The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-12-16
HEARTRENDING ACCIDENT.
Twelve Men Burned % Death IN 81
RnurdinU uauSo

Twelve Men Burned TO DSa4M ~ 81
Boarding House.
Aterrible accident occurred on the line OF the
Lake Erie railroad, seven miles from Pittsburgh.
A laborers' boarding house was set on fire by
the explosion of lamp, and of forty persons
known to be sleeping only twenty-elght escaped
alive, and even they were more or less burned.
Not ons Of them succeeded III securing his
clothes, so rapid Was tbs progress Of thg
flames The others we're literally toasted
to death, without the possibility Of an
effort being made to rescue them. The
victims were railroad laborets and were work
ing at the place indicated. The building was
one-story frame structure, with an attic hrlSft
The lower part was used for dining room
and kitchen. Into this loft forty-three stall
wart men retired to sleep after flush
ing the days work. 1t was rachel
by a flight of stairs which started from
near the kitchen door. There were no
windows, but in lieu of them, there were two
small holes in the roof to admit light and air.
These were closed at night by sliding door, to
keep out the cold.
In the morning the keeper of the board
in ;-house, Hugh McCune, got up to build
q fire in the kitchen stove, carrying with him an
ordinary kerosenelamp, which he placed upon
table while he went for kind1ng-wood. It is
supposed that; during his absence, tho lamp
chimney burst and by SOME tfieans threw the
lamp upon the floor, allowing the oil to run ott.
The stairway vas corhp6sed of light, dry pine
The + flames Quickly spread to the loft,
where the unfortunate men were Stbp-
ing, all unconscious of the terribls fate
which awaited them. The floor of the Lift was
covered with straw-beds and bedding. Tie
flames made rapid progress, and soon reached
this mass of inhammable material Abontthi
time the sleepers were aroused by the cries of
the females employed about the place, and
they at once made rush for the stairs, but
they we're confronted by o wall of fire which
forced them back in dismay A rush
was then made for the open
ings in the roof by the half-crazed
men, and struggle for life took place. each
trying to crowd the other out of the wy, as
only one at time could be forced through he
apertures on account of their small size. Some
Of the poor fellows; seeing that all could not
escape in this way, caught at any shadow of
hope that offered, and tried to dash down tho
stairs and through the flames, only 10 met a
horrible death. The men had not time to clotbe
themselves, SO sudden was the alarm, and so
quickly did the fire make Roadway. Those who
made their escape, however, seemed SO bewil-
dered by the sudden outburst Of the ftmes,
and the cries of their companions, that they
rushed back into the burning building, at
tempting to save their little property. At
this moment the crash came. The frai
walls, weakened by the attacks OF tho
flames, crushed in upon the unfortuuatcs, and
their cries for help were drowned ia the roar
of the flames. The scene at this moment can
not be described. Shr.eks and groans went up
on every side from the poor unfortunates, who
had been burned and scorched in sickenng
manner. Strong men, with great patches
cJ;Yo nd Hauh Taalnd from thair bO]ioc I'M Tho
touch of the fire, rolled upon the ground in
their agony.