The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-06
LEAP S TEN FEET
TO RESCUE WOMAN
Thrilling Inciden t at
81, 900, 600 Fire in
Minneapolis.
FLAM ES DESTROY
SYNDICATE BLOCK
Twelve Persons Taken From,
Building While Blaze Is Roar
ing Around Them-Possible
That Two Lives Were
Lost-st. Paul Called
On for Help.

Minneapolis, MINI, March 5.--One OF
( the most disastrous fires this city has
ever known, destroyed oday the
Syndicate block on Nicollct Avenue
between F'if,l, and Sixth streets. The
total loss Is estimated at &l.0oo.000.
and II Is possible that two lives were
lost, although This has not as yet been
definitely determined.
Twelve persons were rescued from
the upper stories Of the building, while
the flames were roaring around them,
Some OF these sustained slight inju-
rics. but none was seriouhly hart.
The origin Of the ire is unknown.
The alarm was given by some passcr5-
by on Nicollet Avenue. hut before the
iircinen had arrived the tenants of the
building. who wcro asleep in the up
Ter rooms began TO appear a I the win
dows calling frantically for aid.
strong su,ith,Scs, wind was blowing,
aud In a very few minutes the west
!ialf Or the building was a roaring
furnace. Tho entire fire department
OF Minneapolis was called out. but II
was totally Inadequate 10 check the
flames. Later q call was sent 10 ST,
Paul for help ana this was mrncdi-
Gntely furnished.
TIE instant the fire department ar
rived men We're rushed into the Build.
ing where the entrances were not
already choked with names, and mum
erous ladders were hastily extended IN
MD tue PEOPLE who We're hen,ned in
by fire on the second and third floors.
IIcmmch In by FLAMES.
On the second floor were Mrs ~
Buck and Miss H. Buck. proprictors
Of q iunch room Mr. ard Mrs. Charles
Jranson, inga Fran.on. Miss Eta Par
sons Miss Mcrile Downend ana Miss
Marie Heller were on The third noor,
/. ON the NTH floor Mrs. Mary Hollister
end Miss rreIer were licmned in by
Jiaines
The me mbers Of the I1ranson family,
findiug all exit by sinirways and front
windows cut on made for he FIRE
csca pc on the alley Side Of the build
Ing. Elmer F'ranson leapcd 10 the fire
escape through which there was 4
blast OF flame that WAS being driven
ny the wind past tho window, out OF
Which WAS his only escape. Holding
to the hot irons or the iaddar lie
helped his mother TO climb through
the window and step upon the plat
form beside him
As soon as her hands touched the
rails Mrs. Franson uttered a shrek
and would have fallen to the ground
had not Fireman Caldwell leapcd to
her rescue. from q let,dav perchci
against the New England building.
which adJoins the Syndicate building.
Caldwell made a leap or fully ten feet,
and took q chance Of falling 10 the
pavement. forty feet below. If he
missed the fire escape. Fortunately he
struck II right and reached Mrs. Fran
sons side not a second TOO soon
lie assisted her to the ground, while
Elmer Franson followed, shouting:
rIny- l,a,,I
the flames l saw them fall" The
firemen made every effort to break
into the building at this place, but
lie heat was too great, and they were
repulsed. All OF the other members
OF the Franson family were then as
sisted down the fire escape. and the
hremen had little difficulty in rescuins
the people from the second and fifth
floors
Twelve persons in ali were taken
out by the fremen.
During the progress Of the fire there
were several explosions at the west
end OF the building, which lifted heavy
scattered huge pieces OF stone about
the street The explosions were at
fributed to breaking gas pipes.
The high wind carried cmbers from
the fire high over the business district
and number of small fires were start
Landmark OF minneapolis.
The Syndicate building was ii land
mark of Minneapolis. and was erected
IN 1882 by a number OF local business
men. About three years ago it was
purchased by the Boston Trust Com
pany
The west one third Of inc building
. was occupied by the Model Clothing
d Company. whose store reached from
Nico1let Avenue to the alley on the
south. and occupied the entire five
stories. The east one-third Of tho
building, from basement to roof, was
occupied by the Minneapolis Dry
Goods Company Three stories in the
centre OF the block were occupied by
Young & Quinlan. ladies' tailors; j. g.
Hudson & Son. jewelers. and Wool
worth's 5-and- Decent store
The upper floors in the centre OF the
building were rented by numerous doc
tors. several restaurants and other
tenants. about fifty In all These lost
all their property. The loss Of the
MINNEAPOLIS Dry Goods Company is
mostly by water and smoke. as that
end Of the building was untouched by
fire.
The largest individual losses are:
Model Clothing Company. $175,OOo.
MINNEAPOLIS Dry Goods Company.
R35O,O0O.
y. B Hudson & Son. 100000, outside
OF the safe. which contained merchan-
disc valued at 100000.
Young & Quinlan. $i25.n00.
>Wooiworth &. Company $4,000.
Other tenants, estimated. 500, 900.
Loss Of building. 5000. 900.
Although the fire broke out early
In the morning. 1t was almost noon
before It was definitely under control.
b. Al Of the PRINCIPAL losses are COW
4 cred tN, Esxf.Hancc.