The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1893-04-29
BIG ARMORY IN ASHES.

WIp6u UuJ Dy flP6.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, April 25.-The magnifi-
cent new armory of the First Regiment,
l. y. IL, was DESTROYED bv fire this
morning. Two men are known to have
| perlshed in the flames and it is SUD
posed that six others shared their fate.
Two others were rescued from immedi-
ate death by the heroism of the firemen,
but not until they were badly injured.
The casualties are:
DEAD.
HARRY JOHNSON, colored ianitor slept in
building
WAITER WILLIAMS colored janitor; slept
in building.
Il. W. LATHAM, electric light lineman;
| burned about head and back will recover
CHRISTOPHER WIGGINs, electric light line
! man; burned about back and shoulders; will
| recover.
The loss to property is placed at
about s2l3,o0O, which is very made
quately covered by insurance. This in
Cludes the loss of $lo0, 900 on the build
ing, the scenery OF the Trocadero CON
cert trOup, the arms and accoutrements
and the dress and service uniforms and
the handsome furnishings of the vari-
ous First Regiment militia companies.
The fire started in the kitchen of the
armory, located in the southwestern
part of the second story. How il started
is unknown, but it made rapid r -ogress
and worked its way around the gallery
to the north before it was discovered,
Then the fire breaking through the win
doWS was seen by people on the streets
ana an alarm was turned III. II was too
late, for the fire had secured a firm hold,
a a hnr, l,n !
men found all entrance barred by the
blank walls of masonry and the huge
iron-barred sallyport on Michigan Ave
nue.. The building was constructed
to Withstand siege, and the trouble ex-
perienced by the tiremen in entering
the building showed it was admirably
adapted for the purpose. Had the fire
been i'll an ordinary structure with as
little food for flames, it would have been
easily eXtingulshed. As it was, there
was little chance to fight it.
The death of those in the building
was attended by particularly narrowing
circumstances. They reached the great
door in safety while the fire was spread
ing within. There seemed no danger
and escape was apparently certain.
They attempted to open the small
wicket gate in the center of the door.
and then for the first time their perilous
situation daWned upon them The
wicket was locked and four inches of
solid oak bolted and barred with huge
steel locks, stood between them and es-
cape. Gradually the fire spread behind
them. The western galleries were all
ablaze and the flames were spreading
rapidly along the north side and APP
preaching the spot where the men now
stood franticallv beating on the doors
| The crowd outside heard their frantic
appeals for aid and an effort was made
to batter in the doors. But the stout
oak was too well braced. The blows
rained upon it had no effect, and while
the crowd outside was engaged in the
fruitlcss attempt, the cries of those en-
trapped ceased and at the same instant
the north wall and roof seemed to sep
arate, the bright flame leapcd UP TO the
SKY, and with a crash the roof and top of
the wall fell in and with increased draft.
the flames spread with fury and the
building was nothing but furnace.
While the unfortunate men were
caught and crematcd at the only
possible street exit, another stirring
scene was being enacted but a few feet
away. Christopher Wiggins and +. w.
Latham, electric linemen in the employ
of the TroCadero management, were
asleep in the third story of the build
ing. They aroused only when the
flames and smoke were close upon
them. They attempted to reach the
stairway TO the floors below, but it was
impassahle. This fact saved their
lives and prevented their sharing
the fate of the men at the front door.
Unable to pass the stairway the two
men rushed To the Michigan Avenue
side Of the building, and the flames fol-
lowed them. They opened the window
and stood on the sill, their forms clearly
outlined to those below. This moment
there was terrific explosion, presum-
ably as the fire reached the store of
cartridges in the magazine. The walls,
shaken and already enfeebled by
the heat, began to crumble. The
north and south walls fell for
some distance from the top, the roof
went in and the death knell of those at
| the doorway way sounded. 1t seemed
! as though the men at the window must
be swept away with the crash, but as
the dust had cleared away they were
| seen still clinging there: The wall was
! tottering, but at Marshal Townsend :
| orders the hook and ladder companies
ran up their ladders and seizing the
! fainting men bore them to the ground,
| badly burned but without mortal i'll
| iuries.
II is known that the Edison Electric
| COMPANY had a number Of workmen
! engaged stringing electric light wires
| in the building during the night. and a
| report was current that several were
| caught in the big hre-trap. Other re-
ports were that six members Of one of
| the fire companies were caught by the
| falling wall. Investigation, however,
| failed to confirm either report.
Among the furnishings destroyed in
| the arm0rv was bas relief of Lees sur
| render. in bronze, worth over $1,000
! This. together with the regimental flags,
etc. was totally destroyed. The Arm
strong trophy, silver cup won by the
| regiments best rifle shooters in cOmpeti-
| tiHn last fall, and the silver cup won by
| the drum corps in national competition;
| were both destroyed. 1t Is calculated
| that the total loss on the private prop
| ertv in the different officers rooms Will
| figure nearly $4,000. The insurance
! will he about one-tenth. The regiment
| also loses a =, 900 Gatling gun, with its
| mems sabers. cartridge boxes and re
| volyers; $50 rifles, 500 haversacks. $40
| blankets and 500 sets Of aCCOutrementS.