The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-19
ROASTED TO DEATH.
Seven Brave Firemen Killed in
Baltimore, Md.
Property Worth a Million and a
- Half DESTROYED.

Is pace, Baltlmore, Mo-, "eio ueS''oJ eN
- fire, and while trying to extinguish
the flames seven fremen lost their
lives and two were seriously injured.
The fire was discovered at about half past
four in the toy warehouse o. E. A. Prior &
Co. by a policeman on the beat. Chief Hem
neck, soon after his arrival, saw that 1t was
going to be stubborn fire, and directed
general alarm to be turned in, bringing to
the scene the entire department. BY the time
the firemen got to work the entire building
was in flames, the toys with which the ware
house was stocked burning like tinder wood.
Finding it impossible to save this structure
the chief had his men direct their enorts
toward saving the adjoining buildings
The wind was blowing perfect gale at
the time, and soon swept the fianes into tne
hardware store Of Tabb Brothers O. Dlm.
mock, a large warehouse adjoining thaG o,
Prior & Co. The flames then attacteo tea
Winkelman & Co.'S drug house, ana tne
three big buildings blazed together. throw
ing out light that could be seen from every
pIsu suddeniy ID I and without warning an explo-
sion in the Prior Building shook to the very
foundations every house in the block. The
firm carry, in addition to the stock OF toys
and china ware, an assortment Oh nre-
works. which were stored in the basement.
When the fire reached the explosives or
which there were some 900 cases,
the result can be imagined. The walls,
already skaky, were lifted from their founda-
tions and fell with a crash. fortunately,
none Of the fremen had ventured into this
building, and this explosion did not cause
loss of life.
The flames, now released from all restraint,
shot in every direction, ana soon tne enIre
block was blazing.
A hole had been cut through the wall to
enable the men to play on Tabb's storehouse,
and thew did good work. Encouraged by
their success number Of other tremen
climbed higher. They were strung along
the stairs and were easing the hose upwaro.
Then began a series Of explosions wnlcn
Rounded to the fremen like canuonading.
The firemen could not imagine what it was
AN thi, happened after the Prior House had
fallen. and still the firemen stuck to their
posts. The cannonading kept up, and Cap
tain John j. Leddon, who was standing with.
out. giving orders, noticed that the walls OF
the Winkelman building were slowly parting
BE saw the danger and called to the men TO
como out. He repeated the cry, and those
standing at the foot of the steps rushed out.
Those above, however, did not get the warn
ing In time, but when they realized the
danger they started out on run. Before
they could get to the door there was
tremendous explosion, more deafenlng tn than
crash. The walls had fallen in and bore
each floor down under its weight. As
it fell one of the firemen, John
Murphy, was standing at the door. He was
shot out into the street, and escaped
without injury, but the same wall which
saved Murphy caused the death OF three OF
his companions who were Immediately BE-
hind him. It closed each of the three doors
that led to the street, and as they swung to
they shut in the others. Had they been three
seconds quicker they would have been
saved. The beams and timbers fell
upon them and crushed the life out OF two,
while the third was terribly hurt McAfee,
Lecombe, Ryan and Kearns were caught fur
ther hack and borne down: w Waen : ne, tne waas aus
coming down from the third story. Kelly
was Immediately behind him, burnt, bleed
ing, and terribly hurt. Brannan hauled the
injured man through window and sue
ceeded In pulling him to a place of safety. :,
As soon as the walls fell the firemen ceased
playing on the building, and directed their
attention to their buried comrades All day
long the firemen worked to recover the bodies,
and succeeded in getting out all except two,
those Of Ryan and Leconb. The fntease
.;;,sat severa! times drove the firsmen from
the building where the bodies were
living under tons of brick and iron, but they
persisted in the search. and soon after noon
the first body, that of Wagner, was broughe
tolight Near the spot was the body OF henry
walker, standing erect, as though packed in.
Near him was found what was left Of George
Bowers. but no other bodies were found until
nearly o'clock, when that of George Kearns
was uncovered The bodies were terribly
disfgured. the flesh being burned off in many
places. The saddest death is that of Harry
Walker Though young man, he was one OF
the bravest and most daring on the force;
Five years ago a medal was awarded
him for saving the lives of three children
from a burning dwelling He was drum
major Of the American Band and Drum
Corps, composed Of the boys, and when they
heard of their leaders death they focked to
the ruins and cried bitterly.
The row of buildings was one Of the finest
in the city. none of the warehouses being less
than five stories high. nearly all OF them
being newly erected. Among the buildings
partially burned was the Maternite, on
Lombard street. Its inmates were removed
with difficulty. The total loss will probably
r.