The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1911-03-06
DISASTROUS FIRE DESTROYS
SYNDICATE BLOCK AND EN-
DANGERS LIVES.
RESCUES ARE THR|LLERS
Firemen Of ST. Paul Assist in Fight.
ing Ugly Blaze. Which is Not Sub.
dued for Hours-Miilion Dollars Es-
timated as Amount of Damage
Strong Wind Threatens.

Minneapolis March 5-aDne OF the .
most disastrous fires this city has ever
known. destroyed today the Syndicate
block OH Nicoilet avenue, between
Fifth ana Sixth streets. The total
loss is estimated at $1,000. 900 and II Is
possible that two lives were lost. al
though this has not yet been definite
~ determined.
Twelve persons were rescued from
the upper stories of the building, while
the flames were roaring around them
Some of these sustained slight in
jnries. but none was seriously hurt
The origin of the fire Is unknown.
The alarm was given by passersby on
Nicollet avenue who saw the flames
bursting from second story window
Before the firemen had arrived the
tenants Of the building. who were
asleep In the upper rooms. began 10
appear nj the windows. calling for
aid
strong wind was blowing and In
very few minutes the west half of
the building was n furnace. The en-
tire fire department OF Minneapolis
was called out but II was totally mad
equate to check the flames. Later a
call was sent to st. Paul for help and
this was Immediately furnished.
'Resoues Thrilling.
on the second floor We're Mrs NJ
Buck and Miss u. Buck. proprietors
of lunch room, Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
Franson, Elmer Franson. aeed 2. Her.
bert Franson. aged 20. and Mrs. Inga
F'ranson, Miss Eta Parsons. % years
old. Miss Merlle Downend, IS years OF
age. and Miss Marie Heller. were on
the third floor On the fifth floor
Mrs. Mary Holllster and Miss Treler
were hemmed In hy flames.
The members or the Franson faml-
ly finding all exit by stairways and
front windows cut off, made for the
fire escape on the alley side OF the
building. Elmer Franson leaped 10
the fire escape through blast OF
flames. Holding TO the hot irons of
the latter. he aided his mother tn
climb through the windows and step
upon the platform beside him.
AS soon as her hands touched the
rails Mrs .F'ranson screamed and
would have fallen to the ground had
rescue from n ladder leaning against
the New England building. which ad-
joins the Syndicate building. cald-
well made leap of fully 10 feet and
took "a chance OF falling to the pave
ment. 40 feet belw. II he missed the
fire escape. Fortunately he struck IL
right and reached Mrs. Franson's side
not a second too soon
Il ui.,ta - Al
Elmer F'ranson followed. shouting.
There are two women back there I'm
the flames | saw them fall"
The firemen made every effort 10
break into the building at this place
but the heat was too great and they
were rcpulsed.
All other members of the F,ranson
family We're then assisted down the
fire escape and the firemen had little
difficulty in rescuing the people from
the second and fifth floors. Twelve
persons in all were taken out of tho
building by the firemen
None OF the tenants received serious
injuries and all occupants of the up
per floors were finally accounted for.
II is believed that young Franson
was mistaken when he said he saw
two people In the building AZ he left
the fire escape.
During the progress OF the fire
there were several explosions at tho
west end of the building. which lifted
the heavy stone sidewalks high In the
air and scattered huge pieces Of stone
about the street. The explosions were
, attributed 10 breaking gas pipes.
The high wind carried embers from
the fire high over the business district
and number of small fires started on
the roofs of "al buildings. Some
OF these ember3 fell II squares from
the fire. burine awnings and other In
flammable material
The Syndicate building was erected
In 1882 by number of local business
men About three years ago II was
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