Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-07-19
DRIVEN TO THEIR DEAThS.


CuIcAeo, July ls.-John Il. skinner
president of the Hercules Iron Works. the
company owning the cold storage building
burned July 10. lays the blame for the
terrible loss of hfc upon Assistant Fire
Marshal Murphy. He insists thai blum
der was made IN the face of repeated warn
ings from employees in the building. Capt.
Fitzpatrick with Marshal Murphy.
The men, Mr.. Skinner declares, would not
listen to the aimonitions of men who knew
the structure and the danger of an ascent
70 the tower.
There is one side of this fire case that
has not vet been told, said Mr.. skinner.
II suppose it will all come out before the
coroner if the case is gone fully into and
the coroner keeps his promise that he will
20 10 the bottom of the affair.
There was absolutely no excuse for
the loss of single life. The tremen were,
informed by our employees that there was
FIRE below before they went up into the
tower. They were begged not to go up,
and the danger was pointed ont in advance
when there was plenty of time TO order
down such as were already up.
Among those who warned them and
who is ready to testify TO the fact is
Walter VI. Donaldson, the office manager
of the business part of the storage and
ice department. lie went into the tower
and fully Informed himself of the state of
tie FIRE before the hremcn arrived. Don
aldson bad been present during nearly the
whole peroid of construction, was familiar
with the building, aud was IN every way
competent TO act as guide to the fire
fighters. He could not have been mis-
taken for an outsider either.
''As soon as the firemen arrived he
hunted up Capt Fitzpatrick, and found him
on the rink floor with hi. men some Of
whom were armed with axes. He asked
the captain to chop n hole below and turn
| the hose on the FIRE in the lower part of the
tower. lie emphasized and repeated bis
statement that the bottom was the place 10
| fgh, the fire. To these directions and en-
treaties Capt. Fitzpatrick answered. Il am
running this thing.
"He was trying al the time to carry three
leads of hose at one time md was not max
| ing any headway. Notwithstanding his
rebuff Donaldson .sppreciat,ng the situation
and the necessity for greater haste. begged
of him to get up one. Capt. Fiizpatrick X
answered he would get up three or none.
"A. J. Dranch, continued Mr.. skinner,
| in response to a request for the names of
the other witnesses Zone of our men, also
asked Capt. Fitzpatrick to work on the base
| of the tower and fight the fire which was
was already there. The captain for an
answer struck him back banded blow
with the flat OF his hand which knocked
him down.
MIR. Aslip. the architect. was one who
also advised the men Of the danger, and
told them the FIRE WAS below before they
went up, and begged them not to ascend,
Marshal Murphy stood there, and in spite
of this information actually drove his men
TO their deaths. Upon the information We
bad given some Of the fremen hesitssed and
demurred.
THE marshal Was heard TO shout to then
by at least two of our people. Get up there
you COW ards He drove them TO tbsiI
deaths. There 10 no question about IL. W.
are prepared to prove II, and il must come
out a, the inquest. A. soon a. II hesrt
the statement Of our men right after the FRI
went Immediately over to Mr.. iIigginbotb
ans Office and toll him what ! state here.