New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-18
FIREME.N WERE WARNED OF THE DANGER
ANOTHER STORY TOLD OF THE WORLDS FAIR
FIRE DISASTER

Chicago July l7-One week has elapsed since the
Worlds Fair fire. and still the mystery Of the exact
number OF human lives lost remains unsolved. For
three days practically no attempt was made TO clear
up the ruins and the work that has been done since
that time has only had the effect OF indicating the
large amount Of labor still ahead before the investiga-
ton Is complete and the funeral pyre gives up It's
secrets II will be wci-nlgh Impossible TO distinguish
between any fragments OF human beings that are
unearthed and the quantities Of meat and provisions
that were stored in the building. John b. skinner
president OF tho Hercules Iron Works, the company
owning the cold storage building. lays the blame for
the terrible loss OF life upon Assistant Fire Marshal
Murphy. lie insists that bunder made In the
face Of repeated warnings from employees in the build
Ing Captain Fitzpatrick was with Marshal Murphy
The men, Mr. skinner declares, would not listen to
the admonitions OF who knew the structure
and the danger Of an ascent to the tower.
There was absolutely for the loss Of
IA single Ife," said Mr.. skinner. Z" The hremen were
Informed BY our employees that there fire
below before they went up into the tower. They
were begged not go UP and the danger was pointed
ont I'm advance when there plenty OF time to
order down such as were already mp. Among those
who warned the men. and who are ready to testify
70 tho fact Is Walter VI. Donaldson, the Office
manager of the business part of the storage and
ice department. To his directions and entreaties
captain fitzpatrick answered: You go to -. l
a J. Branch continued Mr.. skinner, in response
TO a request for the names OF the other witnesses,
one OF our men, also asked Captain Fitzpatrick TO
work the base OF the tower and tight the IRE
which was already there. The Captain for an an
Swer fetched him n backhanded blow with the Hat
Of his hand which Knocked him eight or ten feet
Upon the Information had given them some OF
the hremen hesitated and dcmurred. The Marshal
heard to shout 10 them By at least two OF our
people @ ND cOWardS.'
The Worlds Fair receipts OF yesterday and the con-
ributions OF conccssonaires have sweled the total
the relief fund to about 000O and still the work
OF charity continues.
The Investigation Of the facts connected with the
disaster was resumed at 10 O'Clock this morning at
the Hyde Park police station Coroner MclIalc pre-.
siding. Fire Marshal Murphy was the most important
witness. lie testified that as a stream OF
water was turned on the fire smoke appeared and
was almost Immediately followed by an explosion
After the explosion flames appeared from all sides
OF the tower After the flames burst ont upon
the men. they began 10 jump from the
tower. Marshal Murphy then gave list Of
the men who had jumped and told how
he with the aid OF Hans Reiiedt and Captain James
Kennedy, rescued Captain Fitzpatrick. In reply TO
question who ordered the men to 20 on the tower
Marshal Murphy replied "The men were on the
tower when ! went there Captain Fitzpatrick was
I'm charge and II IS reasonable 10 suppose that he
ordered them 10 the tower. but do not know as 10
that The explosion, he thought, was caused by gas
lgnitcd by the flames.