Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-05-07
TEN OR MORE DIE
IN HOTEL FIRE
OLD FORT WAYNE STRUCTURE
BURNED WITH FATAL CON
SEQUENCES.
SHESOYGAN MAN A VICTIM
MANY LEAP FROM WIN
BOWS.

Fort Wayne, Ind, May 4.-Fire
winch destroyed the Avenue hotel at
an early hour yesterday morning
snu1ed out the lives of at least ten
human beings, manned and burned a
score, and now firemen and militia
ohcers are searching the smoking
ruins, assured that beneath the ashes
, and smouldering debris lie the bodies
OF many more unfortunate victims of
the holocaust.
The exact extent of the horror is
not known. Eight of the bodies
recovered have been identified.
Seventy guests, asleep in their beds
when the fire, which spread through
the hotel like a flash, entrapped them,
fought desperate battles with the fire
flend and how many escaped is not
known. The only record of their iden-
tity, the hotel register, was destroyed.
Chief Of Police Anchenbruch be-
Heves there are twenty bodies still in
the ruins.
Scenes of Horror.
Scenes of indescribable horror,
tragic surrender to the flames OF hope
less victims, thrilling Tescues and dar-
. ing escapes attended the catastrophe,
! the worst in the history of Fort
, Wayne.
The building, a fire trap, a six story
brick structure Of ancient type, burst
into flames about 8 o'clock in the
morning. The fire originated from an
electric fuse which blew out unuer the
stairs near the elevator shaft. Within
i've minutes the whole building was
being devOured by the flames and the
terrified guests were fighting like
maniacs for their lives. Those who es-
capped acted without moments delay,
Siding down electric wires, walking
along narrow lodges to the fire es-
capes and dropping, half unconscious
to safety.
! List of Known Dead.
The hotel register was consumed by
the fire and there are no accurate
means of determining who is missing.
The known dead are:
r. S. Johnson, Pana, III.
M. Hirsch, New York. (There is also
an NJ. Hirsch among those saved.)
J. B. Miller, Sheboygan, Wis.
J. E. Ellis, Carson, Pirie Scott &
Co., Chicago.
W. A. Pitcher, Fort Wayne. sa1esma
for S. F. Boyser & Co., Chicago.
]. w. Deviney, salesman for Craw-
ford & Lehman, Philadelphia.
One unidentified woman.
Three unidentified men.
The known missing:
Frank Baxter, attorney, Auburn, Ind.
E. B. Atty, Wabash, Md.
Charles Benjamin, salesman for De
troit Neckwear company, Detroit,
Mich.
Mrs. Sara Hathaway, Mishawaka,
Ind.
Unknown woman, companion of Mrs.
Hathaway.
R. E. Tribe of DeIhart, Tex,
ranchowner.
Among the injured was F. c. Phil
lips, Calumet, Mich, face burned and
head scorched.
Bodies Terribly Burned.
The complete destruction of the III
terror of the hotel makes the work of
recovering bodies a task of multi
piled difficulty. A confused heap of
charred wood, bricks and twisted
Orders is piled up between the bare
walls to the second story. Piece by
piece thus must be removed before
the roll of the dead can be completed.
Some of the bodies taken out are
mangled and charred beyond recog-
milton and the work of Identification
is in these cases, a task almost
battling.
Infantry company D and battery B
of the national guards are on duty and
aiding the fire and police forces to
clear away the debris.