Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-02-09

two men are said to have been seen q
window on Nassau street, and the
disappear in the flames.
LOSS, ONE MILLION.
1t Is almost impossible to estimate tn
losses at this writing, but it is believe,
they will exceed 81, 100000.
The following statement regarding
THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE
IS made by one Of the occupants of tn,
building:
was passing down the rear, or th,
Nassau street stairs, of No. 81 rarl
Row, and when near the foot of tn,
stairs, the fame burst through the nev
| elevator shaft, from the basement
Nothing had occurred, indicating al
explosion. Up tc that moment, The
flames rushed up the elevator shat
ana almost as quickly up the stairway
IN terrible torrent of fire, with dense
black smoke which almost Instantly
cut off all possibility of escape. Passing
back, calling an alarm, came out or
Park Row. The engine room adjoins
the bottom of the elevator, shaft, and
the fire must have begun there and
gained its impetus before any alarm
was given. I fear the rapidity with
which the flames and smoke flled,the
narrow stairway cut off the escape fo1
any occupants of upper stories"
FOUR BODIES RECOVERED.
New YORK, Jan. 31.-It is stated that
four bodies were recovered on Nassau
street, of persons killed by jumping
from the windows.
1t is feared the loss oflife will be
heavier than at first believed. The
building was crowded with employees
and very few could have escaped by the
stairway.
An old gray-haired woman was seen
in the fourth story of the World build
ing, appealing for help. Her lips were
seen to move, bu. her voice could not
be heard. All who saw her were hor-
ror-stricken.
The flames ragged about her person,
igniting her hair and clothing; she fell
back into the flames and was no doubt
burned to death.
A young girl, wearing a blue dress,
who was cut off from the stairs, ran to
a fourth story window, on the Park
Row side, and stood there hesitatingly
while the
FLAMES AND SMOKE ENCIRCLED HER.
"Jump!"" Jump" shouted the spec
tators. Casting a frightened look be-
low, she threw herself out and fell on
the stone pavement. When picked up
life was extinct, her head being crushed
beyond recognition.
A few moments later negro woman
appeared at the third story window OF
the World Office, on the Park Row side,
and also jumped to the sidewalk. She
was badly injured and was taken i'm
mediately to the Chambers street hos
pital.
Several men and women saved them
selves by 1eaplng from the windows IN
Nassau street. When the woman
jumped from the window, there were
two men
HANGING FROM THE WINDOW sILLS,
by their finger ends. The ladders were
too short to reach them and they were
saved by the firemen mounting one on
another's shoulders and the men letting
themselves down with their aid.
The scenes at the time when the oc
cupants of the upper floors were max
ing their escape were often
EXCITING AND TOUCHING.
Men could be seen holding the hands
of women, evidently encouraging them
to calmness.
Three women ran on the roof and
fell through the sky-lght of one of the
northern buildings, receiving serious
nj uries.
A bootblack on the corner of Beck
man street and Park Row, seeing some
men entangled in the telegraph wires
adjoining the burning premises, climbed
the pole and cut the wires, releasing
them from critical position.
Several people descended from the
burning building on the Nassau street
side by reaching the telegraph poles.
One boy leaped from the fifth story
and would doubtless have been killed
but for the wires breaking his fall. He
was hurt, but not dangerously.
An express wagon with heavy can
vass covering, drew up under the win
dows, and several men who were about
to leap to the ground were told by the
driver to jump On the wagon, which
they did, and escaped any serious in
jury.
LEAP FOR LIFE.
One young woman stood upon the
sill of a fourth story window until the
fremen arranged large piece of can
vas which they held at the ends and
sides. When all was ready, size threw
her hands straight over her head and
jumped. She fell on the canvas and
escape injury.