Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1889-06-28

Last Saturday afternoon the employees of
Heyer Bros, dealers in pyrotechnics toys
druggists supplies and fancy goods % Sum-
mer and S5 and 81 Hawley streets, Boston
were startled by an outbreak of fire from
under q counter in the centre of the office
and salesroom on the second floor of the
building. They made every effort to quench
the flames, but their labor was useless, and
they were forced to retire. This floor was
stored almost entirely with fireworks Of va
rious kinds and the fire being well fed by
these combustibles, spread with amazing
rapidity. There were several CASES of Gre
clan fire where the fire originated, and near
by were boxes Of torpedoes, cases of Roman
candles, large packages Of fire-crackers,
rockets, parachutes, and much other infam-
mable and combuatible materials They
were easy prey to the hungry flames and
within a very few minutes from the incep-
tion Of the fire this entire floor was roar
ing furnace. The fire apparatus responded
quickly and, in trice were at work, but not
before the third floor (the three upper floors
are occupied by Heyer Bros.) was doomed
Just as the f1remen got to work there was
a flash on the second fl or, followed by an
explosion. The same thing repeated two
floors above and then two men came crash
ing through the windows on the Hawley
street side. One as he struck, gave a groan,
and lifting up his hands staggered on his
knees, but only for moment. Then he
sank back-dead.
At the front of the building man hung
a moment at the window sill of the upper
story. Through fright or weakness, his
grasp slipped and he fell straight down.
striking and passing through an awning on
his way to the sidewalk. He was picked
up alive and taken In an ambulance to the
city hospital Another employe out of
window in the uppermost story and edged
along the front of the building on the coping
about six inches wide, until he got to a win
dow in the next building. 1t was thrilling
sight.
By this time the smoke was rolling up in
huge clouds; packages of fireworks would
explode every moment with a loud report,
the dense smoke and explosions making the
work dangerous for the fremen. On Haw-
ley street the water tower received four
streams and emptied volumes of water upon
the flames, perfectly deluging the building.
It was operated for at least two hours, with
numerous other streams before there was
any apparent check to the fire. The dense,
DUnuluR Retarded WOTk DuU CDe IRE
men seemed unaware of any difficulty and
fought the devouring elements pluckily and
steadily.
When the fire broke out there were 90
men and five boys, employees of Heyer Bros,
In the building, who had to flee for their
lives. They were not all successful, how
ever, four of them having lost their
lives Thomas Callahan tried to escape from
the burning building by sliding down the
elevator rope to the ground floor,
and when within twenty feet of the
bottom his arms were burned by Jets
Of flame. Notwithstanding the frightful
pains he clung to the rope and started to
slide again, when the rope broke and he was
precipitated to the floor, receiving a frac-
ture Of the skull and other injuries. He died
In the police ambulance ON his way to the
city hospital. Thomas Paine one of the
employees, is still missing and his body is
supposed to be in the ruins.
Among the injured are William Breneu-
stuhl Of Waverley a clerk, who was fright
fully burned He is at the city hospital in a
critical condition
G. G. Gage, 81 years Old whose home Is in
Arlington, is at the Massachusetts general
hospital suffering from several frightful
burns. He will probably die.
E. j. Heyer states that his stock was in
sured for $40 900. His stock is total loss.
He was carrying big stock, especially of
fireworks, in anticipation of the fourth Of
July, the whole being valued at from
$4,000 to S75, 600. The value of the fire
works was $4,000. Mr.. Heyer only keeps
fireworks in stock for one month.