New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-11
alarming manncr about ten feet from the top OF

through the network of timbers inside thc
structure and, unconscious of their danger, the
fremen were standing. as it were on the shell OF
burning volcano. Not one Of the tens OF
thousands of interested spectators who had gain
cred from all parts Of the grounds had any IN
timation of the perous position in which the
! fremen were then standing. The fire had been
burning scarcely twenty minutes, and the hremen
We're pulling and hauling at the ropes when
/ suddenly the flames burst out around the base
! Of the cupola in a perfect hell Of fury. So
sudden and furious the outbreak and so
terrible was the spectacle that for the moment
the crowd stood there transfixed with horror.
Strong men wrung their hands in hystercal
manner and scores Of women tainted. All alike
were powerless to aid the unfortunate men i'm
| prsoned the balcony, $50 feet from the
ground.
FIREMAN DAVISS ESCAPE.
| All the ropes save one the north side OF
! the tower were burned away in an instant. The
hose from the chemical engine withstood the heat.
! however and springing forward, John Davis
caught hold of it and slid down to the main roof
of the warehouse, where he tainted away. His
face and hands were terribly burned by the flames
which enveloped his body as he came down. He
was taken to the hospital where he cared
for, and the physicians say he will recover Two
of his fellow firemen attempted to follow him.
but before they were half way down the hose gave
way and they dropped into the seethng mass Of
fire and We're lost. As the hose parted and the
men sank ont of sight in the fire the multitude
below gave uttorance 10 groan Of sickenlng
horror. Another of the imprisoned men started
down the rope on the north side Of the tower
and had almost reached the roof when it gave
/ l. fu11 Ill. Ite hood an1
instantly killed
There remained according to the counts
of various spectators, from twenty-five to thirty
men on the tower They were hopeessly be-
yond the reach of help. The longest ladder fell
short of reaching them by full thirty feet. Death
OF the most awful kind fast approaching.
At this terrible m ment Captain Fitzpatrick's fill
form and white helmet appeared in front Of the
men who Were huddled together on the narrow
hacony He appeared 10 be addressing his brave
followers What he said will probably never he
known, for he alone ri all the men around him
az that moment escaped alive, and his injuries
are such that it is doubtful if he will ever re-
cover consciousness
ONE AFTER ANOTHER KILLED.
As lie ceased to speak one of the men crcpt
around the burning balcony to the east and re-
turned moment later with rope that had been
left there in the excitement. II was hastily
fastened to the railing around the balcony and
thrown 70 the roof Captain Fitzpatrick pointed to
it, What he said no ono knows The foremost
man seized il and started to slide down, but ere he
was half way the cruel flames rolled up and he
WAS swallowed into the mouth of the awful vol
cano. Another tried il and met the same fate.
One after another five of the men at this moment
sprang from tho balcony 10 the roof and were
killed by the fall. If any of them survived they
were burned The rope was burned Of about half
way down and it hung apparently useless against
a portion Of the wall not yet destroyed. Seeing
his men jumping 10 their doom the heroic Captain
-ssize,s tl~sropr and started down. ladder had
been raised. but was almost twenty feet from the
end NJ the rope lie dropped and caught on the
end Of the ladder
Marshal Murphy. an old personal friend Of
Cartain Fitkpatrick. and who has worked on thu
Chicago Fire Department with him for a scora
of wears was on the roof Seeing there was a
chance to save his comrades life. he sprang for
ward and was soon AT tho top of the ladder.
shout of admiration and encouragement went mp
from rho multitude below. The heroic captain
started back with his friend. but was envclopei
in flames With the energy Of despair he clutched
hi. comradc and slid down the ladder to the roof,
where he fell PROSTATE Both Murphy and Fitz-
rotrick wcrc unconscious. They We're lowered
to thc ground and taken 10 the hospital and 1t
is doubtful if either will recover.
Scarcely TWENTY-FIVE minutes had elapsed sine"
the frc was discovered but 80 rapid had been
its progress that the entire tower had burned away
and il fell with an awful crash, carrying with
il several ircmcn who wcr PLAYING on IN" h1m"s
with the hose from the roof. There was a Will
scramble To get of tho roof
4 LARGE quantity Of lnsccd oil stored on
the top floor and when the tower fell il crashed
through the roof 10 this infammabc fuel, and
then the flames rolled mp hich in the air.
As the frrmcn fed from the roof one Of them
picked MP the manglcd form of one Of thr un-
fortunatcs who had jumped from the balcony,
and carrying il TO the edge of tho roof. dropped
il 10 the ground, thus saving ii from cremation.
A. vet the body has not been identified, as the
face was burned black Many Of the unfortunate
iircmcn who lost their lives might have been
saved had the department been supplied with
nets They could have jumped from the tower
10 the roof and been saved by the nets.
Seeing that il hopeless task TO attempt
10 save the building and a. all who escaped alive
had left the roof, the Gremen now directed their
efforts TO keep the fire from spreading. The
Worlds Fair stables. Just south Of the big ware
house. were burning and the fire had spread 10
thc roofs of several hotels across Stony Island
ave- Just outside the grounds With good deal
Of effort the hotels were Saved. but the stables
were burned to the ground. In less than two
hours from the time the fire started the big cold
storage warehouse was levcllcd TO the ground. a
smoking ruin. II is doubtful if any of the bodies
will ever be recovered. furious ard terrific was
the heat. The building being built of wood, and
added 10 this the barrels of oil. made the fire
of the hottest the fire department has ever had TO
fight.
SAD SCENES IN THE LITTLE FIRE STATION.
At the LITTLE white fire station between Ma
chincry Hall and the Terminal Station the rem
nants of Company ID gathered to rest themselves
after their terrible days work The company AT
80 numbered twelve men tonight just one