The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-07-20
DISASTROUS FIRE.
ONE OF THEM DEAD AND OTHERS DYING.
LOSS NEARLY 100000.

A destructive fire followed by terri
Bile disaster occurred between the hour
of two and three O'Clock this morning, il
the rear of 146, 14S and 100 West Fourtl
street. The fire was in building, be
tween Fourth and Fifth streets, adjoin
ing the numbers mentioned, and owned
by Mr.. Joseph T. Trounstine, of SO and
West Third street. The disaster whicl
followed was caused by the falling 0
the walls of the building, burying Chic
Megrue and ten fremen under tht
ruins, killing one OF the number out
right and fatally injuring others.
The origin OF the fire is mystery, ant
will probably always remain so. 1t was
first discovered by private watchmar
employed at No. 100 West Fourth street
and appeared to have originated in the
fourth story, which is occupied by
Messrs. Bloch & Co.. as printing office
ana contained large quantities OF print.
ers' ink and other inflammable matter
| When first noticed by him the flames
were bursting from the windows of the
fourth story, and had already gained
! very great headway. He Immediately
turned in an alarm from box 80 at the
corner of Fourth and Race streets. and
the firemen promptly responded. Owing
to the fact, however, that the building
| was SO completely surrounded by others
and the fire in the upper stories, it was
difficult TO obtain access TO it with the
hose. The lines were, however, run
through the surrounding buildings, and
the gallant fremen were soon throwing
several streams on the flames.
BY this time, however, the flames had
gained great headway and had commu-
nicated to the upper stories, which were
occupied by Messrs. w. w. Donaldson
d Co.. lithographers, and contained also
large quantities of inks and other infiam-
mable material. This added fuel to the
flames and large quantities of water
were required TO check the fire.
The flames shot up to a great height,
.scorching the nremen, who, however,
stood firm to their posts and fought them
at every point. A building adjoining on
the west Is occupied as a tenement
house. The fire occasioned great alarm
among the inmates, who were making
preparations to Immediately remove
their furniture, when they were assured
by the officers and fremen that they
were out Of danger, and they reluctantly
decided to remain.
The fire was at last put under control
by the heroic exertions of the firenen,
and gradually succumbed ITO the influ-
ence OF the streams of water forced in |
upon it from The number of lines of hose |
surrounding the building. The fire had
also communicated to the lower stories, |
in which were stored large quantities of |
printing paper, picture frames and |
holdings. and other valpables, owned by |
Messrs. Bloch II Co., and several print. !
ing presses used for book and job print I
ing, and also for printing The Israelite. |
These were all greatly damaged both by |
The flames and by the large quantities Of |
Tater which, from the nature of the ma
,erial in the building, it was necessary
% use.
FALLING WALLS.
At 8 O'clock the fire was under control,
Ind here and there only some intiamma-
Die material was left burning. This the |
iremen, who had been working heroical-
y for the past hour, were just preparing
o extinguish when greater calamity
occurred. The north wall of the build
ng, some seventy-fve feet in length, fell
With terrible crash, taking along with
the joists and interior structure of the
whole building, and burying the tremen
tati0ned on the different floors in its
Wns. So,
Excitement now ran myn, ana tue
arge crowd that had gathered on all I
ides ofthe burning building retreated
n alarm, but soon returned to the res
ue. Louis Wisby, of the Threes, imme-
lately sent in a second and third
larm, which summoned the whole de-
'artment to the scene OF the calamity. ,
The greater portion OF the wall had fallen
nto an alley, which runs from Race [
treet to the rear portion of the building, [
nd here the work OF clearing away the ]
ebris vas immediately 0oliliehced. II
The first man taken out was Henryt
Iambrock, substitute of the Fives,
( the Coroners Office. He was partly {
uricd beneath portion OF bricks and I
1ists. His injuries were found to be a | |
roken arm and several bruises about @
be chest. Coroner Alaley, who was ;
resent, administered prompt medical !
id, after which the injured man was
AIKEN to his home on Court street, near
'ine.
He is reported resting easy this MORN :
* but complains of severe pains in the !
owels. Joseph Chuck, Of the Fours,
nd James Mccormick, OF the same CON- O
any, were next found lying close to- =
ether beneath portion of the joists.
he former was slightly injured about
,e head and face, but the latter suffered
severe scalp wound and other internal I
,juries.
He was taken to the Marine Hospital, !,
nd this morning is reported as lying
cry low; with only faint hopes of re- :
overy.
John Pohlman, the Captain of the
ives, was also found lying close to the
bove persons and taken out alive, with 4
My slight injuries about the head and
,me internal injuries. While the fire. '
ZEN were working manfully to rescue Y
leir unfortunate brethren and clearing Z
way the debris TO save their valiant v
hief, Mr.. =. @. Megrue, who also had
cen reported missing, Lee Slocum, of
ompany No. l, was taken out alive, but n
ably bruised about the head and chest.
10 also suffered broken leg. He was {
onveyed to the Three's engine-house, b
here he is reported as resting comfort Y
bly, this morning. His parents, who re- Fl
de in Columbus, have been notified Of
is misfortune.
Slocum was, it will be remembered. 6
eriouly injured at fire only short G
me since, and had but just recovered 9
nd commenced work again.