The chronicle=news., 1913-02-28
Scores Trapped When !
Omaha Hotel Burns;
Death Toll is Heau)
Bravery Of Hotel Clerk and Paper Carrier
Saves Lioes Of Scores. Many
Killed BY Jumping.
PROPERTY LOSS IS OVER $3.50, 900

Omaha, Ncb.. Feb. 2s.-Fire. he
lieved to have been caused by Mt gas
explosion cost fifteen of more lives
here today. The Dewey Hotel. a sec
ond class hosteiry at Thirteenth and
Farnam streets. WIS destroyed by
flames which swept tho three story
building with u speed that S'rcclud-
cd attempts at rcscuc.
SOmo Of tho guests had time TO
reach the StaiTways hut others were
caught by coilapain& roof Of the
seructur" before they could hc RES
cied from window sills on which
they had taken refuge.
Several OF the victims jumped or
fell from windows and met either
instant death or mortal injury.
Accounts Of the number OF per-
sonS In the building differed to such
an extent that accurate estimates of
the death list were impossible today.
The register Of the hotel burned. but
aomr Of tho hotel employees aid that
many Of tho lo,iKcrs were not reg
istcrd. Al noon only about :5 out
of sixty persons estimated IN have
bcuc In the building had been nc
counted for definitely. but 4, was
known that score or more OF those
who had escaped left tho ncighbOr-
hood without revealing their idcn-
tity.
Zero weather hampcrcd the fire
men and added to the suffering OF
the injured.
Several business firms had quar-
tcrs In tho building and their Losses
added to those Of the hotel owners.
brought financial damnec to about
S:5O.000.
Ix1ic 8telss. paper carrier. was one
Of tho heroes Of tho fire. lie was
. preparing to stAei lvith his uscrminR
route hIad was one a. tise first 1t the
eI he rushed iuto tho building and
began assisting the night clerk to
arouse those asleep In the building.
lie helped drag several half-dazcd
persons from the building and then.
half suffocated. went to nearby
drug store where 4. ~. Mitch.
uight clerk. administered u stimu-
.ant. Steiss s;epI~d outside and col
lapscd, entirely overcome from the
effects Of tho smoke.
Ilc was carried To nh ambulance
aud removed to the emergency hos
pital and later revived.
Jesse Mold. who represents tn.
management Of tho hotel. probably
S1Scu tne UNe~ VI over S<OTc VI
persons. He was awakened by the
through the smoke filled Railways.
nTousing the guests. He succeeded
in getting number Of persons out
OF the burning building. all OF them
half clad. They were taken to near
by places of refuge for the time.
Bitter cold made conditions al
most unbcarable. The fircmcu had
barely started streams on the burn
ing hotel until frozen pine lines be-
Han to burst. They caused an i'm
pcdiment to the efforts OF tho fire
mon and reduced for some time the
efficiency OF the fire fighting force.
IL is now believed the fire was
caused by a gas explosion in the rear
ago there was discovered Il leaking
gas main which caused the manage
mont of the hotel to arouse oil the
guests. At that time 1t was neces-
sary to cut off tho gas supply and
opcn tho windows and doors Of the
cntiro building to prevent tho as
phyxintion OF some Of the guests. The
explosion this morning is believed to
have resulted from "a similar cOn-
dItLon.
The suddenness with which the
firn secured hendway indicates that
this condition existed. The firemen
bad pushed a ladder to the third
floor on the alley side OF the build
ing Just Us the explosion occurred.
II sent tho ladder back and prevent
ed several persons at windows from
escaping. At least one person was
shaken from the ladder when the
explosion occurred, but he was not
seriously injured.
After six hours. during which
from six to dozen streams were