The Oskaloosa herald., 1906-01-11
Fearful Holocaust
at Minneapolis
To-day.
One Of The Finest Hosteiries In
The Country Burned Score \
Of Lives Lost Proper
tyDamage Quarter
of a Million
Dollars.

Scripps- McRae Telegram.
Minneapolis, Jan. 10.--The West
hotel the pride Of Minneapolis, and
one Of the finest structures in the
country, was ruined by fire this
morning. In the debris and at the
morgue lie the bodies Of fifteen or
twenty victims. In the hospitals are
hundred injured, many OF whom are
fatally hurt or burned.
The destruction Of the building
brought out indescribabie scenes OF
horror. Three guests OF the hotel
jumped from the seventh story and
were dashed to death on the pave
ment below I'm plain view of the
thousands who had gathered at the
fire. Scores jumped from other win.
dows, some TO death, some to serious
injury, while others were caught in
improylsed nets and saved.
Heroic Fireman Killed.
Fire Captain John Berwln lost his
life IN an heroic and spectacular ef-
fort to save Mabel Larson. Standing
on scaling ladder opposite the firth
floor he bade her jump to his arms
I from the seventh floor. He caught
her falling form, nut her weight
Overbalanced him, precipitatlng both
TO an awful death below.
Prominent People Victims.
William Davidson, American con-
sui to Manchuria, Is among the vic
tins. Being overcome by smoke, he
was rescued at the last minute by
an attaGhe OF the hotel. His cendi.
tion Is serious and he may not re-
cover.
Judge Atwater, the Oldest lawyer
in the state was rescued by a male
nurse, VINO carried him down five
floors through smoke and water
w. q. Nichol, prominent broker,
and capitalist, OF this city, was taken
from his room on the fifth floor
dead.
Two brothers, evidently well to do,
but whose identity could not be learn
ed, we're found suffocated in their
room on the fifth floor
People Panic stricken.
During the progress OF the fire tho
victims and the crowd below were
panic stricken. Many Jumped before
their lives were imperiIed and before
any provision could be made TO save
them. Guests jumped from windows
on all sides OF the hotel. Finally the
fire department succeeded In stretch.
ing nets below and those who exer.
cised presence OF mind escaped prac.
tlcalIy unhurt.
Origin Of Fire.
The FIRE started in the basement OF
the hotel about seven o'clock this
morning, and shot up the elevator
shaft, cutting of aii means Of escape
Of those who were still in their
rooms. The guests numbered about
five hundred, many Of whom we're wo-
men. In the part directly concerned
172 people were imprisoned. For a
time It was feared that the dead must
number more than one hundred. The
flames burned fercely for two hours
and all the FIRE fghting apparatus In
the city was brought into play. The
st. Paul department was also brought
by special train.
BY nine o'clock the flames were
completely under control but not un.
I'll the magnificent structure was com.
pletely ruined.
Quarter Million Loss.
The property loss will be at least
quarter Of a million dollars. Hotel
West was built twenty years ago at a
cost Of half a million. II was consid-
cred one Of the safest and best In the
country. The flames were controlled
with the building practically De.
stroyed.
Owners Were In Danger.
Mrs. G. II. Wood and her daughter,
proprietors Of the West hotel were
botfi rescued, the latter being carried
down a ladder.
One Of the most thrilling rescues
was that OF r. A. Chamberlain oi
the Security bank, and members Of
his family, who were not awakened in
time 70 make their escape by the
usual exits. For many anxious min
utes they remained at their window
at the top story at the Fifth street
and Hennepjn avenue corner. Mr.
Chamberlain gathered bedding and
made rope Of II and at the Banne
. time the extension ladders were beine
placed in position, but were found toe
short. The Pompeir ladders were
then rushed TO the scene and a fre