Silver Lake, Oregon Fire

December 24, 1894

40 ARE DEAD!

Horrible Holocaust at a Holiday Fete in Oregon.

OVERTURNED LAMP

Sets Fire to the Hall and Escape is Cut Off.

OTHERS WILL DIE.

The Story of the Sad Disaster is Most Graphically Told.

ASHLAND, Ore., Dec. 29. – Advices were received here last evening from Klamath Falls, Ore., of a most horrible and fatal accident at Silver Lake, Lake county, Oregan, [sic], caused by the overturning of a lamp at a gathering on Christmas Eve, in which over forty lives were lost and sixteen persons badly injured, five of whom will probably die. The gathering had assembled in the hall above Christman Bros.’ store, and consisted of children who, with their parents and relatives, were having a grand time and enjoying what Santa Claus had brought them, little dreaming that many of them would never leave the building alive. Some one attempted to get where he could see and hear better by jumping upon a bench in the middle of the hall. In doing so his head struck a lamp hanging from the ceiling causing the oil to run out, which immediately caught fire. While trying to take the lamp down it was tipped so that the oil ran out on the floor. From that time on, the scene was terrible.

The lamp was finally taken down, but it fell to the floor. In the attempt to get it outside, it was kicked to the door, where it lay as it could not be touched on account of the intense heat. People were compelled to rush through the flames in order to reach the door and many perished in the attempt.

The killed are:
MRS. JOHN BUCK, FREDDIE AND BABY.
MRS. OWSLEY.
LILLIAN BRUCE
J. J. BUCK AND DAUGHTER
MRS. SNELLING.
MRS. HOWARD AND TWO CHILDREN.
WOOD HEARST AND WIFE
MRS. COSHOW.
FRANK WEST, WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN.
ED ROWEN.
MISS MCCAULEY.
T. J. LAMBRIES AND CHILD
MRS. WARD
MRS. U. F. ABASHER.
FRANKIE HORNING
MRS. PAYNE
MRS. NETTIE WILLIAMS AND CHILD
W. CLAY MARTIN AND WIFE
ROBERT SMALL
MRS. ELLA WARD AND CHILD
FRANK ROSS, MOTHER AND SISTER
ROY WARD’S CHILD
IRA HAMILTON
MRS. GUS SHROEDER AND CHILD

The five injured like to die are: Mrs. T. J. Labrie, Bob Snelling and sister, Ed Payne and son.

The building, a two-story structure, including the postoffice [sic] and the entire stock of goods of Christman Bros., were consumed. Further particulars could not be learned last night. Silver Lake is over a hundred miles from Klamath Falls and the stage brought the news to this place.

Fort Wayne News, Fort Wayne, IN 29 Dec 1894

Transcribed by Jenni Lanham.  Thank you, Jenni!

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