The Portland daily press., 1889-06-22
THE FLASH AND ROAR OF BATTLE
Initiated by the Flames In Burning
Boston Building.
Exploding Fire Works Cut off Es-
cape From the Structure.
Three Persons Killed and Three
Likely to Die.

Boston, Mass, June 21.-In the four-sto-
ry brick building corner of Sumner and
Hawley streets occupied on the ground floor
by G. A. Browning, milliner, and on the
three upper floors by Heyer Brothers, deal
ers in fancy goods and fire works. at shortly
after o'clock salesman on the second
floor saw flash among some fire works be-
hind the counter. He ran for water but the
flames shot up with incredible rapidity, cut
off the escape of several men in the upper
stories. Within five minutes in the dense
smoke was heard the almost incessant dis
charge Of fire works.
Edward Heyer, one of the firm, ran to the
stairs shouting fire. He turned back to lock
the safe and found his way choked with
smoke. He groped his way to window and
managed to climb into an adjoining building
unhurt.
Charles Albert Gage, aged 20, employed in
the third story, hung from window until
he was obliged to release his hold. He then.
fell to the ground, striking two awnings in
his descent, and breaking his back. He was
taken to hospital aud will probably die.
Charles F. Callahan of East Boston, and
Thomas Paine, packers on the fourth floor,
jumped from window in, their fright.
Paine was killed and Callahan's injuries are
most likely fatal.
William Brenenskuhl, ON the second floor,
did good service in checking the flames. In
gcing for more water, he lost his way and
rolled down stairs. He was picked up badly
injured. AS he was also burned internally
by the smoke, it is feared that he cannot
live.
The body of Samuel Card the chief pack
er, was taken from the building to the
morgue. He was one of the oldest employees
Of the firm.
The body of a boy was taken to the
morgue, and has no. yet been identified. The
remains are charred and burned so badly
that Identification will be difficult.
This completes the casualties so far,as
known, but it is feared that more victims are
among the debris. The firm employed 20 or
20 men and boys, and carried stocks of
$4,000 worth of fireworks. and from $4,000
to 100000 worth of fancy goods. A large
portion of the stock is ruined, but the loss is
not total The goods were well insured.
During the fire the discharge of fireworks
sounded like a hard fought battle. For
nearly two hours was heard a rattle as of
small musketry, interspersed at frequent in
tervals with the heavier reports of larger
pieces. Sparks and occasional rockets would
shoot from the windows. The fire was con-
fined to the one building, and scarcely any
flames came from the windows until after
the hremen had the fire under control. The
interior of the building is completely riddled,
but the walls are left standing. The en-
ployes are largely foreigners, known to the
firm only by their first names. This may add
to the difficulty OF ascertaining whether any
other bodies were in the building No gun
powder was stored on the premises, and no
smoking was allowed. The cause of the fire
is mystery.
LATER.
BOSTON, Mass, June 21.-Later and more
careful investigation gives the dead as fol-
lows:
SAMUEL CARD, chief packer.
CHAs. J. CALLAHAN packer.
THOMAS PAINE, packer.
An unidentified man and an unidentified
boy.
Charles Albert Gage is fatally wounded
and John Anderson and Charles Palley, 10th
boys, are missing.