The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1917-07-27
MAN PERISHES IN
NIGHT HOTELfIRE
Ben Wentz, Local Plasterer, Dies
When Fire Cuts Off
His Escape.
own NEGLIGENCE STARTED The FIRE
Local Fire Department Displayed Eff
ficiency in Controlling Blaze.
Body Found on Floor. Jury
Recommends Investigation

A disastrous fire in the attic OF the
Oakland hotel, Tuesday nightv re-
suited in the death of Ben Wisnniskoe,
or Ben Wentz, as he was known local
ly, and the partial destruction of the
hotel.
The fire started shortly after 10
o'clock, and the flames had good
start before it was discovered. The
alarm was given about 1880, and the
immediate response of the fire depart
ment, and their efficient work, saved
the building from further damage and
protected the surrounding structures.
The fire was confined to the third
floor, and the department centered its
efforts on this place. AS soon as they
had the blaze under control, Sam
Grossman and Carl Alderman, follow
ed by Clarence Hall and L. V. Lock-
wood, entered the attic to search the
beds for any persons who might have
been there. They had gone through
the room without finding anyone in
the beds, and had turned to go out
again, when Sam Grossman, who was
some distance behind them, shouted
that he had found man. Closer in
vestigation revealed the body of Wentz
lying on the floor, with quilt wrap
ped around his head. He had been
dead some time when found.
The body was taken down stairs and
removed to the Peterson Undertaking
parlors across the street from the
hotel.
An inquest was held Wednesday
morning, and the testimony of the
witnesses showed that Wentz had ap-
piled for room about o'clock in the
evening, but had been refused, as he
; was in an intoxicated condition.
, About 10 o'clock he returned, and
, Mr.. Knauff, the owner of the hotel
X seeing that he was in fairly sober
< condition, took him into the attic of
the hotel and gave him a bed in the
north end, next to the door. Wentz
had evidently undressed, as remnants
of his clothes were found alongside
the bed. A package of tailor made
cigarettes and two cans of tobacco
were also found, and this gave weight
to the conclusion that he had lit a
match or a cigarette which caught in
his clothes and started the fire. Judg-
; ing from the position where he was
: found and his condition, Wentz must
. have pulled the blanket around his
: head to protect it from the heat, and
: as the flames were between his bed
; and the door, he went towards the
: south end of the building.
X The body was badly burned when
{ found, and death by suffocation must
have resulted before any help could
. reach him.
The deceased was 80 years of age,
{ and was we'll known locally, following
| the occupation of plasterer. He had
a homestead about seven miles from
town. Two sisters were present for
= the funeral which was held yesterday
, afternoon from the Roman Catholic
church.
q In their verdict, the coronor's jury
found that death had been accidental,
. due to the negligence of the deceased,
. but they also recommended an investi-
cation of the premises where the fire
occurred to determine whether it COM
piled with the fire laws, and further
| recommended that thorough investi-
: cation be made of all lodging houses
and hotels in the city along the same
! lines.