Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-14
FATALMEMPHISFIRE.
A NUMBER OF LIVES co OUT M
AGONY.
Nearly q Million Dollars Worth OF Pro-
perry Laid In Ashes-Cause, Lamp
Explosion.
CBy telegraph to the pispatch.)

MEMPHIS, TENN, November B.-Fire
broke out tonight about 715 O'clock in
the weter Block. on Main street
between Monroe and Union streets. and
before the flames could be checked, at
p. NJ, several lives had been lost and
nearly million dollars worth Of pro-
perty had gone UP In smoke. The exact
number Of lives lost at this hour QO:SO Is
unknown. but careful estimate places
1t at four. while four or five were In
jured. some fatally, in jumping from the
burning buildings.
About 7:i5 O'Clock people In the vicinity
were startled by the report OF an expo.
sion and a fash. and In an instant
flames were pouring from the SKIN noor,
occupied by the Schmalzried Hardware
! Company. The second third, fourth, and
fifth floors we're occupied by the Young
Mems Christian Association. and IL was
in this place that the terrible loss OF ilie
occurred.
PENNED LIKE SHEEP.
The fire started from the explosion OF
large coal-oil lamp near the stairway,
! ana ,n three minutes the entire front OF
the building was In flames and ali means
of exit were cut off, There were ABOUT
fifteen people in the library when the
alarm was given. They made Wild rush
for the Maln-street exit, only 10 pe
! driven hack by the flames. Like nero
OF sheep they rushed for the windows q,
the rear OF the building, but the nanies
spread so rapidly that the faclngs ol
| three of the windows were already on
fire when they reached the rear oil the
building.
LEAPS FOR LIFE.
They stood huddled together AT WIN
dow for moment when the crowd ueiow
yelled "I.eapr Jump for your nVes'
| One man took the advice, jumped. anu
uos canght on a telegraph-wire but was
rescued He was followed a moment later
nv a comrade. who aimed for the same
wire bu, missed It, and fell to the pave
ment below. Two more men maue ..ie
same attempt, but they. too, Hisseu we
wire and went down on top OF 'her I'm.
rade. At this juncture the iIenirm -,
rivod and ladders we're quickly run up
| =. ~ .indows Many were rescued, put
| hoforo tho others could be saved the
1a,nee burned the ladder and the rehaih-
dor perished I'm the burning building
KILLED AND WOUNDED.
The names of the killed cannot De leaIm'
ed tonight, II they will ever De AloN,l
Secretary Perkins. of the Young hen
| Christian Association. Is the ohiy pe,son
who can give any definite lhiorilia'' '' y
- en- eyact number OF lives lost, and
no lies AT 81. Joseph's Hospital uncon-
! ecio,,s The names of the seriously III
irrsd as far as can be learned, are as
a X. Perkins, skull crushed, internally
| Injured will die. ~,
Charles watkins, janitor of the build'
ing internally injured; will die.
William Bordman, Water Valley, MISS,
internally injured; may die.
I c. J. White. arm broken; VIII prooapi1
recover. ,
Several others were more or less injured.
hut none OF them fatally. T. II. Bond'
young man who was In the houhs
! Mems Christian Association gymnasium,
! is missing. He Is believed to be- among
those lost.
Lemon & Gales stock Of clothing, which
was damaged by water, will be a total
! loss. ..-e,
NO ADEQUATE FIRE-ESCAPES.
| The loss OF life IS due to the lack o.
! properly constructed fire-escapes on tins
| buildings. The owners OF the buildings
Will be crimi9ally prosecuted.
| The losses As far as can be learned to-
night are as follows: Schmalzried Hard
ware Company, on stock, $1,000; insur'
ance. SOS, go Building. owned jointly by
d II. Welter and the Schmalzried Company,
{ s26. 900: Insurance. $1,000 Lemon & Gale.
/ dry goods and clothing; loss. building and
4 stock, $4,000; insurance, $4,000. Youns
/ Mems Christian Association. loss on IL
lbrary and gymnasium, 5000; insurance
$4,000. Memphis Loan building, adjoining
the Welter block $4,000. The total loss
| will reach fully SJOO.0OO.