The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-04-25
ARM0RY BLOWN UP.
Two Men Killed and Six
Reported Killed In Chi
~cago-Severa1 Fatally
Injured.

CHICAGO, April 25. 1s98.-Tho First
Regiment Armory at Sixteenth street
and Michigan avenue. was totally des-
troyed at an early hour this morning.
About half past TWO O'Clock fire was dis
covered by q policeman. An alarm was at
onceturned IN, but before the department
could get to work a violent explosion oc-
cured, blowing of the rooT; AgS1n and
plosions. The FIRE had eaten it's way 60
the magazine and 1t was soon evident
that the structure was doomed. Finally
the main magazine seemed to have been
reached. The most terrific explosion OF
alr,occurred and the north wall was blown
out.
II is known that two men lost their
lives in the flames.
John Nelson, colored porter.
Colured man, name unknown. waiter.
Two Negro waters were taken out OF
the third story and removed to st. Luke's
Hospital. where it was thought they
we're fatally burned; They are =. w.
Prior TO the explosion, the fremen were
told that several men had been sleeping
in the building, and ladders were run mp
to the third story window. E.. w. Latham
was carried down. His face and shout
uers were badly burned, and be wRs In q
semtconscious condition. HP Yves able
the building and that two OF them were
dead. He was not able to give any
names, however, and was too weak to tell
OF his own horrible experience.
While Latham was being carried to q
place of safety other f~iretnen had climbed
through the windows and on one OF the
Dsaani found On Chris s.m wigg Sss;na H 1s.c Was
his bed and burned his .b3dy badly. The
trepen rescued him at great peril to
their own lives. but finally reached the
ground with him ia safety. BE and
Latham were at once sent TO st. Luke,s
Hospital. IL is known that Nelson aud
another negro walter. whose name no
one knew, were asleep in b building
and they were not found.
The origin. of the fire is 9 mystery. The
direction the flames took. and the way
they spread, indicated, according to the
experienced 6remen on the ground, that
they had started In the centre OF the
building. The latter covered o~ne-quarter
Of q block, and In the center of h base
ment was stored a large quantity o.
powder. Near this was a supply of 1900
rifle cartridges, and In a rear room were
stored the uniforms, rifles and other
military equipments owned by the state,
It is the accepted theory OF the fremen
that the flames started near
powder, which caused the explosion
that partly wrecked the building.
The loss to the State on ammunition.
arms. and other equipments cannot be
estimated, it is claimed, until the records
at Springfield can be consulted. The
property was insured for $4,000. The
loss on the building, which cost $215.000.
will be almost total. The damage to
the Trocadero Company viii reach $780,
600, The latter is partly covered by in
surance
At half past four O'Clock Chief Sweine
was told by a man who would not give
his name. but who claimed to have au-
tpority for his statement that six or eight
men had been Sleeping in the building
and that they had been killed. The story
could not be corroborated, however. and
the police placed little credence 10 it.
The regiment also loses a $1,000 Calling
gun, with its mems sabres. cartridge
boxes aud r%evolvers, $50 rifles, 800 hRver-
sacks, 500 blankets, 500 sets of accoutre-
ments. valued at about $50, 900.