The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-07-11

suffered financially Is thinking OF the
money loss when all around the fire-gusrd
station, the Emergency HOSPITAL and the
around tho scene of woe. are evidences OF
the exposition's deadly baptism of fire.
The sun was shining its brightest from
blue sky at 1:30 o'clock this afternoon. as
the pleasure-seeking people passed under
the shadow of tho cold-storage warehouse.
Suddenly boy saw q tongue of flame es-
Gaping from the cupola or observatory
tower which forms the topmost section OF
the warehouse. From the ground to that
first flame were three hundred feet of space.
The boy gave the alarm. and in few min
utes the unflInching heroes at the fire sta
tions. at the Casino and the terminal depot
came dashing along with hose cart. engine
and hook and ladder. many alas. never to
return alive. The altitude of the blazing
observation tower and it's isolation from
the great main roof made the work OF
the tiremen hazardous and slow from tho
very outset.
THE FIRST ON THE TOWER.
Before the firemen got to work. several
painters. electric-light men and others en-
ployed In the building, assembled by the
elevators to the main roof and afterwards
climbed up the spiral staircase which was
built around the great death trap of q
smokestaok. until they reached the balcony
underneath the burning cupola. They
found the flames had gone too far to be
smothered by the chemicals at hand. They
waited for the firemen to join them.
thinking they could be of assist
ance. Captain Hardness, of the Guards.
ordered Sergeant Douglas to take eight
men up to the blazing tower and aid
the tiremen. The sergeans gave his su-
perior officer one look-such q one as the
officers of the Light Brigade at Balaklava
may ave gwen their commanding general
when he gave the order to charge into the
mouths of tho Russian cannon. But the
serGeant went and eight guards followed
to do their duty. By q arrange ohanoe ell
are alive tonight to tell the tale and mourn
the loss of brave comrades. Not so with
the firemen. They went ont on the roof
and hauled MP the hose with ropes to the
first story of the tower on the north and
south sides of the warehouse. Others
rushed up the spiral stairway TO the land
ing next the blazing top and lowered ropes
on three sides to the men below.
All this time the fire resembled the fam
ing mouth of q small blast furnace, and at
o distance there seemed to be no danger
menacing those brave men at work hun.
dreds of feet in the air. The experienced
eve of Chief Murphy. in command of the
worlds fair fire department. failed to sus-
- l. L.
them to go up to the tower below the blaze.
But he sent nearly all of them to q death.
the horror and agony of which no human
tongue or pen can describe. Those few mo-
ments of realization that the flames sur
rounded them above and below. followed
by their last act Of life, must have been as
an eternity of hell to every soul. A
six xteen-foot ladder was placed from
the first section of the tower to
the landing on which the men were. but no
one thought of running q big ladder from
the main roof to the tower. so as TO con-
meet with the small ladder. Without a
take them. the thirty odd men outside the
tower were at work.
SLID DOWN THE HOSE.
All this time the flames were burning
through the larger seotion of the tower be-
meath them. The first intlmation of dan.
ger Game to the victims when smoke ap-
peared under them, and, as the wind blew
it into their faces, they retreated in an or
derly body around the landing to the north
side of the tower, with the exception of
one man. q painter. who slid down the hose,
which had been brought up to the south
side of the tower. 1t may be- that more
would have taken this almost sure means
of escape. but for the smoke which
enveloped them. 1t seemed as IL the vic
Tins changed position because they feared
flames would soon follow the smoke which
they saw. Death quickly came to put an
end TO suspense and agony. The flames
had been devouring five feet Of framework
which surrounded the cast iron shaft that
pierced the tower below the men. Quick
as flash, like a band Of molten gold
flames burst through the square tower just
underneath the imprisoned men on all Sides
The gold letters. Hercules Ice SIX ating . Rink
and Cold-storage Warehouse" were in the
center of the tower. and around them the
flames circled and raised to mock and tor
ture the Door wretches to whom the eyes of
thousands were turned.
In q few seconds the imprisoned ones felt
the scorching fire coming. and by one I'M
pulse Of self preservation the men moved
quickly to where the ropes were attached
at the northwest corner. They could not
look down and see the flames because of
the projecting cornices. but they knew
where the ropes were. There they stood
huddled together. some without their coats
others hatless, and all preparing to save
themselves If they could. The man near
est the rope grasped it and descended. But
for only q dozen feet. The flames had no
mercy, tho rope was burned in two and,
with feet downward. the first victim shot
through the air to the main roof. He
turned partly over before he struck. and
bounded up before lying as if dead.
SPECTATORS HoRRoR.sTRICKEN,
A great cry of anguish and fear came up
from thousands on the Rround,t and ct
other points where the first of those awful
leaps and falls could be seen. Strong men
wept and became hysterioai. They cried
aloud for God to save those poor souls
from the flames. They Rot on their knees
and prayed to God that all might not
perish. Women could be seen every where
fsintinG and wrlnging their hands. bury
ing or turning away their faces, and cry.
ing hystericaliy at the sickening scene.