Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-18
TEN FlREMEN KILLED,
Buried Under the Collapsed Walls OF q
Burning Building.

The most terrible calamity that has ever be.
| fallen Indianapolis occurred at 5 O'Clock yes
| terday afternoon during . fire in the Bowen
Merrill book store. large four-story building
situated on Washington street, in the very hear,
| OF the city. The fire had been raging for three
| hours, but had been confined to the building
| and it was supposed that - the wallis and roof
| were - substantial a. ever Fire Chief Dough.
| erty with . number Of men went 70 the roof Of
the burning building.
Suddenly, without moments warning, the
west wall fell in. A man on top was seen "a
throw up his hands and sink into the seeshins
mass Of flames below. His companions made
frantic effort to escape, but the roof sank
under their feet and all fell, struggling in vain
to reach place Of safety. The 5oists Of the
upper ceiling gave way and three of the fire.
men were caught on the fourth door, which
also gave way under the enormous weight
from above, catching still others and pinping
them to the door below.
TIE DEAD AND ISyuRIp.
When the work Of rescue had been completed
it WAS found that the following had been
killed: George Falkner, engineer; Charles
jenkins, pipeman; Richard Lowery. pipeman;
William hensiey, stoker; Albert Holman.
pipeman; Samuel Neal, foreman: Espsy
Stormer, pipeman; Ulysses Glazier, fireman:
Andrew Cherry, superintendent OF FIRE alarm
system; Thomas Tallentyre, fireman. Nine
teen others were injured, thu ee st least and
probably more Of whom will die.
INDYsCRIBABLE HORROR.
The scene on the heap Of debris Immediately
after the collapse was pitiable beyond dsscrip-
ton. The limbs Of men here aud there we're
seen writhing. while the trunks to which they
belonged were buried from sight. A ladder
lay across three men and was Weighted down
by tons OF bricks and timber. The ladder lay
across the stomach Of one man who was scream
ing with agony. Another man with broken
arm and twisted body lay next to him.
As fast as willing hands could clear away the
bricks the weight was removed but the ladder
was too firmly held to yield. The man with
broken arm was dragged free and carried away.
Under him. mute but breathing, appeared the
upturned face of poor fellow not seen before
On all sides BACKED and bleeding faces. dis
torted with agony, urged the willing workmen
to redouble their efforts.
DIFFICULTIES OF RELIir WORK.
The debris had fallen 50 that it lay with .
vaiiey-shaped surface and this made the avail
able space for work very small. All the work
OF relief was thus carried on with great Diff
tculty. One by one the men nearest the sur
face were extricated, but as the workers went
down further they discovered new victims and
the horror steadily grew.
The forward part Of the building still stood
and WAS burning 6ercely and threatened every
moment to fall down and bury the brave res
curers, but they gave no heed to the peril. On
either side the wall lowered and seemed ready
to fall but there was no time to think OF them
As fast as the men at work became exhausted
others stood ready and anxious TO fill their
places. SO there was not moment OF delay in
the labor of relief.
The loss to the Bowen Merrill company is
about 10000, with $50, 900 insurance. II. p.
Wsssou aud d. J. Sullivan, dry goods mer-
chants, are also heavy losers from damage by
smoke and water. Col. Merrill, senior mem
Der Of the Bowen-Merrli firm was recently ap-
pointed by President Harrison az consul gem
eral to Calcutta