Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-04-18
FIRE And PANIC.
Wild Scenes in Chicago During a
Conhagration.

A Museum Abia1e--other Mtg Buildings
Burned--PeopIe Injured in the
Crush Loss SI,OOO.O00.
Chicago has just suffered one of the most
destructive CONGREGATIONS that has occurred
there since the big fire of 1871. The loss is
fully 100000. 1t was almost the exact geo.
graphical center of the city that the flames
started, and, like the terrible disaster Of
twenty years ago, began in stable. In this
case the stable was the property of a WE'LL
known furniture manufacturer, John NJ.
Smyth, and was located in the rear of his big
house-furnishing establishment on West
Madison street, near Halstead street. The
flames speedily communicated to the furni-
ture establishment, and moment later to
Kohl & Middleton's Dime Museum. gem
eral alarm to the fire department was soon fol.
lowed by special calls for extra engines, as
the fire was seen to be gaining ground with
extraordinary rapidly.
In less than five minutes smoke was pour
ing from every window in the museum, and
was enveloping the huge six-story building
occupied by Smyth. In marvelousy short
time both structures had turned into 4 mass
OF flame. Great fiery tongues darted across
the street and lodged in the upper stories Of
the buildings on the north side of Madison
street. moment later the fireman along
the thoroughiare found themselves working
between two towering walls of fire For a
time it looked as though the eonhagration
would get beyond control and that, as in 1871
it would sweep toward the lake directly across
the business district Of the city. As II to add
TO the CONSERVATION, but the wind had sud.
denly and Eaz hloVriug e,afa
from the west.
At this critical juncture the thorough dis.
cipline OF the fremen became apparent The
men, fbeying orders, stood steadily in the
street. wnere the flames scorched them from
either side, and after q fierce battle brought
the fire, in measure under control. The in.
mense blaze. however, continued TO rage with
intense fury in the buildings already partly
destroyed The Museum was nothing but a
heap Of ruins. and the walls OF the Smyth
building were falling one after another
Fortunately, they all tell into the ruins, aud
no person was injured.
Across the street also the walls soon sue.
c'mbed to the furious onslaught Here the
upper story of the three-story building on
the northwest corner of Madison and Union
streets caught fire. Quickly the flames lodged
around the windows Of the fifth story Of the
Haymarket Theater building. aud we're soon
stretching along under the manSard root
Despite all efforts. the buildings between
Union street aud the Haymarket blocks
shared the fate Of those across the street, aud
were wiped out completely. In the Hay.
market, the fire was confined in the upper
story, but the whole building was filled with
smoke and water. West OF the Haymarket
the damage was comparatively small.
The first intlmation the inmates of Kohl &
Middleton's museum had Of the proximity Of
the fire was when some one opened a window
on the third floor, through which a volume of
smoke poured filling the entire floor. A wild
panic followed among the four hundred per.
sons in the building, most Of whom, however
were on the 6rst floor, watching a variety per-
formance. Those on the first floor were first
apprised Of their danger by the stampede on
the upper floors, and as they arose 10 their
feet, aud fed precipitately toward the front
door, the fire appeared at the rear windows,
increasing the terror of the crowd.
The emergency brought out hero in the
person of Policeman Patrick Sheehy. Fore.
ing his way through the frightened people
who were madly retardtng each other in the
jam at the exit, stationed himself Mt the head
Of the stairs, and drawing his revolver, de-
clared his intention TO kill the 6rst person
who refused to obey hi5 orders. By cOolnes
and determination lie succeeded in quieting
the panic, and with one exception, everybody
reached the street in safety
The exception was c. II. Messenger, young
man, who, before Officer Sheehy reached the
stair landing made rush for the front Of the
building, aud throwing open the window
jumped out into the street. lie fell with
awful force on the stone pavement and was
unconscious when picked up. Several per.
sons followed him, stopped horrnr.strcken
long enough to lie corralled by Shelby and
his revolver. One old lady who was in this
crowd fell when near the bottom of the stairs
and broke her arm. As soon as Officer Sheehy
mad caused an abatement Of the panic among
the people, he went up TO the third floor
where some scores of monkeys were Gagged
The Poor brutes were chattering and scream-
ing with terror at the flames on all sides
Sheehy hurriedly seized the iron bars and
forcing them apart, opened an aperture wide
enough 10 admit the escape of the little
animals, whose fright was almost human.
The creatures when liberated wildly
scampered about the room Tor a moment gnd
then with innate peryerseness and 10 the
chagrin OF Sheehy, who was riskiDg hs life
every moment, rushed upstairs in herd and
were burned to death by wholesale The
poiicenan was forced to grope his wa, down
through binding smoke, and reached the
street, dazed and nearly unconscious.
The loss, aggregating over three quarters
of a million dollars, is distributed as follows:
John NJ. Smith, furniture, stock aud building,
$4,000; Kohl & Middleton, curiosities,
fixtures and building 5000; Nicely Brothers,
boots and shoes, s20O05; Aldebert Kaempler,
jewelry, $4,000; Alfred Peats wallpaper,
$4,000; Baer Brothers. hats, $1,000; N. lrr.
man, cigars aud tobacco, $4,000; Hannah 4
Hogg, liquors. $4,000; Royal Tailoring Com
pany, $1,000, Haymarket Theatre, 5000;
Board OF Education property in the rear OF
the smythe block, $4,000; miscellaneous
losses, 5000.