Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-01-09
Many Are
Killed in
Early Fire
Three Bodies Recovered and
Many More Thought to be
in the RuinS=.Thirteen in
Hospital, and Badly Hurt
UNITED PRESS LEASED WIRE ]

sons are known to be dead, 19 are in
the emergency hospital suffering from
injuries from which several may die,
and ten others are reported buried in
the ruins Of the San Pedro and Mari
time lodging houses at East and How
ard streets, in the waterfront district
here, which were totally destroyed by
fire early today.
Three bodies were taken to the
morgue, so badly burned that identity
may never be established.
The most seriously injured are
Battalion Chief James B. Britt, ov-
ercOme by shock from gas explosion.
Mrs. Katherine Goldstein, leaped
from San Pedro house window, ankle
broken, possibly internally injured.
Fireman VIM. Shaughnessy, struck
by 500-pound electric sign.
Frank Fisher seriously burned in
attempt to rescue Mrs. Goldstein.
p. Jansen, overcome by smoke.
C. Helroisen, badly burned, hands
and face.
w. Holwois, head and body burned.
Olaf Ellison, shock and asphyXiation.
Carl Schlobios, body burned.
! Fireman j. ]. McElroy, overcome by
smoke, and burns,
Fireman j. w. Malloy, head and
hands burned
Firemen A. O'Keefe and j. Heffer-
man, overcome by smoke.
The two lodging houses were flimsy
two-story affairs, occupying an entire
half block.
/ The third body was taken from the
ruins at 10 o'clock when it was be-
lieved that several more victims would
be found by the firemen who had made
little progress in the task of digging
through the charred timbers.
The work of the flremen in laying
( hose lines was hampered by the con-
dition Of the street, which is torn up
for construction Of the Belt Line rail
road BY the time the first stream
shot into the flames, the Howard
street side of the buildings was a mass
of fire. With but three narrow stair.
ways and one of these exits complete,
ly cut off by the wall Of flames, the
inmates crowded to the outside win.
dows and screamed in terror to the
flremen to stretch ladders.
Repeatedly the fire-hghters placed
ladders against the window castings
only to have the charred frame worh
collapse, shaking off the firemen from
their slippery holds into the street
Some of the more courageous in lodg
ers took a leap for life into the street
Fireman Shaghnessy was knocked
from his ladder by 500-pound sigr
which crushed him to the ground, in
flctlng severe injuries.
Mrs. Goldstein was among thos,
who leaped from the windows Shu
was picked up unconscious only
few feet away from the flames. Franl
Fisher fearing to take chances on
leap from a window, wrapped a blan
ket about him and dashed down
blazing stairway. He stumbled owe
Mrs. Goldstein's senseless form, and
disregardng personal danger wrap
ped the blanket about the woman an
carried her TO safety.
Battalion Chief Britt was knocke
senseless by an explosion Of gas
few feet away Fireman McElroy, VIII
witnessed the accident to his chic
grabbed the limp body of Britt an
= dragged It to the open air, McElro
2 was severely burned.
I Eight business places occupying tn
, ground floor Of the buildings destroye
we're gutted. These we're mostly 81
{ looms, pool halls, barber shops, res
4 taurants and clubs. The loss Is rougl
ly estimated at about $4,000.
y About 200 dodgers are believed {
{ have been in the rooming houses whe
=, the fire started Mos Of these wer
y waterfront workers, steyedores, Ions
shoremen, riggers and sailors. Onl
n a few women lived there. It will l.
d practically impossible to determine IL
d number or identity. Of those killed O
no record Of the inmates was kept l.
l. those In charge. The rooms were sma
i and the Railways and exits few. 1t
n regarded as remarkable that moi
lives were not lost, Survivors to