Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-11
FLEEING FROM FIRE.
Twenty-fveW Girls Are Forced
to Climb Down a Fire Escape.
A STUBBORN DOWNTOWN BLAZE
Keeps the Department Busy for Hours, and
Several Men Are Hurt.
THREE CHIEFS COME INTO CONFLICT

Twenty-Five girls tearing down the fire
escape on the front of No. 967 Liberty street
about o'clock last evening, startled the
pedestrians hurrying along to the Union
depot, and when dark volume of smoke
began to pour out of the building, many
suburban residents deliberately missed their
trains. Not a girl tainted, but made their
way in good order to the sidewalk and
safety.
An alarm was sent in from box 80, and as
soon as Chief Evans arrived he turned in
another alarm, calling out two more dis
tricts. The building is a four-story brick,
owned by Mrs. Mary Sweitzer and occupied
by d. j. Rex. a paper box manufacturer,
and Dean & Niebaum, -four merchants.
The fire was stubborn one and hard to
fight, and was not finally extinguisbed until
nearly midnight, causing a complete cessa-
tion of traffic along Liberty street.
The origin of the fire is unknown. 1t
started in the cellar, which was almost
solidly packed with cardboard, aud the
smoke arising from the burning material
was so strong as to overpower number Of
fremen, and prevent them from approach
ing close enough to do effective work.
THE FLOORS FALL IN.
For two hours the fire burned in the
cellar, and then the flames burst through
to the first floor, burning the supports of
the second floor and causing both floors to
fall into the cellar. Then the cellar was
flooded with water and the flames finally
subdued.
James McAleese, brother of the Police
Inspector, was overcome by the fumes from
burning paper, and had to be taken home
about o'clock.
John Ashmore, of No. 3 company, was
struck in the breast with hose nozzle while
up on a ladder and was knocked to the
ground. He was so badly hurt by the force
of the blow that he had to be taken to the
Homeopathic Hospital.
Chief Evans was struck on the iugular
by ladder which some of the men were
moving and was knocked senseless. He
was carried into neighboring house and
resuscitated with difficulty after a half
hours work, after which he was taken
home. The accident was the result of the
dense smoke in the alley in rear of the burn
ing building.
A CONFLICT OF AUTHORITY.
Chief Evans and his assistants, Coates
and Steele, had quite an alteration during
the fire, resulting from conflict OF author
ity, but it was quietly smoothed over after
some very bitter words had been passed.
The loss will reach about SS, 900. Rex &
Co. had So, 900 worth of cardboard stored in
the cellar. where the fire originated and
which burned so slowly and steadily that it
was almost impossible to extingush it.
They are fully insured. Dean & Neibaum
estimate their loss at 81, 500. They had two
carloads of -four and large quantity of
feed on the first floor, which was totally de-
stroved, but fully insured. The loss to the
building will not exceed s4OO or $500; also
insured.
Mr.. Harry Herzberger furnished hot
lunch and coffee to the fremen, which was
greatly appreciated by them in their wet
and cold condition.
About $50 slight blaze started in j.
Zimmerman's tobacco store, corner of
Eleventh and Liberty streets. 1t was ex-
with Babcock.