The Devils Lake world., 1911-03-24
Two lives LOST TN FIRE
THAT DESTROYED ANNEX
FRENN DID EXCELLENT WORK But were UNABLE TO SAVE THE LIVES
OF TWO OF THE Ro0MERS IN The Bull WAS MASS
OF FLAMES when FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED

With two dead, one seriously injur-
ed and number suffering from cuts
and burns, the partial destruction OF
Reid IS Annex passes into history as one
of the saddest fires in recent years in
the annals of Devils Lake.
James Cotton, a farm laborer, who
was in the city to act as complaining
witness in the cases against the two
fellows who were accused of rolbing
him in the same room in which he was
killed and Peter Wolden, farm hand
who has been in the city for the past
ten days, were the two victims, while
Miss Inga Olson, a cook at Reid's no
tel was severely injured by falling
plass and sprain sustained in jumping
to the ground.
The cause Of the fire is but problem
atical. When the fire department ar
rived the building was mass of
flames The alarm had been turned in
by Mr.. Palmer, who was conversing
with friends at Reid's hotel, though
the neighbors had endeavored to send
in the alarm some minutes before. It
is conjectured that the explosion Of
"a lamp in the hall directly beneath the
room i'll which Cotton was sleeping
started the blaze and as the building
was frame and dry as tinder there was
little chance Of escape.
Their were in the building six tran
sients and three steady roomers at the
time of the fire. Upon the arrival Of
the department and as soon as it was
seen that the flames could be controlled
the boys commenced careful search
of the rooms Cotton was found lying
with his face down on his bed, evident
ly overcome by the first rush of smoke
and flames.
The story that he was intoxicated is
emphatically denied as he was seen at
two O'Clock and was perfectly sober.
He was also without money earlier in
the evening and no cash was found on
his person when searched by the under.
taker.
The search Of the rooms was contin.
ued until No. So, the room in which
Walden was finally found, was reached
The man whom it was claimed had oc
cupied the room was on the scene and
the firenlen skipped that part of tho
building. 1t was not until one of the
boys discovered the feet Of man pro
truding from the window that a more
careful search was made Wolden was
found with his head and shoulder:
touching the floor, his feet out of tho
window and the fire escape rope huns
from the sill. It is expected that aftel
he had gotten his breath of fresh ali
he reached back to get his watch ant
pocket book which he had evidently
kept under his pillow and in so doing
had been overcome by the smoke an1
fell to the floor.
A sensational rumor in keeping will
the story published by the Grand Fork
Herald stated that Colton's heart wa
beating for an hour and a half after h
had been taken from the building
This is denied by the undertaken AM
his assistants, who assure The Worl'
that the man had received injurie
which caused his death almost immed
lately and that there ~as no possibilit.
Of heart beat after that time.
A large crowd gathered at the frs
alarm and assisted as much as lay with
in their power in caring for those VIII
had been injured. The fire department
cannot be complimented too highly O
their efficient service. They were fea1
less in their efforts to- save life an
fought the flames like vterans.