The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1893-07-11
HORRIBLE HOLOCAUST.
Thirty Firemen Burned to Death
on the Worlds Fair
Grounds.
\ Large Gold storage House Near the Adj
mimi>tr tratiOn building Burned
With It.. Contents.

in the cold storage warehouse just south !
of the Sixty fourth street gate Of the
Words Fair. The flames are pouring
out of the tall cupola.
About thirty tiremen were caught on
the roof. The fire breaking out beneath
them. all were burned to death. Three
jumped from the top Of the tower fully
l25 feet from the ground.
The fire started from the top Of cup
ola. which rises fully 200 feet from the
ground. Through this cupola the Chin
ney passed. The cupola was made of
wood. overlaid with staff. highly orna-
mented with columns and pillars. Near
the top is a landing. Fire broke out
thirty feet above this. AS soon as the
tiremen arrived thirty-tive or forty of
them climbed up the ladder to the land
ing and were prepared to throw streams
of water on the burning portion when
the fire. which had eaten its way inside
the staff to point below where the fire
men stock. broke out with volcanic fer
ocity on all sides. An exclamation of
horror broke from the lips of 10000 peo-
pie gathered about the building to see
the fire. Five men saved themselves by
sliding down ropes. Before the others
could follow. the fire burned away the
ropes. Those who remained huddled
together on the north side OF the cupola.
1t was beyond the reach of any ladders
and the crowd stood horror striker,
helpless to aid. The flames leaped
higher and higher until the men were al
most concealed from view. At this
moment one of the tiremen sprang far
out and was dashed to pieces on the roof
60 feet below. Another. and another.
crazed by the awful heat. followed his
example. and met the same fate. When
five had jumped the upper portion of the
cupola gave way and the remaining fire
men were swallowed up in the mass Of
burning timbers.
Meantime every effort was being
made to extinguish the fire. most Of
which was above the reach Of the
streams. The entire building will be
destroyed. 1t cost a quarter OF a million
dollars and was stored with wines. meats
and fruits. The loss will be a halt
million. 1t was built by the Herculon
Iron Works. manufacturers of refrigera
ting machinery.
1t is reported that three women and
several clerks in the office on the third
floor were crushed by the falling
cupola.
Several small hotels on Stony Island
avenue. just outside Of the grounds
caught fire and are now burning. Two
Columbian guards who were on tht
cupola and slid down the rope are badl,
burned. All the tiremen who slid dowr
are severely burned and some Of then
have broken bones from falling afte
reaching the end of the rope.
Bulletin-a strong wind is blowing
from the north. and IL it remains in tina
: direction the fire will probably be con
fined to the building in which it started
II it should veer to the west it woult
| 6Wcep oucCtly tuC
: building. The flames have not eatel
: their way into the lower part Of tn
! building. The cupola has fallen, car
rying the third floor down to the sec
ond.
The warehouse is now complet
ruin. 1t is doubtful il anything Of tn
remains Of the tiremen who went dow
: : in the flames will be recovered. Tn
Worlds Fair stables. south Of the col
storage warehouse was also burned, bu
. no lives were lost there and it is bt
lleved the livestock in them all wer
!, saved.
Carl Kenyon had a leg broken. Cap
Fitzpatrick an arm broken and othe
injuries. He will probably die. Maj
shal Murphy was badly injured by
4 fall. Fifty to sixty firemen were il
il iured and at least thirty lost their live
short time after the fire broke out.
Other Worlds Fair buildings We,
| not lamagei