New-York tribune., 1911-03-06
BIG MINNEAPOLIS FIRE
Block Burned and Two Persons
Believed to Have Been Killed.
PROPERTY LOSS 100000
St. Paul Sends It's Department to
Aid in Quenching Great Blaze
in the Twin City.

MINNEAPOLIS, March 5.-One or the most
disastrous fires this city has even known
destroyed to-day the Syndicate Block on
Niconet avenue. between 9th and 9th
streets The total loss IS estimated at
100000. and il is possible that two hVes
were lost, although this has not as YET
been definitely determined.
Twelve persons were rescued from the up
Der floors OF the building while the flames
were roaring around them. Some OF these
sustained slight injuries, but none was Sc
rously hurt.
The origin of the fire is unknown. The
alarm was given by passers-by, who saw
the flames bursting out of the second story
window An alarm was quickly given. but
before the firemen had arrived the tenants
Of the building who were asleep in the up
per rooms. began TO appear at the win
0ows, calling frantically for aid.
A strong southwest wind was blowing
and in a very few minutes the west half
OF the building was a roaring furnace The
entire fire department OF Minneapolis was
called out. but It was totally inadequate to
check the flames. Later a call was sent 10
81. Paul for help and this was immediate
ly furnished.
The instant the fire department arrived
men were rushed into the building where
the entrances were not already choked
with flames and numerous ladders were
hastily extended TO aid the people who
were hemmed in by the fire on the second
and third floors.
Several Women Rescued.
ON the second floor were Mrs. NJ. Buck
and Miss f. Buck, proprietors Of lunch
. room. Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Franson,
Inga Franson. Miss Eta Parsons. Miss
MERLE Downend and Miss Marie Heller
were on the third floor. On the nth floor
Mrs. Mary Hollister and Mss Treler were
hemmed in by flames.
The members Of the Franson family. hnd-
ing all exit by stairways ard front win
dows cut off. made for the fire escape on
the alley side of the building Elmer Fran
son leaped TO the fire escape through which
blast OF flame that was Icing driven by
the wind past the window. out of which
was his only escape. Holding 10 the hot
irons of the ladder, he helped his mother TO
climb through the window and step upon
the platform beside him.
As soon as her hands touched the rails
Mrs. Franson uttered a shrek and would
have fallen TO the ground had not fire
man leaped TO her rescue from ladder
perched against the New England Build
ing which adjoins the Syndicate Build
Ing The fireman made a leap of fully ten
feet and took a chance Of falling TO the
pavement, forty feet below, IL he missed
the hre escape. Fortunately he reached
Mrs. Fransons side in time.
Flames Defeat Firemen.
He assisted her to the ground. while
Elmer Franson followed shouting:
There are two women back there in the
flames I them fall!'
The hremen made every effort 10 break
into the building at this place but the heat
was TOO great, and they were repulsed
All Of the other members Of the Franson
family were then assisted down the fire
escape and the fremen had little difficulty
in rescuing the people from the second and
fifth floors. Twelve persons in all were
taken out by the hremen.
AS fast as the inmates were rescued they
were hurried TO the central police station,
where they were placed in charge OF
Matron Schafer. None Of them received
injuries which necessitated visit 20 the
hospital and all OF the occupants Of the
upper floors were accounted for. 1t is be-
leved by the hremen and the police that
young Franson was mistaken when he said
that he saw two persons in the building
as he left the fire escape.
During the progress OF the fire there were
several explosions at the west end of the
building. which lifted the heavy stone side
walks high in the air and scattered huge
pieces OF stone about the street. The ex-
posions were attributed TO breaking gas
pipes.
The high wind carried embers from the
fire high over the business district. and
several small fires were started on the
roofs OF buildings. Some OF these embers
fell fourteen squares from the fire, burning
awnings and other destructible material
upon which they fell.
The Syndicate Building was landmark
OF Minneapolis. and was erected IN 1882 by
local business men. About three years
ago II was purchased by the Boston Trust
Company.
The west one-thrd Of the building was
occupied by the Model Clothing Company,
whose store reached from Nicollet avenue
20 tho alley on the south, and occupied the
entire five stories. The east one-third OF
the building from basement TO roof. was
occupied by the Minneapolis Dry Goods
Company Three stores in the centre OF
the block were occupied by Young & Quin-
Ian. ladies' tailors: J. p. Hudson e. Son,
Jewellers, and Woolworths Five and Ten
Cent Store.
The upper floors In the centre OF the
building were rented by doctors, several
restaurants and other tenants about fifty
in all. These lost all their property. The
Toss Of the Minneapolis Dry Goods Com
pany is mostly by water and smoke, as
that end Of the building was untouched by
IRE.
Tho largest individual losses are: Model
Clothing Company. $1,000: Minneapolis Dry
Goods Company. $4,000, and J. B. Hudson
90 Son. $4,000.
/, Although the FIRE broke out early in the
morning II was almost noon before It was
definitely under control. All OF the princi
psi losses are covered by insurance
~rNrDAIic pONDe OIIICkIN col n