The Portland daily press., 1888-03-08

made the descent with another man in 'front.'
1t was reported that he was killed: Snak-
ing. and blackened with smoke, he founq MS
way to the telephone office to tell his wiie ne
was safe.
Joseph Witty, a compositor, was somewhat
burned. He said that when the alarm was
given in the composing room every one
looked around. He saw a faint line Oh
smoke in the direction OF the stairway.
Strangely, nobody hurried, although all I'M
mediately started for the stairs, expecting
no difficulty. They found
THE PASSAGE BLACK WITH SMOKE,
and then sought the elevator After ringing
repeatedly and getting no answer, they gave
ND hope. The smoke was now pouring into
the room in great volumes, and drove them
to the windows They made attempts to
break the skylight, at the. suggestion OF
Gouldng, the foreman, but failed, and We're
cut off from access to the door. Ihose on
the street cried to them to go to the roof,
and escape by the adjoining building. Inc
prisoners only shook their heads in despair
Witty went to the middle window on Main
street, and leaned out as close to the Sill as
possible to get air. Beside him were foIe-
man Goulding and Miss Thompson, the
proof reader. Miss Thompson asked Gould;
ing, "Do you think we will ever get out =,
He answered II do not know; I'm afraid
not" Miss Thompson had then lain on the
floor a few minutes, with her head close 10
Lle HOOf ana neI nauuktICulol ufCl noA
mouth, by Witty's advice. That was the
last Witty knew of either. Presently some
one, he supposed Goulding, led Miss Ihomp-
son away, no doubt to another window, wnere
she was afterward seen to burn: Gouldlng
stood near Witty for some time after. Wit
ty, himself. got upon the sill as the fire drew
nearer, and finally let himself down upon
the sign Of the Springfield Daily
Union beneath the window, cllnging TO the
sill, first with both hands, afterwar1 with
nf hare Oof Ouf the
sign from each window it covered. From
this several men jumped. The first man to
leave the sign was a young man at Witty's
side. He let himself down to the top OF the
fourth story window, where large ledge OF
brick projected. Here he clung some time.
until a blanket was brought and held be-
meath. He dropped, turning over twice,
and
FELL INTO THE BLANKET,
bursting it to rags. Witty turned sick to
see this, and still more when he saw o wom-
an who had tried to hold on, just outside the
sill of the corner window, waiting for the
delayed ladder, finally give way, and ] her
self down to arms length and drop, falling
upon the ladder, turning over and over, and
striking the ladder time and time. again.
Witty kheld on until the last, each horrible
fall only making him hold tighter, until at
last he was rescued by the ladder in an ex-
traordinary fashion. After rescuing those
in other windows, the ladder was pushed to
the one where he clung. 1t struck him and
broke his hold, but he flung out his right
hand, caught rung, and went down safely.
Afterwards he saw others rescued from the
window above. He then went to a house on
Worthington street. where his left hand by
which he had clung the longest and which
was burned to jelly, was treated.
Latest Particulars.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass, March THE
block destroyed belonged to ex-Mayor En-
erson Wight The Union Office had been re-
Gently moved into the block from the one IN
the rear. u
They occupied the entire fifth floor with
editorial and composing rooms. The count
ing room was on the first floor, and the press
rooms and mailing rooms in the basement.
The fourth floor was occupied by the II. ~. II.
third floor were the Diamond Safety Ra-
zor Company and Harry Applet0n's nickel
plate works. c. w. Atwood, printer, occu-
pied the second floor. Besides the counting
room on the first floor was Henry d.. BAKER,
harness maker. In the Unions former
quarters, directly in the rear on Worthing-
ton street, also owned by Wight, were the in
surance office of S. S. Warmer and the es-
tablishment of Merritt Bros, die sinkers and
engravers.
use of its facilities to the Union
which will appear as usual tomorrow,
makingits home with the Republican for the
present. The fire department committee Of
the city government were discussing only
last evening the advisability Of buying an
aerial ladder. All with one exception ex-
pressed themselves in favor Of the outlay.
The following is the corrected list Of the
killed and injured:
DEAD.
II. J. Goulding, aged SO, married, foreman Of
the composing room, burned to death.
Mrs. Hattie +. Fairly, 20, society editor, jumped
Miss Gertie Thompson, 1s. proof reader, burn
TO death.
q i, Brown 22 compostor.
w. K. HOYey of Boston, 25, compostor, fell
striking on his head, died at hospital
> L. Ansar: 50, compositor, lately came to the city
from Canada.
INJURED.
f. G. Ellsworth clerk in the counting room,
compound fracture of left leg, and right hand and
wrist burned; possibly fatal.
Thomas Donahue, compositor, fracture of left
thigh; face frightfully burned; probably fatal
III. Fl. Myrick, employed IN X. d. Smlths ruDDer
stamp works, fourth floor; jumped and struck on
barrel. badly injured.
The total loss, roughly estimated, is $4,000.
The Unions loss is $4,000; r. III. Smith q
Co., claims $4,000; G. w. Atwood, printers,
$4,000; Baker & Co., saddlery, several thou
sands. The loss on the building is $4,000.
The Union insurance is $20,150