Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 March 1899 — WOMEN PERISH IN A FIRE. [ARTICLE]

WOMEN PERISH IN A FIRE.

Blaze in an Omaha Business Block Deals Death and Injuries. As a result of what was at first said to be an explosion of a gasoline stove nearly two score women were imprisoned in the. third story of the Patterson block at Omaha. Thirteen of the women leaped to the stone pavement below. One was killed instantly and all the others more or less seriously injured, and a number are expected to die. The plight of the victims was witnessed by thousands of people, who were unable to render aid. "The women were forced to jump or be burned to death. The victims are all members of the women's branch of the Royal Neighbors and of the Maccabees, and at the time the fire broke out were in session in Labor Temple, which occupies the top story of the building. The explosion occurred in a closet under the stairway leading to the room occupied by the women, and from the first their escape from that direction was cut off. A fire escape was available on the opposite side of the building, but the only woman who had presence of mind sufficient to reach that point was Mrs. Brosius, and she fainted from excitement the moment she reached the ladder and dropped the full distance. The victims are all more or less prominent, most of them being members of the Knights of the Maccabees, as welt as the other orders: They were in the lodge room at their secret work when cries from the street attracted theiy attention.