Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-06-28
DEATH IN FIREWORKS.


IN 4 BOSTON STORE.
THREE PERSONS KILLED AND
THREE SERIOUSLY INJURED-A
FRIGHTFUL FALL FROM A WIN
DOw-A FLASH FOLLOWED BY A
BIG BLAZE-A NARROW ESCAPE.
BOSTON, June 2l.-A disastrous
fire, accompanied 10y serious loss of
life, occurred early this evening IN
the fireworks establishment of
Heyer Brothers, corner of Summer
and Hawley streets. Three dead
bodies have been taken from the
ruins, and three others received IN
jurles which will propably result
fatally. 1t is feared that there may
be more victims among the debris.
The building, which is fonr.stOry
brick structure, IS occupied on the
ground floor by G e. Browning,
milllner, and on the three upper
floors by Heyer Brothers, dealers
in fancy goods and fireworks.
Shortly after five o'clock, while
a salesman was waiting on a Gus.
toner upon the second floor, he
saw flash from some fireworks
behind one Of the counters, un-
accompanied, by an explosion. He
ran for water, and at the same time
giving the alarm. The flames shot
with almost incredible rapidity,
cutting off the escape of several OF
the men in the upper stories, aud
within five minutes the dense
smoke and almost inccssant dis
charge of fireworks Of different
kinds made in the building per
feet pandemOnium for those con
fined within Its walls. Edward
lIeyer, one of the firm, ran to the
stairs shouting FIRE, then turned
back to lock the safe, but found the
way choked with smoke. He
CROPPED his way to the window, and
managed to climb to an adjoining
building unhurt. Charles Albert
Sage, aged twenty, who was EN-
plOyed in the third story, hung
from a window until be was Obliged
to release his hold, then tell to The
ground, striking two awnings il
his descent, breaking his back. IL,
was taken to the Massachusetts
General Hospital, and will probably
die.
Charles f. Callahan, of 42C
Chelsea street, East Boston, and
Thomas Paine, packers, who were
working on the fourth floor, jumped
from window in their fright
Paine was killed while Callahan
injuries are most likely fatal
William Brenenstuhl, who was OF
tle second floor, did good serylc'
in checking the flames but in going
for more water lost his way ant
rolled down the stairs, and wal
picked up badly injured. He IL
also burned Internally by smoke
and it is feared that be cannot live
A body which was taken from the
building to the North Grove street
Morgue, was recognized by Mr.
Heyer as Samuel Cord, the chic
packer, who was one of the oldes
employees Of the firm. Another
body, that of boy, was also takeT
to the mOrgue, where 1t has mol
vet been identified. 1t Is charred
/ and burned so badly identification
will be difficult. This completes
casualties 10 far as known at pres
ent. The firm employed about
twenty or twenty-five men and
boys at the present time, and were
busy with their holiday trade. They
carried stock of 100000 worth
of fireworks, and $50, 900 to &c.,,
600 worth of fancy goods. A large
portion OF the stock is ruined, al
though the loss is not total. The
/ firm is well insured.
During the fire the discharge OF
fireworks sounded as if a hard
fought battle was in progress, an d
for nearly two hours was heard the
rattle of small musketry, inter.
spersed at frequent intervals with
the heavier reports of the larger
pieces, while sparks and an oc.
casiOnal rocket would shoot from
the windows. These explosions
created great CONSERVATION among
the spectators. The fire was en-.
tirely confined TO the one building,
and it was a singular fact that
scarcely any flames came from the
windows until after the fremen
had the fire under control. The
interior of the building was com.
pletely rlddled, but the walls were
left standing. The employees were
largely foreigners aud known to
the firm by their first names, and
this fact may add to the difficulty
of ascertaIning whether or not
there are any other bodies in the
building. There was no gunpowder
stored on the premises, and no
smoking was allowed, and the
cause Of the fire is a mystery.