Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-03-13
1850 CHILDREN
LOSE LIVES IN
FIRE IN OHIO
Mad Rush for Safety Chokes
Exit; Many Trampled to
Death.
PERISH IN AWFUL AGONY
Floor Falls, Throwing Helpless Little
Ones Among Burning Embers in
Easement-Factory Men in
Heroic Rescue Work.

Cleveland. ONO, March b.-ln
A fire which completely destroyed
the common school building in
eollinwood, a suburb, this morn
ing, more than $50 children lost
their lives.
At 2:20 o'clock l46 bodies had
been taken out Of the ruins. 1t is
NOW believed the loss of life will
reach if not exceed $50.
At , o'clock 12l bodies had been
recovered. The missing then
Numbered So.
The blaze was started by an
sverhcated furnace. The flames
spread quickly. A panic ensued
when the building filled with
smoke and over 400 children at
tempted to escape. There were
but two available exits IN the
building. One Of these was used
freely by the children, but the
other soon became choked with
the children, who madly dashed
for the open air.
Those who fell in the doorway
were trampled upon by those be-
hind. Soon the doorway became
impossible. Panic stricken the
children turned to escape by the
windows. or any other means that
could be found. Their escape was
sut off by flames, which by this
time had spread throughout the
rooms.
Heartrending Scene.
The building was Of brick, yet
this did not retard the progress OF
the flames. In a few minutes the
lower floor fell, precipitatlng
scores Of children into the base
ment among burning embers, The
scene about the building was
heartrending.
Quickly the news of the terri
bic disaster spread throughout the
village, hundreds of parents
srowdiug about the building IN
search Of their girls and boys.
In a few minutes 20 bodies were
taken from the ruins. The with
ing forms Of dozens Of others
aould be plainly seen in the base
ment. Nearby factories dismissed
men and instructed them to as
sist in the rescue. They braved
the fire and made heroic efforts to
save those not dead.
OF the nine teachers of the
school, seven are accounted for.
Principal Frank p. Whitney es-
timated the number of dead from
Is to $50. The pupils were mostly
very young children, ranging from
to IL years.
Scores to Hospital.
At 1890 25 bodies had been recovered
from the ruins and taken to the shops
of the AXE Shore railway, where the
sompany's physicians are attending the
injured.
Practically every ambulance in the
eastern part of Cleveland was called. as
well as every available physician.
Many children rescued are believed to
he fatally injured. Scores o. children
have been taken to city hospitals.
Three Girls Jump; Killed.
Three little girls met instant death in
attempting to jump to safety from the
third floor OF the burning building.
They were Mary Ridgeway, Anna
Roth and Gertrude Davis.
A man named Dorm, who arrived
upon the scene early and at the time
the children were crowded in front OF
the door discovered his little girl among
the mass of injured and crushed.
He caught her by the hands and in
frantic efforts 70 save her pulled her
arms from her body.
3
Door Loses Many Lives.
-Four children of the janitor OF the
building lost their lives together in
the fire.
The greatest loss OF life was caused
by one exit being closed, to which
soint scores of children rushed. Their
escape was blocked by a door that
opened inward In this manner they
were delayed in reaching the outer
doors and windows.
IT in said that as a result of this
stampede alone, scores OF children lost
their lives.
To the Rescue,
The panic, that had worked such
fearful, results inside the building,
spread to the helpless crowd outside,
hut only for a brief time. Organized
efforts at rescue soon were under way.
Firemen played streams OF water upon