The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-11-05
Under the Fallen Walls.
THE INSURANCE PATROL MEN CAUGHT
WHEN THE CRASH CAME,


ton causing the loss of nearly $780,
900 aud probably several lives occur
ed in the Knight e Leonard six.story
building, 109 and Ill East Madison
street, between and o'clock this
morning. The inmates of the dozens
of gambling houses in the vicinity
were unaware of the fire at the outset
and it made such rapid headway
that none had stirred from the
tables until the lives of most of
them we're impcriled. Then wild
stampede ensued. The proprietors
hurried their gold and greenbacks in
to satchels, others shoveled ivory chips
into bags, few rushed down stairs
loaded with roulette wheels, faro tables
and gambling paraphernalia of all de-
scriptious. But these were the except
ions. The majority--dealers, lookouts
and players-rose together and came
tearing out of the building, many hat
less and coatless and all frightened.
After an hours work by the fremen
the flames were under comparative con-
troll.
AT this time six men of the 1nsur-
ance Patrol were ir the building, sling
ing tarpaulins over the stock of the
Goodyear Rubber Company. Suddenly
there was a terrible crash, followed by
dense wave of smoke and sparks,
which puffed out into the street. The
roof and top floor had fallen through
to the basement, burying the men OF
the Insurance Patrol in the ruins A
moment after the crash detachment
of iremen and insurance patrolmen,
led by Chief Sweenie, rushed to the
rescue. The cries of the imprisoned
men could be heard above all the din.
Hardly were the rescuers at work,
chopping and tearing away the fallen
beams and splintered flooring, when
there was another crash and a heavy
piece of machinery fell from the third
floor. 1t was so far back in the build
ing that no one was hurt and the
rescuers continued manfully without a
stop. George Furneld vas the first
man out. He came up through a hole
which had been made in the sidewalk
lights over the basement. He was
only slightly injured. William Darby
also managed TO crawl out of the ruins
with only slight injuries. The rescu
ing party found Captain Hume pinned
down under fallen beam and wedged
in between two boxes of goods. He
was carried out-both legs crushed and
the left foot turned completely around.
P. Mullins was dragged from under
the heavy beams. He was cut about
the head and his body fearfully bruis.
ed.
A NARROW ESCAPE.
Gus Bourgemenke was being held
do IN by heavy piece of printing
machinery, so that all efforts to release
him seemed useless. He clutched con-
vulsively at the iron bars and wheels,
begging his comrades to kill him, as
they could not get him out. The
sewer of the basement had become
choked up, and the immense amount
of water thrown into the building was
rapidly rising under Bourgemenke's
body, while the flames were gradually
eating their way toward him. Chief
Sweenie ordered an engine detached
from fireplug and set to work pump
ing the basement of the floods from
the other engines, whose efforts were
redoubled against the fire, The water
had just reached Bourgemenke's chin,
when they began to go down and the
flames commenced to recede. With
the aid of jackscrews the machinery
was at last raised, and Bourgemenke,
who for nearly three quarters of an
hour had given himself up for lost,
was carried to the hospital. One OF
his legs is broken and an arm is shatter.
ed, but it is thought he will live.
FATALLY WOUNDED BY FOLLY.
The body of G. Papineau was found
in the ruins late this evening, and in
getting it out another fireman was
fatally injured and two seriously
wounded. The fire and the fall of the
roof had damaged many telephone and
telegraph wires Gangs of linemer
were sent to the roofs adjoining tc
straighten the tangled mass. They
were requested to wait until the fire
men found Papineau's body, but die
not comply. While pulling heavy
cable over wall piece of jagged
iron cornice was dislodged. 1t fell t.
the basement and struck Fireman
Michael McGovern in the small of tn
back, ard while his companions pick
ed him up policemen hurried to thu
roof and intercepted the linemen, Will
helping to carry out the wounded MAI
William Cornell, of the Insurance Pa
troll, fell through hole in the broker
sidewalk AMI was so seriously injure'
, that he had to be taken to the hospital
, McGovern was horribly mangled BY
the cornice and is dying. Eighteen o
, the liuemen were put under arrest, bu
| afterward released, telegraph official
becoming their surety.