Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-09-25
FIREMEN INJURED.
Caught in a Trap at a Mime
apolis Blaze.
BAD TO LEAP FOR THEIR LIVES

About a Dozen of the Brave Laddies In
jured seriously-Large Grain EIeva-
tor and Other Property Destroyed, Re-
sulting in a Loss of $500, oOO-Great
Damage Caused by Forest Fires In Min
nesota-The Town of Hinckiey Has q
Close CaN-Wisconsin Forest Fires.
MINNEAPOLIS Sept. IS The Flour City
had narrow escape yesterday afternoon
from a terrible calamity, both to her
brave f1remen and to her -four mills. A
fierce fire and a strong wind were the two
elements of danger. The flames had birth
in the Moore Carving Machine company's
five-store brick structure. This was filled
with inf1ammable material and in a trice
1t was mass of flames. The workmen
had barely time to scramble down the
stairways without coats, hats or pals.
Next to the factory stood the huge eleva-
tor C of the Chicago Milwaukee and st.
Paul railway with its huge annex. This
is leased by the Empire Elevator COM
pany. Here were stored 81 900 bushels of
wheat and they with the dry as finder
building were food for the flames. The
fire soon attacked the elevator though by
this time the entire fire department was
on the ground. Chief Runge perceiving
that the flames were in the high tower of
the elevator sent nearly a score of his men
up on the roof of the annex with lines of
hose to fight the fire.
In Imminent Peril.
Apparently there was no fire under
| them and as that was the only way to
reach the seat of the fire Chief Runge
took the risk. 1t was dreadful risk. OF
sudden there came a loud explosion and
a great stream of fire burst from one end.
Another stream broke forth to the left of
the men. An involuntary groan escaped
from the watching throng as the smoke
and flames shut the little band of firemen
from view. They've fallen through"
was the cry on many lip. But no, a
break in the cloud of smoke suddenly dis
closed them to view, making wild rush
for the three ladders. Many reached
them, but groan went up as one, two.
three, four, five of the men fell or jumped
from their narrow footing. Again the
! smoke lifted and there on the very ledge
stood fireman, apparently dazed and
not knowing what to do.
The List of Injured.
"Slide down the hose.n yelled the crowd
The man heard, and grabbing the big
hose at his feet he shot down through the
flames and reached the ground without
dropping. The work of sescuing the fire
men WAS prompt from necessity. They
were taken in the patrol wagon to st.
Barnabas hospital. The list is as follows:
Captain Lent, badly burned; Assistant
Chief Canterbury, leg broken, badly
burned and internally injured; John
Guise, badly burned; William Cole, badly
burned; Captain Foster, badly burned
and insensble; Captain William Malone,
| badly burned; Captain Pierce, bones
| tain Hanley, leg broken. OF these Mitch
ell, Foster and Canterbury are in the
| worst shape. The doctors have hopes of
them all, however.
Gotten Under Control.
Meanwhile the flames were making
great Roadway, and the wind was straight
/ in the direction of the milling district.
, The wind carried embers in every direc-
| ton, and flames burst out in a dozen
places at once. A number of small stores
were entirely destroyed and number of
others scorched, but no further large dam
age resulted. the department having at
length, after two hours of work, got the
fire under control. Ten buildings in all
were destroyed, which. with their con-
tents, brings the total loss up to 500, 900,
| amount The fire caused the suspension
of travel on the inter-urban line and all
electric lines in the southern portion of
the city. Trains on the c., NJ and st. P.
road were also blocked from reaching
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