Huntsville gazette., 1888-09-08
BALTiMORE'S DISASTER.
a TerriDie Confiagration in Which Seven
f1remen Perish-Loss of eI,6OO,O 900 In
Property.

Terrible Confagration in Which Seven
F1remen Perish-Loss of n 400. 900 In
Property.
BALTIMORE, Md, Sept. 9.-Early yester-
day morning fire broke out in the toy
warehouse OF Z. A. Prior & Co., 107 South
sharp street. Before the f1remen 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. A. Winkleman &
Co., on the north and the hat house of M.
3. Levy q Co., on the south. Scarcely
had the 1remen entered the edifice occu-
pled Dy the drug house when the inside Of
the building seemed to suddenly drop in,
terrific explosion followed and the i'm
mense structure collapsed. The entire fire
department had by this time reached tho
scene, and as the attention of the men was
concentrated on the building under which
their com AIDES were buried, the flames had
chance 20 spread, and spread they did
with fr't atIal rapidity. In an incredibly
short time the entire block, running from
Lombard to Pratt street. was seething
mass of flames.
The firms of Tabb Bros. & Dominick and
Prior q Co. had large supplies of guns and
revolver cartridges in stock. About 5 80
a. m. they began to explode, and for a
quarter OF an hour kept up fusilade, the
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 eve.
Shortly before six O'Clock the members
of No. engine company and No. truck
entered Tabb Bros building to cut holes
through to 109. Those in the street saw
that the side wall of 100 was beginning to
sway and called to them to come out. All
Of them were fastening out when the
treacherous wall fell over and crashing
through the floors Of No. lot, buried the
unfortunate fremen 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
on the pile and the flames within were in a
short time subdued.
AT the drug house the 1remen worked
bravely. Holes were cut through the pave
ment and every effort was made to reach
the imprisoned men, but they were buried
under q 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 physi-
clans say he will recover. His brother he
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.
All 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
ms, Hiram McAfee.
The first four We're of No. 1 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 & Co., wholesale
shoe dealers; J. H. Winkleman & Co.,
drugs; Tabb Bros. & Dominick, hardware;
Prior & Co., toys; NJ. S. Levy & Sons.
hats; Dobler, Nudge & 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 81 ,5OO,-
900, and it is pretty well covered by insur-
ance, most of which is in small policies in
out -of-town companies.
The origin OF the fire will probably never
be known, as no fire was used in the
Prior establishment and it 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.