Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-03-06
Persons Marooned Above Taken Out
on Ladders.
POSSIBLE THAT TWO ARE DEAD
Young WOmen's Bodies Believed tC
Be in Ruins.
SEVEN CONCERNS NBO.
Damages Divided Among Tenants-
Covered by Insurance-OriRIn of
BIaze UnknOwn-Departm
Has Hard Fight.

OF the most disastrous fires this city has
ever known destroyed today the Syndicate
block on Nicolet avenue between Fifth
and Sivth streets. The total loss is esti-
mated at N,OOOOOO and It is possible that
two lives we're lost, although this has not
as yet been definitely determined.
Twelve persons were rescued from the
upper stories Of the building while the
flames weer roaring around them. Some
OF these sustained slight injuries, but none
was seriously hurt.
The origin of the fire is unknown. The
alarm was given by some passerby on
Nicollet avenue who saw the flames burst
ing out Of the second story window. But
before the firemen arrived the tenants
of the building, who we're asleep in the
upper rooms, began to appear at the
windows calling frantically for aid.
strong southeast wind wOs 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 1t was totally mad
equate to check the flames. Later a call
was sent to st. Paul for help and this
was Immediately furnished
FIremen to the Rescue.
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
adm third floors.
On the second floor were Mrs. NJ Buck
and Miss E. Buck, proprietors Of a lunch
room. Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Franzen.
Elmer Franzen aged l9; Herbert Franzen,
aged %, and Mrs. Ingra Franzen; Mrs.
Eta Parsons, % years old Miss Merlle
| Downend, IS years old. and Miss Marie
Heller were on the third floor.
on the fifth floor Mrs. Mary Holster
and Miss Treler were hemmed in by the
| flames.
The members of the Franzen family,
! finding all exits by stairs and fr0nt win
dows cut off made for the fire escape
on the alley side OF the building Mr..
/ F'ranzen leaped to the fire escape through
a blast of wind driven flames past the
window, his only escape. Holding to the
hot irons of the fire escape he aided his
mother to climb through the window and
step upon the platform beside him.
Caldwell n Hero.
Mrs Franzen uttered a shrek 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 adjoins the Syndicate building. Cald
well made a leap of fully ten feet and tool
a chance of falling to the pavement forty
feet below II he missed the fire escape
Fortunately he struck it right and reache,
Mrs. Franzens side not a second too soon
He assisted her to the ground, while Elme
Franzen followed, shouting There are tw,
women back there in the flames. l saw
them fall" The firemen made every effor
to break into the building at this place
but the heat was too great and they wer
repuIsed. All of the other members o
the Franzen family were assisted dow
the firescape. The firemen had little diff
Guilty in rescuing persons on the secon
and fifth floors. Twelve in all were take
out by the firemen.
As fast as the inmates were rescued the
were hurried to the central police station
where they were placed in charge o
Matron Schafer. None received iniurie
which necessitated visit to the hospits
and ell OF the occupants OF the upper floor
were accounted for. It is believed by tn
firemen and police that young Frame
was mistaken when he said he saw tw
people in the building as he left the fiji
escape.
r Explosion Tears Pavement.
During the progress OF the fire there wei
I, several explosions at the west end of II
= building which lifted the heavy stone sid
Q walks high in the air and scattered hul
q pieces of rock about the street The e.
1C,nntinned ON secnnd PareN