Midnight Fire Claims Lives of Two Children

The fire which early yesterday morning destroyed the Elliott block, on Lake, near McClaire street, and three adjoining dwellings, was peculiarly disastrous, for it cost two lives and deprived three families of their homes and almost everything they possessed. About 2 o'clock the occupants were aroused by the crackling of flames and made a rush to escape. Milton Tanner was no sooner awakened than he hastened to carry out his sleeping children. He got two of them out safely, but while crossing the hall to the room where Karle and Vernon were sleeping, the flames were upon him, and he had to fly to save his own life, leaving the boys to die. Mrs. Tanner was slightly burned. The Elliott block was divided into cheap lodging-rooms. Mrs. Elliott, whose son Ralph saved her, suspects that local boys playing in the hollow over which the house was built may have started the blaze. Tanner, a laborer for the water department, lost everything, including new suits he had just bought for the boys for Sunday-school. The community has begun a subscription fund to aid the Tanner and Goodale families.