The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-11-24
DETROIT'S FATAL FIRE.
Terrible Confagration in a Big
Dry Goods House.
PROBABLY SEVEN LIVES LOST.

Two Jumped from n Fifth Story Window
and Were Killed, Another wns Seen TO
Fall Into The Flames, and the Others
Are Missing.
DETROIT Nov. 2i-Onc of the worst
fires that Detroit has experienced in many
years occurred yesterday, and completely
destroyed n five story building at the cor
ner of Jefferson avenue and Bates street,
occupied by Edison, Moore & CO., whole
sale dry goods, and damaged several ad-
jacent buildings, causing total loss of
100000. Three men employed by the dry
goods firm lost their lives in the flames
and four Others, who are missing, are also
supposed to have perished
The dead are James Mckay, clerk, aged
3s; Bradley A. Dunning, porter, aged "A;
e. Genther, entry clerk, single, aged %;
Patrick Markey, aged 32, leaves a widow
and three children.
Missing Daniel A. Baker clerk; Henry
Rider, packer Charles w kirchner, clerk;
Edward n. Volt, clerk.
The fire started at 1890 o'clock, and SO
quick was he work of the flames that in
half an hour the building was completely
gutted, and practically only the firmly
Dolttu IRON lrbnt TtlnHlDeu sNuHulnRs TOT
an hour the department fought with fire
which defied their efforts. A general
alarm was turned in, which called out. the
entire fire department of the city, Luckily
the flames were confined mainly to the
dry goods building, which was entirely
consumed, and considerable damage was
done to adjoining structures
The saddest feature was not the destruc-
tion of property, however, but the loss of
life Long before the many engines re-
sponded to the general alarm two men
could be seen on the window sills Of the
fifth story on the State street side OF the
| building. So rapidly had the flames pro-
gressed that the men undoubtedly had not
the time to get out OF the building. There
they clung while the crowd sboutedi
Don't jump. Don't jump! There's help
| coming"
But as those below called out these
words of useless encouragement the flames
behind them advanced and burst around
them. A bale of jute was procured by the
spectators and placed below the window
on which Bradley Duuning was perched.
He sprans from the window and landed
on the bale. He bounded off and fell to
! the sidewalk, where he lay limp and ap-
parently lifeless. An ambua ance carried
I him to the hospital where he died soon
after. By this time the tiremen had spread
a net to catch Markey. who fell into it.
| His injuries were such that he too, died
soon after being taken TO a hospital.
Hardly had this double tragedy trans
pired than another man was seen near the
upper window nearest the corner. lie was
evidently nearly suifocated, for although
he succeeded in reaching the sill, his
strength apparently gave out, and after
an effort to raise himself, one arm having
been thrown over the sill, he slowly sank
back and disappeared from view. He i,
thought TO have been Edward Genther.
After tho fire the firm established TEN.
pOrary headquarters and opened n regis
ter. All employees who reported signed
the register. BY comparing the notes il
became evident that Genther Rider, Volt,
Baker and Kirchner were missing and
there is no doubt of their fate