The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-07-11

Two of his w-firemen attempted to
follow, but before they were halfway
down the hose gave way, and they
dropped into the seething mass of fire,
and were lost. Another man started
down portion of the rope hanging from
the tower, but it gave way, and he fell,
striking on his head, and was instantly
killed.
HoPELEssLY BEYOND HUMAN HELP.
There now remained, according to the
count OF various spectators, twenty-five
or thirty men on the tower. They were
hopelessly beyond human power, the
longest ladder falling short by fully
thirty feet.
At this terrible moment Captain Fitz-
patrick's tail form appeared in front of
the men who were huddled together on
the narrow balcony. He seemed to be
his brave followers. As he
ceased speaking one of the men crept
around the burning balcony and returned
moment later with rope. 1t was
finally fastened to the railing around the
balcony and thrown to the roof. Fitz-
patrick was seen to point TO it, and a man
started to slide down, but ere he was half
way the cruel flames rolled up, and ne
was swallowed in the awful volcano
Another tried it and met the same fate.
One after another five of the men at
this point sprang from the balcony to the
roof. II any survived the awful leap
they were burned to death afterwards.
The rope burned off about half way
down, but Fitzpatrick, seeing his men
jumping to their doom, seized the strand
and started down. He dropped from the
end of the rope and caught on a ladder
which was raised to within twenty feet
of it,
A HEROIC FIRE MARSHAL.
Fire Marshal Murphy, who was on the
roof, sprang forward and soon reached
A shout OF admiration and
encouragement went up. The heroic
started back with his friend. but
was enveloped in flames. With the en-
ergy of despair he cIutched his comrade
and slid down the ladder. Both Murphy
and Fitzpatrick were unconscious when
picked up. The former, however, was
not seriously hurt, but Fitzpatrick is not
expected TO survive the night
RAPID PROGRESS OF THE FLAMES.
Scarcely twenty-five minutes had
elapsed since the ire was discovered, but
so rapid had been the progress that the
entire tower had burned away and fell
with an awful crash, carrying with it the
untortunates who were left on the bal
cony and several firemen who were play
ing on the flames with hose from the
roof.
AS the firemen fed from the roof one Of
them picked up the mangled form of one
of the unfortunates who jumped from
the balcony and dropped it to the ground,
thus saving it from cremation. Seeing it
a hopeless task to attempt to save the
building, and as all who escaped alive
had left it, the remaining firemen di-
rected their efforts to keep the flames
from spreading further on. They had
reached the Worlds Far stables.
and the roofs of several poles across
Stony Island avenue, just outside the
were on fire. The poles were
saved with difficulty, but the stables
were destroyed.
DEAD AND INJURED.
Following is list of the dead and in
jured, as far as known at 10 O'Clock.
Work at the burned building is being
carried on in the darkness, owing to the
destruction OF the electric light wires. Six
bodies burned beyond recognition have
been taken from the debris since O'Clock.
Dead-William Davis, killed by jump
ing; William II. Demming, terribly
burned and crushed by jumping; Phillip
Breen. on cupola when it fell; James
Green fell with cupola; Captain Burton
E. Page. killed by jumping; Captain
James A. Garvey, burned to death: John
Mcbride, died in hospital from injuries:
Captain James Fitzpatrick, so badly
burned and crushed that he died in the
hospital tonight; John Cahill, Paul
Schroeder, Lieutenant John II. Freeman
and an unknown lineman, burned in the
ruins.
The following tiremen are missing and
are undoubtedly dead: G. H. Blaisdell.
NJ. Dixon, w. a. HUFF A. L. Otto, NJ. S.
Bonfield, w. J. Sturm.
Injured-W. II. Mahoney, probably
fatally; E. j. Frank, may die; Frank
III,
tain Thomas Barry, may die; John Davis,
William Lenehan. probably fatally; Mar
tin KimbaIl. II. Breckenridge, Marshal
James L. Kenyon, T. H. Donahoo. III.
Murray. w. c. Fisher, w. Lunch, G. S.
Hannah, G. B. French, L. Kenyon and
Fred Goetsch.
AN UNSAFE BUILDING.
A few weeks ago Marshal Murphy in
spected the burned building and reported
it to be extremely unsafe. on account of
his report the insurance companies can
celed all risks on it, so the loss is COM
plete.
President Higinbotham said the Coun-
Gil Of Administration never advised the
construction Of a tower SO hazardous.
We're all overwhelmed by the awful
suddenness and horror of the affair" he
said, ''but L suppose it will be conceded
that the exposition is innocent from
blame in the fire."
When the fire broke out there were
large numbers of visitors in the building
looking at the ice machines and other ex-
hibits. When the firemen rushed in
there was wild rush for the stairwavs
and exits. In the excitement a number
of people were thrown down and badly
bruised, though as far as known none
were seriously injured. It is reported bv
some Columbian guards that number of
women lost their lives in the building.
The firemen discredit the story, but to-
night lady's watch was found on BODY
so badly burned that it was impossible to
tell whether it was that of man or
woman.
Messages of sympathy from Chiefs of