Oakes weekly Republican. (Oakes, Dickey County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1898, 1893-07-14

placing themselves was realized, were
caught like rats in Il trap and went un-
announced to their doom. 1t is said
that but four Columbian guards are
missing, but there are many vacancies !
i'll the different companies scattered
about the grounds and the captains.
while refusing to commit themselves,
fear that their men have been Gre
mated. The following is a list Of those
who met death and the missing:
Killed.
CAPTAIN JAMES FITZPATRICK, acting
chief, Go umhian fire department.
JOHN MCBRIDE, driver.
WILLIAM EENN1NG. truckman.
LlEUTENA.iT MOLTER, trrckman.
UNKNOWN MAN, initials on belt w. II.
Missing.
CAPTAIN CARNEY. Company Mol.
CAPTAIN PAGE. Company Mob
LIEUTENANT UKNlS, Company No. 4.
PHIL BREEN, Company No. $.
LIEUTENANT FREEMAN, Company No. !.
JOHN SMITH, Company No.
PAUL SCH!. OEDER. Company No. s.
JOHN CAlllL. Company Nos.
SERGEANT DONALDSON, Columbian
guard.
ii. STRAND, Columbian guard.
-FOUR COLI UMBIiN GUARDS.
HENRY GEDCTDlG, foreman Of painters
The fire was apparent only i'll the OBJ
servation tower and its isolation from
the great main roof made the work Of
the tire,ncn hazardous and slow. The
firemen at once went out on the roof
and hastened up the hose with ropes to
the far story OF the tower OH the east
and south silcs. Others rushed up the
spiral stairway to the landing next the
blazing top and lowered ropes or three
sides for the men below to attach the
hose to. Until this time the fire re-
sembled the flaming mouth Of
a Small Blast Furnace
and there seemed to bono danger mem
acing those brave men working in the
air. Without thought of the fate
which was so soon to overtake them
the 81 odd Hen outside the towers We're
at work on the cast and south sides.
All this time the flames We're burning
through the larger section Of the tower
beneath them. The first intimation of
danger came to the victims when the
smoke appeared under them and as the
wind blew into their faces they retired
in an orderly body to the north side Of
the tower. 1t seemed Us if the victims
changed position because they feared
flames would soon follow the smoke
which they saw. The flames had been
devouring five feet of framework which
surrounds the cast iron shaft that
pierced tho tower below the men.
Quick as flash, like Il band Of molten
gold, flames burst through the square
tower just underneath the i'm, risoncd
men on all sides. Soon the imln isoned
Felt the Scorching Fire
coming and with one inn use of self
preservation moved quickly to where
the ropes were attached at the
northwest corner. They could not
look down and see the flames becau;
of the projecting cornicc, but they
knew where the ropes were. There
they stood huddled together, some
without their coats, others hatless, and
all preparing 10 save themselves if they
could. The man first to the rope
grasped it and descended, but only j;
dozen feet. The flames had no mercy
the rope was burned in two ard Will
feet downward the first victim shoI
through the air TO tho main roof. HI
turned partly over before he strucl
and bounded up before lying still as i
dead. A great cry of anguish and fea,
came up from thousands on the ground
| Eishtin. for Life.
No sooner had the first man strucl
the roof than another leaped from thu
tower before the h'r:ified gaze Of tn,
spectators. His bo;'y kept straight fee
turned somersault and second or,
of horror came from thousands o
throats. The two ropes on the nortl
side of the tower where the Goome'
men were huddled We're almost use.es
for the saving of life yet for the frs
possession OF the corner ut least tel
fought savasely. They only prolonge
their consciousness of life for all wer
doomed to die, yet they struggled t
catch at anything which seemed to hol
q chance for life. One by one they
cropped From the Tower,
some clinging to the burning rope a
far as it afforded them any hold an
then shooting through sheet of fam
to the roof The sight was too muc
for even the military men and the oil
firemen on the ground to bear withou
a turning away of heads. Men leapin
through flames 100 feet or more dow
10 sure death presented sight such 6
the stoniest hearts could net witnes
unmoved. The last man diel the hero
death among all those heroes who face
the furnace below them. He ha
waited without apparent fear unit
there was only himself lefv. He was
fireman and he grasped the remnant
BURNING rope just as the whole stru
ture parted diagonally and fell TOWARD