The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1893-07-15
FORTY LIVES PERISH
A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN CHICAGO
Gallant FIremen Lose Their Lives Fight
ing Flames Hundreds OF Feet
From the Ground

The fear that has existed for months
in the minds of citizens of Chicago
found realization Monday in a fright
full holocaust at the worlds fair
that claimed nearly two score victims
and for the time threatened the des-
truction of the entire White city. The
disaster was all the more dreadful be-
cause of it's sudden transformation
from an innocent flame into a death
dealing catastrophe. The structure
that burned was the cold storage ware
house, one of the smallest builnings OF
the fair, but not belonging to the expo
sitIon. 1t was the exhibit of the Her
cules iron works and the ice and refrig-
Grating machine manufacturers. The
building contained skating rink, three
220.ton lee machines, some 40 barrels
of linseed oil, which added fuel to the
flames, and in it there was stored a
large quantity of meat, fruit, etc.
That the fire was not communicated to
other worlds fair buildings was due to
favorable winds. The scene of horror
was witnessed by many thousands of
people, who flocked to the locality
when the alarm was sounded, and strong
men wept and women tainted as one
life after another was snuffed out
within full view of the multitude, but
beyond reach of human aid.
BURNED LIKE FINDER.
The fire was not generally observed
until about 1915 p. m. and within 30
minutes the great loss of life occurred.
At the first signal the iremen rushed
up the huge shaft surrounding the smoke
stack and when at the summit began
preparations to fight the flames, which
first appeared at this point. Before
the hose could be coupled cry of hor-
ror flom the crowd below caused the
firemen to look down, for the whole
shsft below was encircled by flames.
The men stood stolidly for a moment
in full realization of their danger. Then
one grasped the rope which had been
lowered for the purpose of rising the
hose and half sliding, half falling,
reached the roof, 90 feet below, in a
bruised condition, but still alive. The
crowd below became wild with excite
ment and weeping women and franzied
men rushed around wringing their
hands and moaning in anguish over
their inability to tender aid.
Suddenly every eye was turned up
ward by the preparations of fireman
to jump. He gave a quick, spasmotic
leap and turned over and over half a
dozent times before he struck the roof,
80 feet below. When his body struck
he -
and it bounced far up again into the
air. From this time on bodies rained
from the steeple, as after the first wild
leap one man after another Jumped in
quick succession as the flames closed
in below and the heat became more in
tense.
INTO TIE JAWS OF DEATH.
The very horror of death riveted
every eye to the scene, and while
every man and woman shouted hyster.
ically the guards were almost power
less to keep the crowd away from
danger. The spectacle became more
horrible as each minute passed, and
for the last man on the cupola was re
served the most dreadful fate of all.
After his companion leaped to apparent
death, and as he was hesitating, the
whole shaft began to tremble and vi.
brate. The lone fireman understood
the ominous warning and gave a wild
leap, but too late. At the very instant
he sprang the whole structure collapsed
aud this human being, quivering with
life and wildly grasping for support in
in the frenzy of despair, was seen to
drop into the labyrinth of flame and
fire and disappear into the roaring
furnace below.