Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-05-09
Fifteen Injured, Six Miss
ing in Kansas City Fire,
University Building Destroyed
With a Loss Of S25O,000.
Many Thrilling Escapes and Daring
Rescues OF Inmates.

NdllSTtS ,llE, MO, My S.-tItDTErC
DcMarc was killed and Is persons in
jured today in Il fire that destroyed the
fVc-story brick University building at
the northwest corner of Locust and
Ninth streets, causing damage Of $780,
000 Six persons are missing and may
be buried ir the ruins. The debris can
not be searched until tomorrow. The
building was occupied by Montgomery
Ward & Co. rs offices. employing 200
girls. and by numerous artists and mu-
sicians, who lost everything. Among the
missing is Miss Maud Witteborn. a pi-
ano teacher. last seen at the window OF
her studio on the fifth floor.
The severely injured Countess Al"N-
andria Blumhcrg, Il Russian artist;
skull fractured, may die.
Maud Spever fell from ladder, SCri-
Gus
Mrs Eva S. Hoyle, Sheridan Mo- fcli
from ladder, severe.
7 NJ Kranichfcld, fireman, leg
broken.
William Van Duscr, fireman. SERIOUS.
Peter Karagard. violin tcacher' zen
from fire escape, serious.
Soon after the fire started flames be-
cscanc. save ny the fire escapes, was
Shut off. The halls quickly filled with
smoke. and when the first ire appafd'
us arrivcd people We're crowded ap"u'
tnc windows appealing for holp' WINE
scores Of others. mostly women dhu
girls. filled the fire escapes.
When the alarm was first sounded
- society women, who were holding =
meeting in the Athcncum rooms
thourht that it was 4 jol:" ara mauc
~ effort 10 leave. a moment iater' ~
tho room filled with smoke, there was d
Wild scramble for the exits. All me w.
non cscaped but little hurt, by inc ilic
escape. ooo.,. ,,.,rc
rho third, fourth and fifth floors were
occ,1nied by artists and MUSICIANS anu
some of the upper rooms were u'7Su do
living apartments. ~.
George D,Marc. art Instructor IN inc
Control High school and portrait
FAINTER who came four years ago iIo"l
paws. Jumped from his studio Wli,'oH
\, the fifth floor and was 1oul.u
Do,T,rn recently was married - :"
,-xo,,;ncnt society woman. Shc N"'
,;,;,r in 4 nearby drug store WIZ
,o,. r1ebaud's body was taken anu 9i'>
tainted. ,.,,o+rro ar
IT. who came to Amorlc wv" a..
o,o from Paris and who mao = ~,
~ thc fourth floor. was Over
,-,,ol,e and carried from her room, ~ "
e,on,an who started down I" "a
'...l, IA When the two were Wi.Ilh'
80 or Tho ground the fir2mCh pelo" -
a,.,.;+ononnt turned stream q
'ii7 ,t,a.,, knocking them from thc
7,ar Miss Blumburg suffered li'>
e1 sltuII Her studio contained il''nE
LUZ - .l,.l,,. IF art. They were All "c-
stroyed. ana violinist.
hie wife a pianist known III I-I ~,
I'LL nec,nod after exciting eNPe''-
cnccs. They lost all their il'''Si''
strumcnts. .,..,,;,r cecancs.
There we're many thrlli"iT e+,dio
Mi. Helen Barnes, VINO h'" ,',ao,,.
~ mo 18th floor, stoood A.
na1lirr for hclp, With flames Wl''in :
fov. feet of her. \ ladder la'le,' ~
,o,c,, the window A fireman strctchtu
o,t an iron rod and the woman '''
down the rod to the ladder.
,rhc building was sold some tlmc AFT
~ thc pepper estate to VIM. A. liu"''
oC Kansas City for $l'3,oo3.
The Ioss sustained by MONTGOMERY non !,
y-,rd ( 60. win not exceed $4,000, as
.hnir warehouse is situated elsewhere
and ~, fiTc viii not interrupt their bus
inc.s The building was built ny the
ponn,r estate oC Philadelphia Tor thc
y A q 4 The corner stone WAS iald
by President Grover Cleveland ouIi,'T
His first administrations. Because - II
unsafe condition of the building 1t WIS
abandoned by the Y. NJ. {. =. SOM
wears ago.