Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-09-14
ROASTED TO DEATH.
Seven Brave Firemen Killed in
Baltimore, Md.
Property Worth a Million and a
Half DESTROYED.

hoA1 OOCe1Oy GU
Ten OF the largest business houses on Hop
kins place, Baltimore, Md, were destroyed
by fire, and while trying to extinguish
the flames seven firemen lost THEN
lives and two were seriously injured.
The fire was discovered at about half past
four in the toy warehouse of E a Prior &
Co. by policeman on the beat Chief Hen
neck, soon after his arrival, saw that it was
going to be a stubborn fire, and directed a
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 finder wood
Finding it impossible to save this structure
the chief had his men direct their efforts
toward saving the adjoining buildings.
The wind was blowing perfect gale at
the time and soon swept the flames into the
hardware store of Tabb Brothers & Dim
mock a large warehouse adjoining that of
Prior 81 Co. The flames then attacked
Winkelman & Co.'S drug house, and the
three big buildings blaZed together. throw
ing out light that could be seen from every
part of the city.
Suddenly 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 of fire
works, which were stored IN the basement.
When the fire reached the explosives OF
the result can be imagined. The walls,
already skaky, were lifted from their founda-
tons and fell with crash. Fortunately,
none of the firemen 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, and soon the entire
block was blazing.
A hole had been cut through the wall to
enable the men to play on Tabb's storehouse
and they did good work. Encouraged by
their success number of other fremen
climbed higher They were strung along
the stairs and were easing the hose upward.
Then began a series of explosions which
sounded to the tiremen like cannOnading
The firemen could not imagine what it
All 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 Starding with
out, giving orders, notI"ed that the walls Of
the Winkelman building were slowly parting
He saw the danger and called to the men to
come 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 a run. iSeforT
they could get to the door there was
tremendous explosion, more deafening than
any that had vet been heard, followed by
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
without injury but the same wall which
saved Murphy caused the death of three Of
his companions who were Immediately be-
hind him. 1t 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
Their back and borne down. When the walls
fell Captain Brannan of No. Truck was
coming down from the third story. Kelly
was Immediately behind him, burnt bleed
ing, and terribly hurt. Brannan hauled the
injured man through a window and sue
ceeded in pulling him to 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 Lecomb. The intense
heat several times drove the firemen from
the building where the bodies were
lying under tons of brick and iron, but they
persisted in the search. and soon after noon
the first body. that Of Wagner, was brought
to light 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 we're found until /
nearly o'clock, when that of George kearnS !
was uncovered. The bodies were terribly !
the flesh being burned off in many /
places. The sa1dest death is that of Harry /
Walker. Though young man, he was one OIL
jhe bravest and most daring on the force.
Five years ago a medal was awarded /
lim for saving the lives of three children |
rom 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 flocked to !
he ruins and cried bitterly.
The row of buildings was one of the finest (.
n the city, none Of the warehouses being less (
han five stories high. nearly all of them !
,eng newly erected. Among tho buildings |
PARTIALLY burned was the Maternite, on
lombard street It's inmates were rem )ved
With difficulty. The total loss will probably
each S1.500.000.