Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-09-06
BALTIMORE DISASTER.
Terrible Conhagration, in Which
Seven Firemen Perish and a
Block is Destroyed.
While at Work Subduins the Flames
an Explosion Occurs Buryipg the
Unfortunate Men.
Origin Of tia Fire Unknowa-The Loss
Estimated at S., 100000 With Fair
Insurance.

Insurance.
BALTIMORE, Nd, Sept. S.-Early yester-
day morning fire broke out in the toy
warehouse OF Z. A. Prior & CO., 1O7 South
Sharp street. Before the fremen could
get to work an explosion of fireworks
wrecked the building and caused the
flames TO spread with alarming rapidity
to the drug house of J. =. Winkleman s.
Co, on the north aud the hat house of N.
S. Levy S Co, on the south. Scarcely
had the iremen entered the eGihce Occu-
pied by the drag house when the inside OF
the building seened to suddenly drop in,
terrific explosion followed and the inn
mense structure collapsed. The entire fire
department had by this time reached the
scene, and as the attention Of the men was
concentrated on the building under which
their comrades wore buried, the flames had
chance to spread, and spread they did
with frightful rapdity. in an Incredibly
short time the entire block, running from
Lombard to Pratt street, was a seething
mass of flames.
The firms of Tabb Bros. & Dominick and
Prior & Co. had large supplies of guns and
a. IN. they began to explode, and for
quarter OF an hour kept up a fasilads, tho
bullets going through the windows on all
sides, but fortunately nobody was shot
with the exception of one man, who was
slightly wounded near the left eye.
Shortly before six O'Clock the members
of No. engine company and No. truck
entered Tabb Bros building to cut holes
-,
that the side wall of 109 was beginning to
sway and called TO them to come out All
of them were Fastening out when the
treacherous wall foil over and crashing
through the floors of No. 10I, buried the
unfortunate fire!nen under its great
weight Then all efforts were concentrated
upon the pile of ruins under which nine
human beings were writhing in torture.
Half a dozen strong streams were turned
Oh the pile and the flames within were in
short time subdued.
At the drug house-ths firemen worked
bravely. Holes We're cut through the pave
ment and every effort was made to reach
the imprisoned men, but they wsrs buried
under great mass of brick and iron and
fierce flames were roaring around the spot.
Awful groans came from the pile which
seemed to make the firemen put forth su-
perhuman efforts, and after more than an
hours work it became evident that some
of the men were alive, and that they were
being roasted TO death.
In few minutes John Kelly was rescued.
His left eye was burned out of its socket
and his head badly mashed, but the rhysi-
clans say he will recover. His brother Abe
was also dragged from the ruins. His
right arm was broken and his side badly
injured.
The others, however, were beyond hope,
and their dead bodies were taken out one
by one all mangled, torn and burned, the
last one being recovered late last night
Ali of the seven dead firemen leave fami-
lies to mourn their untimely end except
Harry Walker, who was single man.
The names of the dead are: George
Bowers, Thomas Wagner, John A. Combs,
Perry Ryan, Harry Walker, George Ker-
ins, Hiram McAfee.
The first four were of No. hook and
ladder company, and the others belonged
to No. engine company. 1t is certain
that these men have lost their lives, and it
may be that others were with them when
the crash came.
The firms that were completely burned
out are: Wylis, Bruster Sc Co., wholesale
shoe dealers; J. II. Winkleman & Co.,
drugs: Tabb Bros. & Dominick, hardware;
Prior & Co., toys; II. S. Levy & Sons,
hats; Dobler, Nudge s. Co., paper; Hol-
lander & Co., paints and glass.
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 having been recently erected. Among
the buildings partially burned was the
Maternite on Lombard street and its in
mates were removed only with great diff
Guilty.
The total loss will probably reach $780,
600, and it is pretty well covered by insur-
ance, most of which is in small policies in
out-of-town companies.
The block of five story warehouses, num-
bers 10T, 109, III, 113 and 115 Sharp street,
were recently erected by John King, pres
ident OF tho Erie Railroad Company, ct a
cost of $3.50, COO The other buildings were
owned by individuals whose names could
not be ascertansd, and they are believed
to represent a valuation of at least 500, 900.
They are said to be pretty well covered by
insurance.
The origin of the fire will probably never
be known, as no fire was used in tho
HrlOr establishment ana IL Is sup
posed that spontaneous combustion was
the cause, but it is known that system
of electric lighting was introduced in
the building recently was only tried
last night, and it may be that de-
fective insulation started the flames and
thu combustible nature of the contents OF
the building served as food for the de-
stroying elements. The fire was discov-
cred by an intoxicated man who stopped
to rest on the steps of the building oppo-
site. There was considerable delay in get
ting the alarm and when the engines ar
rived the building was in flames from cell
lar to roof. The fireworks in the upper
floors at once began to explode and with
tho rapidly spreading flames presented
the grandsst spectacle ever seen in this
city.
Complimentary to Sweden.
BERLIN, Sept. 2.-The last born son of
Emperor William was baptized yesterday.
He was named Oscar Karl Gustav Adolph.