Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-05-03


Dsrxetips Co4fagration- -Tkirt-flree FIrsmsn
and OthsTs killed and sOoWnded.
About eight O'Clock on the evening Of the 25th
inst, FIRE broke out in the clothing and furnish
ing store Of w. T. JENNINGS & Co., No. 2sI
Broadway, few doors above the Astor House
The flames spread rapidly despite the exertons
of the fremen. II was while the gallant men
were straining every nerve to prevent FIRE from
catching upon the adjoining buildings, that an ac-
cident occurred more destructive to life and limb
than any similar one since ls45.
Says the Times:
In obedience to an order to "light up the hose"
of Engine Company No. 81, number of iremen
entered the cellar of building No. 22I, and while
there, parlition-wall gave way, carrying with it
portion OF the irst.story flooring, on which was
a heavy safe, and burying several men beneath
the ruins. A wild cry Of horror arose from those
outside, as they saw the dreadful fate of their
comrades, and instantly every effort was made to
to rescue them from the ruins. The scene now
became most narrowing and exciting.
The Firemen were distracted between efforts
to rescue their comrades and subdue the flames;
while to The crowd beyond, the calamity appear
ed even greater from the confusion and uncertain
ty which surrounded it.
At length the fire was subdued, and undivided
exertiC ms were given to removing the ruins.
BY O'Clock, total of ten or a dozen persons
were taken from the cellar, four of whom were
Dead and several so badly injured as to be remov-
ed to the Hospital. In rushing in to save their
comrades, several others were injured. From the
return given below we take the following figures:
Dead 4; missing 2; fatally injured 2; badly in
lured IA; slightly injured II. Total 33.
AT the earliest moment practicable our repor-
ter FASTENED to the City Hospital, whittier the |
wounded men were conveyed, by detachments of
police and fremen. Making his way through
The dense throng that crowded around its gates,
eager to hear tidings of missing friends and ac-
quaintances, by the courtesy of the attendant sur
geons, he procured list Of the killed and woun-
ded.
The Times gives list Of the dead and woun-
led, and adds:
1t will be seen from the above list that seve-
al OF the fremen reported injured were hurt in
sndeavoring to rescue their comrades from an
lwful fate. Undeterred by the dangers which
'till surrounded every approach to the ruined
building, and unterrifed by the awful catastrophe
hey had just witnessed, these brave fellows DASH
I'd in under the tottering walls and the blazing
and seeIhing heaps Of timbers and masonry which
covered their companions, with noble selt-de-
Votion that entities them to worthier fume than
could be earned by daring deeds for the destruc-
ION and not the preservation of human life.
Among the incidents of this memorable disas-
er we may mention that Alderman Howard, As
Instant Engineer. was on the upper floor of the
'urnlng building, when the partition wall fell with
uch terrible effect. lie succeeded in springing
rom the second story window, apparently with !
'ut receiving any sjury. t
Zophar Mills, exAssistant engineer, had
'arrow escape. He also, wos compelled to leap
rom second story to the ground, but was not in
lred. t
One engine and large number of firemen
rom Brooklyn were present, and assisted in sub
uing the flames. {