KinSource - Tale of the Week - Warned By Smoke, Woman Saves Self And Two Children

KinSource

Minnesota Tales

The Minneapolis Journal, March 2, 1913, p. 8

WARNED BY SMOKE, WOMAN SAVES SELF AND TWO CHILDREN.

Leading One Baby and With Another on Her Arm She Gropes Way From Building.

Once Fashionable Home Badly Burned - Silverware Stolen While Fire Rages.

Carrying in one arm her 4-months-old daughter, Irene, and leading her 2-year-old daughter, Crillus, Mrs. David Scribner groped her way through the smoke-filled halls of a building at 1815 Hawthorne avenue yesterday and excaped just a moment before the flames reached her apartment. Her only alarm was the smoke that filled the house, and had she not heeded that she and the children might have perished.

The house was once one of the fashionable homes of Minneapolis and was the scene of many social events of the early days. It was built by Colonel H. A. Benton, former city attorney, in 1874. In 1883 it was moved from its original location at First avenue N and Fourth street to its present site. After Colonel Benton's death in 1896, Mrs. Benton left the city and the house was rented.

Sick Woman Saved.

While Mrs. Scribner groped her way downstairs,

Firemen carried out Mrs. Charles Cotts, who was ill in bed;

Rescued a blooded Scotch terrier dog owned by C. J. Dougherty.

Searched the house to make sure that no one was left behind.

Thieves entered and stole silverware belonging to Mr. Dougherty, valued at $50. The police are looking for boys who were seen in the building.

William Marden of Engine Company No. 1, and William O'Dea of the auxiliary squad, were burned [on] the hands, painfully but not seriously , while fighting the fire.

Warned By Attic Smoke.

Mrs. Scribner was hanging up clothes in the attic when she was almost blinded by smoke that rushed upstairs. She rushed down to the first floor, where she got the children and found the smoke more dense there. She escaped by a rear stairway without help.

After Mrs. Cotts, Mrs. Scribner and other tenants were out of the building and cared for, firemen dragged in the chemical lines and fought the fire in the partitions. The fire had started from a defective furnace and had spread to the top of the building. David Leclair of Engine Company No. 10 found Mr. Dougherty's dog whining in the rooms on the second floor and, covering him with his coat, carried him to the street.

The silverware stolen from Mr. Dougherty was that used on the table daily and was within easy reach. The families that were driven out went to the homes of friends and for a short time no one was on guard at the house.

The loss is estimated at $1,000. Mr. Dougherty lost clothing valued at $100; Mr. and Mrs. Scribner lost clothing and household articles worth about $100, and Mrs. M. C. Scholl, proprietor of the boarding house, lost clothing and furniture worth $75. The remainder of the damage was to the house.

	Firemen carried out Mrs. Charles Cotts, who was ill in bed;
	Rescued a blooded Scotch terrier dog owned by C. J. Dougherty.
	Searched the house to make sure that no one was left behind.
	Thieves entered and stole silverware belonging to Mr. Dougherty, valued at $50. The police are looking for boys who were seen in the building.
	William Marden of Engine Company No. 1, and William O'Dea of the auxiliary squad, were burned [on] the hands, painfully but not seriously , while fighting the fire.