The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-07-11
A Score or More Firemen Sur
rounded by Flames, Hope
OF Escape Gone.
One by One They Jump to Certain
Death or Fall Into the
Flames.
The Most Terrible Calamity That
Has Yet Befallen the Great
Exposition.
Fire in tho Cold Storage Warehouse
Threatens, for . Time, the Entire
White City.

Fire in tho Cold Storage Warehouse
Threatens, for . Time, the Entire
White City.
CHICAGO, July 1O.-The fear that existed
for months In the minds Of citizens OF Chi
caRo found realization to-day in fright
ful holocaust at tho Worlds fair, thnt
claimed nearly two score victims. and for a
time threatened the destruction Of tho en-
tire White city. The disaster was all the
more dreadful because OF its sudden trans
formation from innocent flame into q
death dealing catastrophe. The structure
that burned. the cold storage Warehouse
was one of the smallest buildings of the
fair. but not belonging to the exposition.
II was the exhibit OF the Hercules iron
works and ice and refrigeratinR machines
were manufactured. The building con-
tained skating rink. three 12O-ton ice
machines. some forty barrels Of linsesd oil.
which added fuel to she flame, and in it
thste was stored large quantities Of meat,
fruit, ETC. That the FIRE was mot communi-
Gated TO other Worlds fair buildings was
due to tho favorable winds.
The scene of horror was witnessed by
many Thousands of people who aocked to
the locality whom the alarm was sounded,
and strong men wept and women tainted
as one life after another was snuffsd out
within fulr view Of the multitude. but be-
yond the reach of human aid.
The fire Was not generally observed until
about 1:16 p. m. and within thirty minutes
the great loss Of life occurred. At the first
signal h,emsn rushed up the huge shaft
surrounding the smoke stack and whom at
the summit began prepal ations to fight the
flames, which first appeared at this point.
Before the hose could be coupled
cry of horror from tho crowd below
caused the Aremen to look down. for tho
whole shaft below was enoirolsd with
flames. Men stosd stolidly for moment
in full realization Of their danger. Then
one Rrasped rope which was lowered for
the purpose of raising the hose and half
sliding, half falling. reached tho roof,
ninety feet below. in bruised and burned
condition, but still alive.
The crowd below became wild with excite
ment and weeping women and fren zied
men rushed around wrin9inR their hands
and moaning in anguish over their inability
to tender aid. Suddenly every eye was
turned upward by the preparations of a
fireman to jump. He gave quick, spasmo-
die leap, and turned over and. over half a
dozen times before he struck the roof
the roof there was a frightful crash and IL
bounced far up again into the air. From
this time on bsdies aimed from tho steeple,
as after the first wild leap ono man after
another jumped in quick succession as the
flames closed in below and the heat became
more intense. The very horror Of death
rivstsd every eye to the scens and whiie
mon and women shouted historically, the
guards were almost poweress to keep the
crowd away from danger.
The spectacle became more horrible 40
minute passed. and for the last man on the
cupola was reserved the most dreadful fate
Of ALL After his csmL anions had lsaped to
the whole shaft began to trembls and
vibrats. The lone fireman understood the
ominOus warning, and gave . wild leap. but
too late. At the very instant no sprang the
whole structure collapsed and this human
being. quiverine with life and wildly grasp
was seen to drop into the labyrinth OF fame
and hre and disappear into the roaring
furnace below.
Az firs trap tho cold storage warehouse
could not have been more perfectly con-
structsd. II was $50 feet long. 150 feet
wide, made of wood sad covered with staff.
The main body Of the building was i've
stories high. In the center rose q smoke
stack IN the shape OF cunoa, 200 feet
high. It's base was about thil ~ feet square,
and ninety feet up there was a balcony
from which rose tower eliminating in the
mouth Of the smoke stack where the FIRE
was first discovered. In the interior of the
work y 'ound the mouth of the chimney
caught frs from defect in the fiue.
Al first IL appeared an insignificant af-
fair, but, knowing the inflammabls nature
of the structure Fire Marshal Murphy
called all the comnaniss out. With about
forty OF his men. Capt. Fitzpatrick climbed
tho ladders inside the tower TO the balcony
aud from there ropes were lowered to haul
ny the hose. One had bssn gotten mp when
tho wind caused the flames TO break out In
an alarming manner about ten feet from
the top Of the cupola. Meantime, the fire
had eaten it, way down the inside OF the
structure. and all unconscious the firemen
were standing on the shell Of burning
volcano.
The fro had been burning scarcely TWEEN
~ minutes when suddenly flames burst out
around the base OF the balcony in Y perfect
fury. 30 TO riblo WAS the spectacle that for
a moment the crowds stood trans0xed with
horror. all alike powerless to aid the unfor-
tunAte men imprisoned on the balcony 100
feet from the ground. All topes hanging
from the tower burned away. One hose
withstood the heat. however, aud John
Davis caught hold Of IL and sltd down to
the main roof. where he tainted. His face
and hands we're terribly burned by flames
which envsloped him 40 he came down. He
was taken to hospital and the physicians
say he will iecover.
Two OF his fellow flremen attempted to
follow him. bus before they were half way
down the hose gave way and they dropped
into ths seethina mass Of tire and wete lost.
Another man started down the portion OF
the rope hanging from the tower. but It
gave way and he fell. striking on hts head.
and was instantly killed. There now 10
maiusd. according to the count OF the vari-
Gus spectators. twenty-Ave TO thirty men on
the tower. They we're hopslsssly beyond
human help. the longest ladder falling
short by fully thirty feet.
A. this terrible moment Capt. Fitz-
patrick's tall form appeared In front of the
men who huddled together ON the marrow
balcony. He seemed to be addressing his
brave followers. AZ hs ceased speaking