1968 – March 26, Jackson Hotel fire (inebriated woman with lit cigarette), Omaha, NE– 5

–5  AP. “Arson suspicioned, two held…five die in hotel inferno.” Beatrice Daily Sun, NE, 3-27-1968, 1.

–5  Jones, Jon C. “A Brief Look at the Hotel Fire Record.” NFPA Fire Journal, May 1981, p. 40

–5  UPI. “Woman faces 5 counts in Omaha hotel blaze.” Columbus Daily Telegram, NE, 3-28-1968, p.1.

Narrative Information

March 27: “Omaha (AP) – Fife persons died in a fire at the Jackson Hotel in downtown Omaha late Tuesday, the city’s worst fire tragedy in eight years. Two persons police said were seen in the area where the fire started, have been booked on suspicion of arson and were being questioned Wednesday.

“The three-story brick hotel building at Sixteenth and Jackson Streets was across the street from the city’s fire headquarters. The first alarm at 5:14 p.m. was turned in by firemen who saw smoke pouring from the windows as they sat on the veranda of the fire headquarters. The second alarm was sounded three minutes later. ‘The place was an inferno when we got there,’ said Assistant Fire Chief Vernon Van-Scoy, who answered the first alarm. But there were no problems with the residents. No one started jumping. They all were lined up at the windows and we just picked them off.’

“Chief Fire Investigator Joseph Pluta said the fire started in a mattress in a room on the second floor on the east side of the building where the body of one of the victims was found. However, Pluta said he had not determined how the fire began. ‘Those killed seemed to be in the path of the fire, which vented itself through the skylight in the roof,’ said Fire Chief Martin J. Dineen.

“Acting Douglass County Coroner George Sullivan identified three of the victims as Mrs. Murietta Viescas, 55 [Marrietta Viescas[1]]; Edward L. Jansa, 51, and James G. Killion, about 65. Police tentatively identified the others as Jack Murray, 58, and Pearl W. Towne, no age available.

“Four other persons were taken to a hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation. None were held.

“The hotel occupied the upper two floors of the building. Two street level business, National Jewelry Co., Inc., and the Diamond Bar, sustained only smoke damage.

“Irvin C. Levin, an attorney whose office managed the property for the owners, I. M. Tretiak of Omaha, said the hotel had about 57 rooms. He said he would be unable to estimate the damage until contractors view it but he placed the value of the block, which includes the hotel, bar and jewelry store, at about $300,000.

“The greatest loss of life in an Omaha fire occurred in 1960 when nine persons died in the St. James Hotel blaze, later proven to be arson.” (AP. “Arson suspicioned, two held after five die in hotel inferno.” Beatrice Daily Sun, NE, 3-27-1968, p.1.)

March 28: “Omaha (UPI) – Five counts of involuntary manslaughter have been filed against Beverly Anne Miller, 25, in connection with the tragic Jackson Hotel fire Tuesday night which claimed five lives. The charges, filed by Deputy County Ally Thomas Rowen, allege Mrs. Miller killed ‘without malice and unintentionally, while in commission of an unlawful act.’ Mrs. Miller and her husband had been living at the hotel but had been evicted on Tuesday before the fire.” UPI. “Woman faces 5 counts in Omaha hotel blaze.” Columbus Daily Telegram, NE, 3-28-1968, p.1.)

March 29: “….Mrs. Miller told officials she had been drinking heavily, dropped a cigarette on the mattress and was unable to pick it up. She said she slipped, passed out and when she awoke found the room in flames….” (Lincoln Sunday Journal and Star, NE. “Downtown Hotel Burns in Omaha.” 3-31-1968, 4C.)

Sources

AP (Associated Press). “Arson suspicioned, two held after five die in hotel inferno.” Beatrice Daily Sun, NE, 3-27-1968, p.1. Accessed 4-9-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/beatrice-daily-sun-mar-27-1968-p-1/

Jones, Jon C. “A Brief Look at the Hotel Fire Record.” NFPA Fire Journal, May 1981, pp. 38-41.

Lincoln Sunday Journal and Star, NE. “Downtown Hotel Burns in Omaha.” 3-31-1968, 4C. Accessed 4-9-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lincoln-sunday-journal-and-star-mar-31-1968-p-27/

UPI (United Press International). “Woman faces 5 counts in Omaha hotel blaze.” Columbus Daily Telegram, NE, 3-28-1968, p.1. Accessed 4-9-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/columbus-daily-telegram-mar-28-1968-p-1/

[1] Name correction from daughter, Clairetta Anderson, in March 2, 2024 email.