Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-09-03
DEATH TRAP.
A Horrible Holocaust at
Baltimore.
FIRE CAUSES ANEXPL0SI0N
In a Great Drug Building, and
Six Men are Roasted
ALIVE In THE BURNING DEBRIS.
Their Cries Plainly Heard as They Roast in
Their frey Tomb Origin Of the
COnAsgratiOn-A Loss Of Million
and a Half Dollars.

BALTIMORE, Md, September AT
4;23 o'clock this morning fire broke out in
the toy ware house of Prior, Hugenberg &
Co, 107 South Sharp street. Before the
fireman could get to work, an explosion of
fire works wrecked the building, and
caused the flames TO spread with alarming
rspidity to the drug house OF J. II. Wink
leman 4 Co, on the north. and the hat
house of NJ. s. Levy Il Co., on the south.
Scarcely had the fireman entered the
edifcs occupied by the drug house when
the inside OF the building seemed to sud-
denly drop in, terrific explosion follow
ed, and the immense building collapsed.
The entire fire department had by this
time reached the scene, and as the atten-
ton of the men was concentrated on the
bulldog uuder which their comrades
were buried, the flames hsd chance to
spread, and spread they did with fright
full rspidity. In an incredibly short space
of time the entire block, running from
Lumbard to Pratt street, was seethlng
mass of flame. At the drug house the fire.
meu worked bravely. Holes were cut
through the pavement and every etfort was
made to reach the imprisoned men but
they were buried under q great mass OF
prick and iron, and fierce flames were roar
ing about the spos. Awisl groans came
from the pile which seemed to make the
mt forth annar hnman
forts, 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.
John Kelly, of Truck No. 2, managed to
crawl ont from the rubbish, and OF the
men who entered the building he was the
only one to escape with his life. He WAS
cut and bruised, but his injuries are not
serious The names of the men known to
have been buried in the ruins are: George
Bowers, Thomas Watner, John A. Combs,
aud Perry Ryan, of No Hook and Lad
der company, and Harry Walker, George
Kerins, and Hiram McAfee, of No. Z Eu-
zine Company. 1t is certain that these
men lost their lives, and it may be that
Others we're with them when the crash
came.
The firms that were completely burned
out are: Wylis, Brusler Il Co, Wholesale
shoe dealers; J. II. Winkleman q Co.,
drugs; Tabb Bros 4 DOminick, hardware;
Prior & Co., toys; NJ. s Levy & Sons,
hats; II. s. King & Sons, hardware;
Dobler, Nudge & Co., paper, aud Hirsh'
berg, Hollander K 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
Maternity Hospital, on Lombard street,
and its inmates were removed only with
great difficulty. The total loss will prob.
ably reach 81, 500, 900, and it is pretty we'll
covered by insurance, most of which is in
small policies in out of town companies.
The intense heat several times drove the
firemen from the building where the bodies
of their unfortunate comrades were lying
under tons OF brick and iron, but they
persisted in the search and shortly
after noon the first body,
that of Wagner, was brought to light.
Near the spot WAS the body OF Harry Wal
ker standing erect as if packed in. Near
him was found what was lett Of George
Bowers, but no other bodies were found
until nearly six O'Clock, when that OF
George Kerins was uncovered. The bodies
were terribly disfgured, the flesh being
burned off in many places. The search is
being pursued tonight by the aid OF cleo
tric lights. At midnight the fremen are
still hard at work searching for bodies. 1t
il known that at least three are still in the
ruins, bat they may not be recovered to-
night, as they are buried beneath tons OF
debris. The loss and insurance on the
properties that were totally destroyed as
far as can be sscertained, are as follows:
E, A. Prior Il Co., loss $500, 600, lnsur-
ance $4,000; J. H. Winklemsn 4 Co.,
loss S75. 600, insurance $63, 900; M. s.
Levy & Sons, loss $50, 900, insurance
$50 600; Doblsr, Nudge & Co, loss
$40, 600, insurance $40. 900, Hirshberg,
Hollsnder & Co. less $4,000, insurance
$40, 900, The other total losses on which
the insurance cannot be obtained, are as
follows: H. s. King 4 Sons, hardware,
$40 600, Wylie, Brutar & Co. dry goods,
$50, 900, Coffin. Altemus & Co. dry goods,
SO, 900. Tsbb Bros. 4 DimmocS, hard
ware, $45, 900, W. F. Il E. Dammon, I'M
porters Of cloth, $50, 900.
These are only the total losses, and as
the row of small stores and dwellings on
Pratt street between Sharp and Hanover.
on Lombard street, between Shsry and
Hanover, and on Hanover street between
I lombard and Pratt, were more or lees
damaged. Additional Losses aggregate
k7S OOO