Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-28
Register Destroyed and
List of Victims Not
ObtainabIe.
NEARLY 100 GUESTS
Not More Than Twenty-Five
ESCape-SOme lump and
Break NeCkS.

Omaha, Neb, Feb. 2S.-Fire, be
lieved to have been caused by a gas
explosion, cost fifteen or more lives
today when the Dewey hotel was de-
stroyed by flames which swept q
three-story building with a speed that
preciuded attempts at Iescue. Some
guests had time to reach stairways,
others were caught by a collapsing
roof before they could be rescued
from window sills on which they had
taken refuge Several victims jumped
or fell from windows. meeting instant
death or mortal injury.
Accounts OF persons who escaped
differed so accurate estimates OF the
death list was impossible today. The
loss to the hotel owners and several
business firms in the building VIII be
S25O,OOO.
Omaha, Feb 28.-A fire which claim
ed a toll in human life estimated at
thirty TO seventy-five destroyed the
Dewey hotel. a second rate hostelry.
at 1870 Farnum street, early today The
property loss will be great. After the
hrcmen worked in the smoking ruins
nearly five hours they were unable to
reach the bodies OF the victims, and
no definite estimate could be placed OF
the number OF dead.
II is known at least so persons were
registered at the hotel, and the night
clerk. who narrowly escaped with his
life. declared probabix--3a~sstSsFSs-4n
tho hotel were not registered.
Only four bodies were recovered be
fore the flames drove the fremen
from the building.
The known dead:
MISS ALICE BONNEvIE.
CHARLES CUNLMINs, jumped from
third story, breaking neck.
CHARLES BEVERLY. waiter.
JAMES PRAKEs. coppersmith.
TWO BECOME INSANE,
Some Of the injured:
Mrs. c. E. Wilkins, wife OF proprie
lOE. went lushue
Tina. Swedish housekeeper, went in
sane
Mark Hemingway, Ewing, Neb.
overcome by smoke. may die.
Unidentified woman, overcome by
smoke. burned, probably will die.
Iona jennings, overcome by smoke.
h. c. Stiles, overcome by smoke.
LYDIA Nelson, Omaha, burned in face
and body.
Clara Newman, overcome by smoke
The cause OF the fire has not beer
determined. It started in the rear o
the building and gained great head
way before discovered.
The lower floors of the building were
occupied by the Raphael-Pred Clothing
company, Hitler Liquor company anC
Adams Express company. The stool
Of all these was destroyed.
MASHED ON SIDEWALK.
Watchmen, policemen and other
I'm the vicinity declare not to exceed
dozen persons escaped from the burn
ing structure which was entirel
wrapped in flames when the first fir
company reached the scene. So sue
denly did the flames reach every par
os the building that few OF those aslee
on the different floors had time {
reach the windows. and none Wa
able to get to the fire escapes. Charlie
CummIns, a bartender. opened a wiz
dow and plunged from the third stor
70 a concrete sidewalk He wa
Mrs. c. Z. wilkins. who with her 81:
ter had room on the second foe
facing an alley. dragged her siste
Miss Alice Bonnevie, TO a window
Miss Bonneyie collapsed and Mr.
wilkins was forced to jump for he
life.
She was badly injured. Her sister
body Is in the ruins.
TOO LATE FOR RESCUE.
Jesse Mold. the night clerk. was ID
last living person 70 leave the bull
Ing. He opened the door OF his O
Zee on the second floor when he hear
an explosion, and was driven back b
n puf OF smoke and flame He a
tempted 20 arouse a few guests O
that floor but was forced 10 the stre'
10 save his life.
The few guests who escaped frol
second story windows or through II
gnc entrance on the Thirteenth stree
side. did so sCanJly attired.
The block watChmau, who had e
.cred the Office OF the Adams Expire:
company. located in the hotel bull
.ug. TO report. discovered the fire ar
turaed In a still alarm by telephon
He rushed ont and found the clothin
store OF the Raphael-Pred company {
Games and turned IN a second an