Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1891-12-12

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Factory and Four Were Firemen.
A Number Receive Very Severe
Injuries.
LOUISVILLE, Dec. 10-A disastrous
fire visited this city, destroying the
block of buildings on the north side of
Main street, between Sixth and Seventh
streets The store and stock of the
Boone Paper company were destroyed,
entailing loss of $4,000. Anew hours
later an explosion occurred in the adj
joining building, occupied by Bambur-
ger, Strong & Co. The shaky walls
crumbled, and another fire began which
in comparison made the first insignifi-
cant. By the time it was subdued the
stores of hamburger, Strong & Co.,
Bliss, Wilson & Co., Johanboeke 81 Sons
and Miller, Voolfolk, Payne & Co. had
been Quilted. The loss will not fall far
short of 100000. Four firemen per-
ished in the flames. Their names are:
William Davis, Thomas Moore, Samuel
Baker and Tony Slack. They were all
in the fire service with No. l Hook and
Ladder company. Samuel Graves barely
escaped being caught un1sr the wall.
He said to reporter fJuSJ as got out
the wall fell, and turning saw the four
men crushed beneath it. am positive
they were killed" Two or three other
men claim to have seen the men killed.
The frenen were still at work on the
hamburger fire when another alarm
sounded This was for a fire on the
next block, in the candy and fireworks
factory of Meme & Co., 517 West Main
street. The horrors of the previous
confagrations were more than dupli
Gated. The tomb of fire in which six
young girls and one young man were
burned to death is four story building
on the north side of the street. The
firm was getting ready for the Christ
mas trade, and employed an extra num-
Der of girls to pac', and wrap confec
tons. They were aii at work on the
fourth floor.
The origin of the fire is unknown.
Soon after the fire started there was a
tremendous explosion from the second
floor There was crash of glass, and
thousands of fire crackers cracked, while
almost counties skyroekets and Roman
candles few kissing across the street and
into the air. A moment later and a
sheet of flame burst from the windows.
Before the employees knew of their dam
ger the skylights burst and the panic
stricken crowd ran to the stairway.
Three of thenl-14iilie Greenleaf, Trecy
Hohlhans and Kate McGaryey-reached
the third floor just as the stairs leading
to the fourth floor caught fire. Behind
them came six other girls, but before
they could reach the bottom wall Of
fire cut off their progress and they fed
back to the top, where they were burned
to death.
The names of this victims are: Charles
Kimmel, foreman on fourth floor, and
son of one of the members of the f:fap;
Lou Kern, Barbara Bell, Clara Rausch,
Ida Parker, Anna Lockhart and Amanda
Dickey.
Major Hughes, chief of the fire de-
partment, was badly hurt at Eighth and
Main streets while going to the fire. fie
was driving rapidly and was run into by
the salvage corps wagon. His buggy
was turned over and he was hurled into
the street, badly injuring his head. The
conclusion of the brain may result IA
tally. Going to the fire the No. 10 en-
CINE ran into the pavement at Twelfth
and Broadway, throwing off Engineer
James Euttall, hurting his back and
probably crippEng him for life. He was
taken to his home. Pat Shea, a member
of the No. Hook and Ladder company,
was at work on the building occupied by
Frank A. Mem & Co., and started to
fall, bat grabbed at the broken skylight.
He saved himself from probably fatal
plunge, but nearly severed his hand from
his arm at the wrist.