The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1940-03-21
FORMER REDWOOD
MAN ESCAPES In
NIGHT CLOTHES
AGED MAN GETS FROM
WINDOW TO WINDOW
USING SHEETS

WINDOW TO WINDOW
USING SHEETS
Eight persons, injured in a
fire which swept the three
story Tracy hotel early Tues
day morning imperiling the
lives of about 35 occupants,
are recovering today.
There were many narrow
escapes as guests, trapped by
flaming halls and smoke,
climbed to window lodges and
chung there while firemen raised
ladders for the rescue.
Cause of the blaze which was
discovered shortly before 4 a. m,
is unknown although it is believ-
ed it started on the second floor.
The Walnut Grove, Marshall and
Balaton fire departments were
called to keep the flames from
spreading to nearby buildings, one
of which was an oil storehouse.
Damage to the building, operat-
ed by D. j. Krute and owned by
Neil Finch of Los Angeles, was
estimated at 100000. Part of the
structure, newly built and fire
PROCEED, escaped the flames.
When firemen arrived smoke
poured from windows and flames
cracked, adding to the terror Of
about dozen screaming persons
trapped on Lodges.
One man, L. E. Jenkins, Mime
apolis, who fed the building
through a street exit, was injur-
ed when another guest jumped or
fell on him from an upper floor.
He left the Tracy hospital after
treatment for chest and body
injuries.
Others injured were:
Mrs. A. T. Britton, Sandusky,
Ohio, jumped or fell from third
story, back, leg and other injur-
les, serious. s.--ass..sz--ss-s--z--s
Willie Sasner, Minneapolis,
leaped from third story, leg and
back injuries, serious.
Nj. B. Rosen, Minneapolis,
jumped from second story, leg
and head injuries, serious.
| H. H. Robinson, Minneapolis,
burns on back, not serious. He
was employed by Commercial
Service company, incorporated of
st. Paul.
Arthur Hirschel, Eagle Bend,
burns on body and smoke, not
serious.
Adolph Gazette ST., Tracy,
smoke, not serious.
Sam Hoffman, Minneapolis,
smoke, not serious.
Halton Hanson, Gamble agency
supervisor for this district and a
former resident of Redwood Falls,
was the first person out of the
building, escaping in only his pa
jamas.
! At Tracy he bought and bor-
| rowed an odd assortment of cloth
ing and drove to Redwood Falls
wearing a long pair of underwear
drawers new pants, socks, over
shoes and borrowed overcoat
He had no shoes, shirt or hat.
| When he got here he had a new
spring suit to step into-one
which he had ordered from the
Pantorium and had not picked up.
Harold Berger, Pantorium operat-
or, who was often a companion of
Hanson's when he lived here, also
found hat which the Gamble
man had left at the cleaning
establishment about two years
ago.
Hanson did not realize it until
he was awakened by shouts, but
his third-floor window opened
onto a fire escape, down which he
walked to safety before firemen
arrived. His clothing and business
papers, his typewriter and glass
es were lest IN the fire and he
escaped with only his sleeping
clothes, wristwatch and ring
which he was wearing.
| He told story of one of the
most amazing escapes of the fire
when he arrived here Tuesday
morning. A go year old man, al
so lodged on the third floor, dress
ed ana packed his belongings af-
ter he was aroused, Hanson said,
then tied two sheets together and
slid to the second floor where he
entered a window. Still carrying
his suitcase, he tied two sheets to-
gether in the second floor room
ind slid on down to safety.
| Hanscn's car keys were in his
room, so he was forced to smash
the window of the machine, park
ed near the hotel, and move il
Udt or firemen's way. A Tracy
store was opened and some of the
fire victims, including Hanson
purchased a few articles of cloth
ing there.
Hanson lived in Redwood Falls
for about two years, rooming al
the Clarence Hillger home. He
left here last fall.