The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-03-13

~ =. - = = =. Il 1880 Nv
gagged for many years in farming and
stock buying. This was in 1854. He
was married to Miss Elsie smith.
who died in 1867. or this first mar
riage four. children are now living:
Buell. w., Charles Edwin and Mrs.
Stella Hall OF California, and Fran
els W. OF Montana. In 1878 m. Stew
ems married n issSarah Christie.
then a teacher in Carleton college.
who survives him.
Two children were born to them,
Elizabeth. Mrs. Robert Monahan Of
international Falls and Mary, who
died ten years ago. Mr.. and Mrs.
Stevens moved to northern Minneso-
Ia in 1906. living at Blackjack and
later at International Falls. Mr..
Stevens was a member Of the Epis-
copal church OF Good Thunder,
MINI. The only order with which he
was connected was the Association
Of California Pioneers.
The deceased was a highly re-
spected gentleman. He win be re-
membered by the older residents OF
Rapidan and had many acquaintances
In this city. who win regret to learn
OF his death.
From Mondays Daily
st. Louis, No., March s.-The
Missouri Athletic club, one Of
the SWEETEST In the city, was
destroyed by fire early this
morning with loss Of life esti-
mated at over 100. When the
fire broke out about t55 mem
bers were asleep In their rooms,
100 CHEERS were In sitting rooms
and many others In bath rooms
run In connection with the club.
How many escaped not definitely
known. The police say the fire
was started by erseksmen at
tempting to blow a safe In the
bank located on the first floor
OF the building.
St. Louis, March 9.-Three known
dead, dozens Of others are believed
to have been burned to death and
two score seriously injured In a mil
lion dollars early morning fire, which
destroyed the palatially equipped
Missouri Athletic club and Boat.
mans Bank building. Fourth street
and Washington avenue, in the cen.
ter of the downtown district. The
exact number of dead within the
ruins may not be known for several
days. One hundred and thirty-flve
persons. nearly all welLknown bust
ness and professional men were reg.
istere at the club. Thirty-fye Of
these were accounted for at 10 a. m.
An emergency relief committee Of
the club executive and city officials
took up their headquarters at the
Press club i'm an endeavor TO deter.
mine the total death list.
The spectacular blaze attracted
thousands OF residents from their
beds to witness heroism bordering
on the superhuman exhibited by the
city firemen, club servants and the
club guests. In response OF a gen.
eral alarm, the chief, battalion chiefs
and lesser officials OF the fire de-
partment. personally led their men
in frenzied attempts to reach burn
ing people on two upper floors,
Of the seven story building.
The hesd-crazed club-guests began
jumping from roofs and upper floors
and reckless iremen, unmindful of
their own lives. dashed under fall
ing walls, erected scaling ladders
in their frantic endeayors to get
help to victims trapped on the up
per floors.
Flames burst forth simultaneously
on several floors. Scores OF men
rushed to the windows shrieking and
loudly calling for help but were
forced back into the corridors.
Many jumped to the roof OF build.
ings adjoining sustaining bad in
juries. Others hastily constructed
ropes Of bed clothing and many Is.
csped by that manner.
81. Louis, March Six are known
to be dead. twenty-seyen are unsc-
counted for. and Il Is feared they
are persisted. and thirty are injur-
ed according 20 the figures Of the
citizens emergency committee at
noon. as a result Of the fire which
destroyed the Missouri Athletic
club, and boatman's bank, seven
story building, early this morning.
The fire is still burning this after
noon. Fire Chief Swingley said II
would be impossible to send men
into the ruins to search for bodies
until tonight or tomorrow.
The building was owned by the
bank which occupied the first floor.
In the vaults OF the burned building
are s1.34s,000 in currency, $4,000 in
gold and silver. This money is be-
lieved to be intact in the fireproof
vaults.
The cause OF the fire Is unknown.
II Is believed to have originated
in the third floor of the dining
rooms and kitchen. Thus cutting OF
the sleeping apartments in the up
per floors.