The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-07-12

istration has never been advised of any
danger of any kind from the building,
or ii would have the right to take action
to forestall such a calamity. 1t is an
awful thing, so fearful that / would
rather not say anything until we know
the full extent of it,
Commissioner Massey of the council of
administration confirmed Mr.. Higinbo-
thams declaration that the council had
no intimation of danger.
When the fire broke out there was
large number Of worlds fair visitors in
the warehouse looking at the huge ice
machines and other exhibits in the build
ing. The first inumation they had of
fire was when the firenen rushed i'm and
made for the roof, In an instant there
was a panic-lilxe rush for the stairways
and exits. In their excitement some Of
the men thrust women and children aside
and a number OF them were thrown
down and badly bruised, though as far
as known none were seriously injured.
q. H. Barnes, ir., the ten-year-old son
of a Toledo O., oil merchant, was
knocked down and but for the aid of a
man more thoughtful than some of his
fellows, the lad would have been
trampled to death. AS IL was his arm
was badly injured. The boy was carried
to drug store outside the gates and his
injuries were dressed. 1t was reported
by some of the Columbian guards that a
=
ing lost their lives. The firemen who es-
capped, however, Giscredit this story.
Late tonight ladies watch was found
with a body so badly burned that it
could not be told whether it was that of
a man or woman.
Eye Witnesses Talk.
William Lenehan, driver of engine No.
73. was on the roof at the time the
flames burst through He escaped with
EfiUhf In af
pital he said: Before 1 knew what
happened my eyebrows were singed off
and my hair was on fire. Then Capt.
Fitzpatrick ordered us down, and 1
started for the nearest ladder. I
reached it and descended about half the
distance, when 1 heard some one above
me grOan and hear some one say:
Look out old 4, both my legs are
broken and can't bid to the ladder any
longer" l looked up and saw man nan
dangling. 1 threw myself to one side to
clear the ladder, but still held on. AS
did so the man above me relaxed his hold
and shot by me TO the ground L do not
know who he was"
William f. Gray of New York, truck
foreman OF the New York fire depart
ment. was visiting the fair on a fur
lough. When fire broke out he went at
once to the scene and volunteered his
services anywhere. Regarding the fire,
he said: 'It was the quickest fire | ever
saw. There was hardly time 20 do any
thing before the whole building was
ablaze The flremen fought dit we'll and
did everything which could possibly have
been done. The men on the tower be-
haved with great bravery and remained
at their posts until their only resort was
to jump 1t is foolish to talk of what
they should have done that they did not
do. They had barely time to do what
they did and no more. They had no
time to use a life net, and if one had
been manned on the roof both the fire
men on the tower and the rescuing party
would have been lost in the wreck of the
tower
Chief Sweenie said tonight in reference
to the construction of the building:
About the middle of June a fire occurred
which started in about the same place
and in the same way as that today. We
stopped it after a little trouble. Then
Marshal Murphy made thorough inves-
tigation and reported the dangerous con-
dition to the depar nent of works of
that the tow'r fe p kSted against fire
:s'l:, e: $s.s - es' 3 r''a' 81 s3'iis S:
Messages " sympathy from chiefs of
fire departments all over the country
were receivd by Chief Sweenie tonight.