Omaha daily bee., 1911-01-24

T. J. Campbell, pipsman hoSeoart mo- D.
hand badly laoeratsd.
Fire loss Ss,ooo
One man lost his life four we're com
pletely overcome by smoke and another
sustained a broken leg, I'm a fire which
broke out in the Millard hotel at $3.50 yester-
day morning damaging the hotel to the
extent Of about $4,000. The fire was under
control at o'clock
The origin of the fire Is not known, but
II is presumed to have been caused by de
fective wiring in the kitchen. Breaking out
at an hour when the guests were sleeping
soundly and filling the corridors with dense
smoke before 1t was discovered. the con-
flagration greatly imperied the lives OF the
300 guests, and II is considered remarkable
that a panic was averted ta.
The injured were taken to the Omaha
General hospital in the police ambulance
and were attended by Drs. II. G. and T. T.
Harris.
In effecting the rescue Of John w. Cath
cart who was overcome in his room on
tho third floor Fireman II. Elliott was
overcome, but revived on the street shortly
after.
Clerk sees the Blaze.
The blaze was discovered about $50 by
sam NdInaIls HlblN Nl'Ah ~ '''~ A'N9N
hotel. Mr.. Carhart had occasion to visit
store room just behind his office and
directly across the alley from the Mlard.
He noticed smoke streaming from the win
dows and at once called up the night clerk
at the MiIlard, who sounded the house
alarm Immediately. Carhart then called
the fire department. As soon as Chief
salter arrived at the fire he ordered out
every piece of apparatus I'm the city.
Scenes Of the greatest confusion prevailed
throughout the lobby and corridors of the
hotel, while on the outside many thrilling
escapes were being effected. one woman
was seen 10 hang from the window sill
for over two minutes before a ladder could
be placed to receive her.
Lowered from window.
Mr.. and Mrs. Edward Silver, who were
asleep on the third floor when the alarm
was sounded found the hallway impossible
and sought to escape from the window by
means of a rope, Silver lowered his wife
to the street and then tying the rope to the
leg of a dresser attempted to let himself
down Before he had released his hold on
the window sill the dresser was over
turned and Silver was forced TO climb back
into his room. Before a ladder was set to
receive him, the door of his room had
taken fire and Silver was nearly overcome
by smoke.
f. J. StTahl Of Lincoln lost his grip on
the rope by which he was attempting TO
make his escape and fell a distance OF
several feet TO the street, sustaining a
broken leg.
Police Captain NJ. p. Dempsey had a
squad OF officers the scene, who did
very effective rescue work. greatly aiding
the guests in reaching the lower floors.
The principal damage to the hotel is in
the dining room and in the corridors and
rooms directly over it. While the flames
we're confined to a comparatively small
area, they were hard to get at because OF
the dense smoke which filled the halls and
rooms.
Fields known in Omaha.
Thomas J. Fields, who lost his life in
the fire. was former Omaha man, and
was formerly instructor at the University
OF Wisconsin. He was enroute from San
Francisco, where he had been visiting his
mother, and had stopped over In Omaha
for few days TO visit Harry Hall. en-
ployed at the hotel. He was head clerk
at the Howard hotel at Sioux city and
at one time was clerk at the Paxton in
Omaha,
StrahI OF Lincoln received a broken
leg In his attempt TO escape. lie seized
a rope fire escape and slid from his win
dow and being blinded by smoke and par
TALLY unconscious when he made the leap.
he burned his hands on the rope severely
and fell a considerable distance. He was
taken to the hospital
Mrs. Dunn wife Of a federal official
crippled with rheumatism was carried out
from room 3lS in safety.
A number Of other guests were overcome
by smoke so that they were revived with
difficulty but so far as is known all
others escaped without injury.
Clerk 4. j. Van Cott said last night that
he had detected an odor OF smoke at about
80 O'Clock, lie told a bellboy TO make a
thorough search al the time. but nothing
was discovered. Later ON. Mr.. Van Cot
lcontinued on Pags TwoN