Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-03-06
TWELVE RESCUED
FROM FLAMING
BUILDING
MILLION DOLLAR FIRE
LOSS IN MINNEAPOLIS
Firemen Work HeroicaIIy to-
Save Sleeping Inmates From.
Tall Tenement; Feared Two
PeriShed in Blazing Rooms,
IBy Morning Journa, Special Leased wirel

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IBy Morning journal Special Leased wIrel
Minneapolis, Mimi, March 5.-0ne
has ever known, destroyed today the
Syndicate block on Nicolet avenue,
between Fifth and Sixth streets. The
total loss Is estimated at s1.000,000,
and 1t is possible that two lives were
lost although this has not yet been
definitely determined.
Twelve persons were rescued from
upper stories of the building while
the flames were roaring around them.
Some of these sustained slight injur-
les. 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 the second story Win
dow. Before the firemen had arrived
the tenants of the building who were
asleep in the upper rooms began to
appear at the windows calling for
aid.
A strong wind was blowing and in a
very few minutes the west half of the
building was a furnace. The entire
fire department of Minneapolis was
called out, but it was totally made
quate to check the flames. Later a
call was sent to St Paul for help and
this was Immediately furnished.
On the second floor were Mrs. NJ
Buck and Miss e. Buck, proprietors of
a lunch room. Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
Franson, Elmer Franson, aged 10,
Herbert Franson. aged 90 and Mrs.
Inga Franson, Miss Eta Parson, 90
years old, Ciss Merle Downand, IS
years of age. and Miss Marie Heller
We're on the third floor. on the fifth
floor Mrs. Mary Hollister and Miss
Treler were hemmed in by flames.
The members of the Franson fami-
ly, finding all exit by stairway and
front windows cut Off made for the
fire escape on the alley side of the
building. Elmer Franson Ieaped to
the fire escape through blast of
flames. Holding to the hot irons of
the latter he aided his mother to climb
through the window and step upon
the platform beside him.
As soon as her hands touched the
rails, Mrs. Franson screamed and
would have fallen to the ground had
not Fireman Caldwell leaped to her
rescue from a ladder perched against
the New England building which adj
joins the Syndicate building. Caldwell
made leap of fully ten feet and took
chance of falling to the pavement,
forty feet below, if he missed the fire
escape. Fortunately he struck II right
and reached Mrs. Franson's side not
second too soon.
He assisted her to the ground while
Elmer Franson followed, shouting:
::There are two women back there in
the flames; I saw them fall.
The firemen made every effort to
break into the building at this place
but the heat was too great and they
were repulsed.
All other members of the Franson
family were then assisted down the
fire escape, but the firemen had little
difficulty in rescuing the people from
the second and fifth floors Twelve
persons in all were taken out by the
firemen. None Of the tenants receiv-
ed serious injuries and all occupants
of the upper floors were finally ac-
counted for.
II is believed that young Franson
was mistaken when he said he saw
two people 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 sidewalks high In the air
and scattered huge pieces of stone
about the street. The explosions were
attributed to breaking gas pipes.
The high wind carried embers from
the fire high over the business dis
trict and a number of small fires start
ed on the roofs OF several build
ings. Some of these embers fell four
teen squares from the fire, burning
awnings and other destructible ma
terial.
The Syndicate building was erected
in 1882 by q number of local business
men. About three years ago It was
purchased by the Boston Trust COM
pany.
The windows in Donaldson's glass
block department store, across Sixth
street was shattered by the heat and
loss In window glass Is estimated at
$1,000. loss OF $1,000 was also
caused in this store by water.
The New England Furniture COM
pany in a building adjoining the Syn
dicate block, suffered a loss of slO,-
600 by water from bursting hose that
was run through the building. AL
though the fire broke out early In the
morning 1t was almost noon before II
was under control For several hours
it was feared that the entire business
district of Minneapolis would be swept
by the flames.
The principal losses are covered by
insurance.
Late tonight two women who were
asleep in the Syndicate building at the
time of the fire We're reported MISS
| ing. They are Miss Mary Buck, pro-
prietor of the Arion restaurant and
Bertha Radona, her maid.
CLEVELAND TENEMENT
| Dr-ennnVIsn nv U1ItE