The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1893-07-18
A Cold Storage Warehouse on
the Columbian Exposition
Grounds Burning.
While in the Performance of
Their Duty, Thirty Firemen
Meet an Awful Fate.

-No ltss tiidH tHiitN HheiHeh i'et
their lives at the Worlds fair this
afternoon just before , o'clock. At
that time the cold storage warehouse
lust south of Sixty-fourth street gate,
caught fire in the top OF the cupola
which rises fully 300 feet from the
ground. Through this cupoia the
chimney passes. The cupola is built
of wood overland with staff and
is highly ornamented with columns
and pillars. Near the top is land
ing. The fire broke out about thirty
feet above this. As soon as the fire.
men arrived about thirty-tive or forty
of them climbed up the ladder to this
landing and were preparing TO throw
streams Of water to the burning portion
when a fire, which had eaten its way
inside the staff to point below where
firemen stood, broke ont with volcanic
ferocitv on all sides. Exclamation of
horror went up from the lips of 20,-
900 people who had assembled about
the building to see the ire.
Five of the men saved themselves
by sliding down the ropes. Before
Others could follow the flames bad
burned away the ropes. The unfortu-
nate fellows who remained huddled
together on the north side of the
cupola doomed. 1t was beyond the
reach of any ladders and the crowd
stood borror->tricken and helpless to
rescue the helpless crew. Flames ran
higher and higher until the men were
almost concealed from view AT this
moment one fireman sprang
far out into the air and
dashed to pieces on root
fully so feet below. Another followed
his example, crazed by the awful heat
and dust, preferriug to be killed by
fall than be burned to death. When
FIVE had jumped, the upper portion of
the curo'a gave away and the remain
ing tiremen were swallowed up in the
seathing mass OF burning timbers.
In the meantime all the fire engines
on the grounds had been called and
aid had been summoned from HYDE
park, but the main portion of the fire
was far above the streams of the
water.
1t is probable the entire building
will be totally destroyed. 1t cost
$250,OO0 and was stored with fruits
and wines The whole loss will prob
ably reach S5OO.G00.
1t was built and occupied by the
Hercules Iron Works company, man.
utacturers of refrigerating machinery
At 2:l5 p H., the entire warehouse
was in flames.
1t is reported that three women and
several clerks employed in the office
of the concern on the third floor were
crushed by the falling cupola.
The wind blowing was strong from
the north and if it does not change
to the south or west the fire will
probably be confined to the cold
storage warehouse, but if the wind
should veer around it will sweep
direct, into the administration build
ing after destroying the Pennsylvania
railroad building.
Among the men who slid down the
rope. was Capt Fitzpatrick, who was
horribly burned and will die.
Several other firemcn ami couple
of Columbian guards were more or
less n;ured, none. it is thou. ut. SER
iOuslv. At 3 o'clock several small
hotels just outside the grounds west of
the cold storage warehouse caught fire
from sparks, and are Low burning
furiously.
The warehouse is now a complete
ruin land it is doubtful If the remains of
the firemcn who lost their lives in the
flames will ever he recovered. The
Worlds fair stab es south of the
warehouse were also burned,
but no lives were lost, and it
is believed all the live stock was saved.
The wind is blowing from the lake,
inland. Had it been in the opposite
directions it is possible that the entire
fair, despite all efforts, would have
been laid in ruins.
UNDER CONTROL.
At 3:15 the fire was practically
under control.
1t is now known that from so to 60
firemen were injured. There are many
wild rumors that the death list will
exceed that given above but it is safe
to say thirty dead is near the right
number. 1t is impossible to get the
names of the firemen who persisted.
None other of the fair buildings were
damaged except the stables.