Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1919-02-13
GREAT FIRE
Eight Persons Killed and Eleven In
iured by Explosions.

Eight Persons Killed and Eleven In
iured by Explosions.
A fire, which for nearly three hours
threatened the city Of Platteville Satur-
day afternoon, resulted in the death of
eight persons, injury to eleven and the
destruction of S75, 900 worth of property
Originating by spontaneous combus-
ton in the basement Of the brick Fore
hand building, which covered an entire
block, it spread rapidly throughout the
three floors Of the building, causing
three explosions, which wrecked the.
structure and blew the south wall and
corner out into the street.
BY fierce fighting the fire was con-
fined to one block. Most Of those killed
were volunteer fremen, some of whom
were members Of the city's volunteer
fire brigade. Others had offered their
{ help when the fire broke out, and still
others were school boys who were car
rying jewelry and other valuables out
Of the burning building when the wall
fell upon them.
Dead Number Eight,
| The killed, all of Platteville, are:
Milton Rotzoll, 13 year old son of a
Platteville shoe repairer.
Ernest Bickson, 80 years old, laborer.
Estey Dunn, II years old student at
| Platteville Normal, son of Dr.. E. A
Dunn, physician in the Forehand build
ing.
Fred Steinhoff, 40 years old, farmer
and volunteer fireman,
S. Austin Hale, 38 years old farmer
and volunteer fireman.
! Ct. Vanderbilt, 45 years old, jeweler,
owning store in wrecked building. /.
G. A. Rafter, 4S years Old, owner Of
the Forehand block, real estate operator.
G.. E. Gilmore, 45 years old, owner Of
notion store; volunteer fireman.
The eleven persons injured were also
caught under the falling wall and some
of them were severely crushed. Nine
were rushed to DR.. Wilson Cunning
hams hospital at Platteville, where it
was reported they would recover with
possibly one exception, that of Ray
Edwards, student, whose body was
badly crushed. They are all of Platte
vile and their names follow:
Will. Holmes, 4S years old, real estate
dealer; injuries not serious.
Will. SCHNEIDER, 80 years old, propri-
etor of the Royal hotel; arm broken
and leg bruised.
Ray Edwards, 13 years old, student;
badly crushed and may die.
Claire Youmans, 13 years old, stu
dent; injuries slight.
Paul Schmidt, 10 years old, student,
son Of Herman Schmidt; foot crushed.
John Kopp, Is years old, high school
student; blown through window of
building, injuries not serious.
William Mauger. so years old, en-
; ployee at Steffens Cigar Company; head
bruised.
AseI Pickars, II years old, student;
arm broken.
John Nurenburg, 80 years old; auto
repairman.
Two men less seriously injured were
taken to their homes in Platteville
They were:
Harry Beckwith, As years old, livery
man.
-Henry, rs years old, son of
John Henry, farmer.
Think Gasoline Exploded.
A gas stove and several cans of gaso-
line, which are known to have been in
the building at the time of the fire, are
believed to have caused the explosion.
The cause of the fire is believed to have
been spontaneous combustion.
Volunteer fremen and school boys
began hustling the jewelry out of the
Vanderbilt jewelry store on the ground
floor OF the building shortly after the
fire started. When the explosions oc-
Cured they were canght beneath the
falling brick walls. Most of the killed
were found several feet from the build
ing, suggesting that they had seen and
tried Tn aScana the falling walls