The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-02-21
SOME THRILLING INCIDENTS
Which Occurred I'm the Course of the
Burning of Church in Louis


The burning of colored church in Louis
vile Tuesday night was attended with some
startling incidents and narrow escapes,
which are related by the Courier-Journal as
follows:
The burning building contributed highly
dramatic scenes to add to the excitement
caused by the three rapid alarms The
tremen bravely went into the
church, with the lurid flames hanging over
them, and had not been in long ere the roof
suddenly gave way. Then followed ter
rife panorama. From tongue to tongue the
word was spread that several firemen were
inside, and were burning to death beneath
the ruins of the roof In the northeast cor
ner OF the church could be seen two figures
struggling with hose to battle' against
the flames and beat them back
They stood their ground bravely when the
roof fell in, and never budged an inch after
ward But where were the other men inside
was the question asked. Presently, on the
north side of the church, about the center,
the figure of fireman was noticed endeav-
oring to reach the window, having been
partly buried by the falling ceiling and
having been almost totally blinded by pieces
of plastering entering his eyes. He reached
the window, opened it, and sat in it for a
few moments to gather in a few whiffs of
fresh air, the flames being behind him. He
called for ladder, but none being in imme-
date reach, he leaped down to the ground,
distance of about fifteen feet 1t was Tom
Finley, the gallant fireman of No. Z. John
Gilreath, runner for the same engine, follow
ed behind and leaped from the window to
the ground.
In front another thrilling scene took
place. A man named r. j. Bence, a car
penter of Pendleton station, Henry county,
who had been asked to assist in getting in
the hose by some of the firemen, was inside
tho ahurob hon ba roof foil in ac v-aS o. leo
Gottlieb Bills, who runs with the No. COM
pany. These two were unable to get
out by the stairway. The flames were
almost upon them, and their only chance
of escape was through the transom ABOVE
them. The firemen had yet put no ladder
against the front wall, and were delayed by
the ladder getting caught in the telegraph
wires Women in the houses across the
street could see these two men who had been
holding the hose which had yet no water,
trying to get out with the flames rapidly
coming towards them. They began to
shrek and clap their hands excitedly. Bills
broke the glass of the transom in order to
get out. The wind coming in, brought the
flames nearer and Bence began to feel their
hot breath upon him. Rill climbed the
roof, with the flames licking his hands, and
hung by the tips of his fingers until several
ladders just then placed against the wall
gave him an opportunity to relieve his dan
ger. He climbed down only slightly hurt;
but Bence Jared worse. AS he climbed out of
the transom, the crowd below could see his
clothes on fire here and there and the flames
around his wrists. He was gotten down the
ladder and half dozen persons began to
tear off his burning apparel. He was
carried into the drug store at the corner of
Ninth and Walnut streets and physicians
called to attend him. 1t was found that the
calves of both legs were severely burned;
his wrists and hands also showed ugly spots
where the flames had done their work. In
addition he had several cuts on his hands
from the glass of the transom. While re-
ceiving the assistance of the physician, he
remarked, This is the first and last time
I'll ever be a fireman." Bills had only slight
burns on his hand and sustained, in addi-
ton two cuts on his right leg.