. Some of the men,
apparently not hurt at all, were crying
abjectly and were not able to tell what
was the matter with them.
About eighty-five men were crowd
ed into the basement sleeping when
the fire was discovered. They were
unable to get out, as the door was
apparently locked. Their cries at
tracted the attention of policemen and
the basement door was broken in.
The men poured out of the basement
like rats from tran
The firemen called to those in the
windows not to jump until the nets
could be stretched, but all to little
avail, for, as fast as the flames roared
nearer to the windows. men jumped
and were picked up injured and un-
conscious below.
The seriously injured were taken to
the city hospital and two died there.
These two had jumped from the vim
dows of the hotel and six others, all of
whom were among those who had
jumped from upper windows, lie I'M
conscious at the hospital and are not
expected to live.
SAVED BY CHANGE IN WIND.
Forest Fire Threatens Presidents