The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-14
FATAL LEAP FOR LIFE.
TERRIBLE LOSS or LIFE IN ma
FIRE IN MEMPHIS.
-Four Persons in the y. NJ. q. A. Building
Jump From the Windows and are
Killed-A Million Lost.

hEhI tiIHi TENN, NOV. l1.-tlre broke
out tonight about 7:lj o'clock in the
Schmalzried block, on Main street, be-
tween Monroe and Union streets, and be-
fore the flames were checked, at o z. NJ,
several lives were lost and nearly a million
dollars worth Of property went up IN
smoke. The exact number Of lives lost
at this hour 00:3O is not known. but Il
careful estimate places 1t at four. while
four or five were injured, some fatally.
in jumping from the burning building.
About 7;15 o'clock people in the vicinity
were startled by the report Of an ex-
plosion and a flash. In an instant the
flames were pouring from the lower floor
or the sN-story building occupied by the
Schmalzried Hardware Company. The
second, third, fourth and fifth floors were
occupied by the Young Mems Christian
Association, and il was In this place that
the terrible loss Of life occurred.
The fire started from the explosion Of
large coal-oil lamp near the stairway
and in three minutes the entire front Of
the building was In flames and all means
of exit cut off. There were about fifteen
people IN the library when the alarm was
given They made a wild rush for the
Main street exit, only to be driven back
by the flames. Like a herd Of sheep they
rushed for the windows at the rear Of
the building. but the flames had spread
so rapidly through the building that the
facings Of three windows were on fire
when they reached the rear Of the build
ing. They stood huddled together at the
windows for a moment or two when the
crowd below yelled, Leap" Jump for
your lives" One man took the advice,
jumped, and was caught on a telegraph
wire but was rescued. He was followed
a moment later by a comrade, who
aimed for the same wire, but missed IT
and fell 10 the pavement below. Two
other men made the same attempt. but
they missed the wire and went down on
top Of their comrade. At this time the
firemen arrived and ladders were quickly
run up to the windows. Many were
rescued. But before the others could be
saved the flames burned the ladder and
the remainder perlshed in the burning
building.
The Injured.
The names Of the killed cannot b
learned tonight, If they viii ever be
known. Secretary Perkins, Of the Y. NJ
G. A.. is the only one who can give any
information as to the lives lost, and he
lies in ST. Joseph Hospital, unconscious
The names of the seriously injured, as far
A. X. Perkins, skull crushed, inter-
nally injured. will die
Charles Watkins, ianitor Of the build
ing, internally injured, will die.
William BOardman. Of Water Valley,
Miss internally injured. may die.
c. r. White, arm broken and internally
injured. will probably recover.
Several others were more or less i'm
jured, but none Of them fatally.
r. II. Bond, young man who was in
the gymnasium when the fire broke CUT
IS missing. He is believed TO be among
the perished. The fire spread 20 the build
ing occupied by Lennon Gale whole
sale dealers IN dry goods. and damaged
it TO the extent of $4,000 befroe the flames
could be extinguished. Lennon a. Gales
stock, which was mostly dameged by
water. will prove n total loss By hard
work the firemen prevented the spread Of
the fire on the other side Of the Wetter
block, but neighboring stores were great !
ly damaged by water. The loss OF life is
due 10 the lack Of properly constructed |
fire escapes on the buildings. The owners |
Of the buildings will be criminally prose-
cUted.
The losses as far as can be learned to- |
night, are as follows:
Schmalz.ied Tobacco Company. on |
stock, $4,000; insurance, S2S.000. Building |
owned jointly by H. Wetter and the |
Company $4,000; insurance, |
Sl7, O00. Lemon & Gale, dry goods, loss on |
building and stock, $4,000; insurance Sl25,- |
300. Young Mems Christian Association, |
loss on library and gymnasium, 5000; |
insurance, $1,000. Pythian Journal, $1,000, |
no insurance. Memphis Loan building. |
adjoining Wetter building $4,000 The
total loss will reach Sj00.000 The build
ngs damaged and destroyed were all new,
having been built but a few months ago |
IN place Of those destroyed by the million
dollar fire In 1892.
When the fire broke out a panic Oc-
Cured in the Auditorium, where 5000
people had assembled 10 hear Sam Jones'
who is conducting a revival. For a time
great excitement prevailed, and several
persons were Knocked down and trampled
upon by the crowd, in the mad rush
The ushers had presence Of mind enough
10 throw open the places OF exit, and this
together with the clarion voices Of Rev.
sam Jones and G.. =. NJ Turner which
could be heard above the din shouting
that the fire was a mile away, from I
quieted the people to great
extent.
The panic was started by a long-naired
,ra r1lx ono of tho Galleries CRYING ttGFo %