The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-03-06
Inneapolis Has Hot Sunday Blaze
When Syndicate Block Was
Destroyed by the
Flames.
Two LIVES ARE LOST
everal People Rescued and Two Are
said to Have Perished Be-
fore Assistance Could
Arrive.

MINNEAPOLIS, Mimi. March e.
bne OF the most disastrous fires Min
eapolis has ever known destroyed
unday the Syndicate block on Nicol-
et avenue between Fifth and Sixth
treets. The total loss Is estimated
i sl,000,00o and it is possible that
wo lives were lost, although this has
lot as yet been definitely determined.
Twelve persons were rescued from
he upper stories of the building, while
he flames were roaring around them.
some of these sustained slight in.
uries. but none was seriously hurt.
The origin Of the fire is unknown.
he alarm was given by some passers-
" on Nicollet avenue, who saw the
lanes bursting out of the second
tory window. Before the firemen ar
lived the tenants Of the building who
we're asleep in the upper rooms began
% appear at the windows calling
rantically for aid.
A strong southwest wind was blow
ing and in very few minutes the
vest half Of the building was roar
ing furnace.
The entire fire department of Min
heapolis was called out, but it was
otally inadequate to check the flames.
.ater call was sent to st. Paul for
help and this was Immediately furn-
shed
K )
"a The instant the fire department ar
ived men We're rushed into the build.
ng where the entrances were not
fhoked with flames and numerous lad
lers were hastily extended to help the
people who were hemned in. On the
second and third floors were Mrs. M.
PUCK and Miss e. Buck, proprietors
pf a lunch room; Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
franson, Elmer Franson, aged 19;
fierbert Franson, aged 25. and Mrs.
Pnga Franson, Miss Eta Parsons, %
years; Miss Mirle Downend, is years
old, and Miss Marie Heller were on
The third floor
On the fifth floor Mrs. Mary Hollis
ter and Miss Treler were hemmed in
Ply flames.
Members of the Franson family
Finding all exit by stairways and front
windows cut off, made for the fire
Escape on the alley side Of the build
nng Elmer Franson leaped to the
pre- escape through a blast of flame
nat was being driven by the wind
past the window out of which was
MS only escape. Holding to the hot
IRONS of the ladder, he then aided his
mother to climb through the window
and step upon the platform beside
him
AS soon as her hands touched the
Fails Mrs. Franson uttered a shrek,
and would ha-- fallen to the ground
mad not Fireman Caldwell leaped to
ner rescue from ladder perched
against the New England building,
winch adjoins the Syndicate building.
caldwell made leap Of fully 10
leet, and took chance of falling to
ene pavement, 40 feet below. If he
missed the fire escape. Fortunately,
ne struck It right and reached Mrs,
franson's side not a second too soon.
ne assisted her to the ground,
while Elmer Franson followed, shout.
ing: There are two women back
mere in the flames. saw them fall. .
the firemen made every effort to
oreak into the building at this place,
put the heat was too great, and they
were repulsed IL is believed by the
nremen and police that young Fran
aon was mistaken when he said he
saw two people in the building as he
pert the fire escape.