Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-23
FEARFUL WORK BY FIRE.
FIVE LIVES SACRIFICED IN THE
CHICAGO BLAZE.

Several of the Survivors Given a Close
Call While Imprisoned in the Blazing
Debris-Valuable Mills Burned at
Petersburg-The Business Portion of
Homecoming, Nd, Devastated.
CHICAGO, March 22.-The two patrol
men who were buried under the falling
walls of the Langham Hotel, which was
burned last night, were rescued alive by
their comrades after four hours'hard work.
The men are badly injured, but will pro-
badly recover.
The total loss by last nights fire, includ-
ing the hotel and furniture and the guests
possessions and on the adjoining building
and its contents, is estimated at $3.50, 900.
The fire proved much more dreadful in
the loss of life and physical injuries en-
tailed than was supposed until late hour
last night. 1t is now known that at least
five person were killed and four injured.
Just before the south wall of the hotel
fell upon the FaXOn building a number of
persons besides those of the fire insurance
patrol were inside the latter building as
sisting to save goods, as no immediate
danger was apprehended. There is no
means OF knowing just how many of
these volunteer helpers were on the struc-
ture at the time, but excavations have
proceeded to an extent which justifies the
hope that all the dead have been found.
NAMES OF TIE UNFORTUNATEs.
AS far as known those at work in the
FaXOn building when it was crushed bv
the falling hotel walls were the following:
Capt. Edward Shepperd, Jas. Boyd,
Knute Thine, Patrick Mullins, John
Walsh and Frederick Jones, all of the
firni in L.
tuner, and John Hennessy, a clerk, both
employed in the building.
Mullins and Thine, being near the rear
windows, were carried out by the rush of
air as the wall fell, and were not danger
Ously hurt.
Capt. Shepperd and Boyd were pinned
down by fallen timbers and were rescued
alive about midnight. Both are seriously
hurt, but 1t is believed that they will re-
cover.
THE DEAD.
Walsh and Jones were taken out about
l O'Clock this morning, both crushed to
death.
Bean was alive when found, and was
taken to the County Hospital, where he
| died at o'clock this morning.
The body of Hennessy was recovered at
6 O'Clock tonight. Soon after the
wall fell the wreck took fire, and
the firemen turned several streams
on the blazing mass to save their
| comrades from being roasted to
death, though at imminent risk of drown
ing them. The water was ice cold and
drenched the imprisoned men, chilling
them to the marrow. Mrs. q. V. Belk-
nap, who was killed by jumping from an
upper window, was the widow of Col.
Belknap, who died some years ago at
New Orleans. She has many friends in
Cincinnati. Her remains are still at the
city mOrgue.
PETERSBURG MILLS BURNED.
PETERSBURG, VA, March %. - Fire
broke out here at 1870 O'Clock this morn
ing in the Sumac mill of w. N. Jones &
Co., which was entirely consumed with
its contents. The loss on the building
and stock will reach $4,000. The flames
communicated to the large flour mill of
the City Mills Company, adjoining, and it
was also destroyed. The flour mills of
the City Mills Company were purchased
some years ago at a cost of S35, 600, and
improvements costing $25, 900 more in re-
pairs and the introduction of new ma
chinery, ETC., were made. The insurance
is about $4,000.
VILLAGES WOE.
LONACONING, Md, March 22-Fire
destroyed almost the entire business por-
tiOn of this village this morning, entail
ing loss of about $4,000.
DESTRUCTION OF A SPOOL FACTORY.
MACPHERSON, KY, March 22.-The
SoAtpHrn Spool and Handle Factory, in
5. II. Lambert's building, was burned
yesterday. The loss is $4,000, but was
insured.