Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-07-11

AlAN III z ~ 0e AAoNNNNANAs ~ - - FNN~N
that the frame work around the mouth
OF the huge cheimney caught from
defect in the lue. AT first it appeared
to be an Insignificant affair. But know
ing the inflammRble nature OF the struc-
ture, Captain Fitzpatrick, who had
charge OF ,the department on the
grounds. sent 10 q call for all the COM
panles TO turn out. With about forty
OF his men be climbed the stationary
ladders inside the tower to the balcony
and from there ropes we're lowered TO
haul up the hose.
Only one hose, that OF chemical en-
gine, had been hauled up when gust
OF wind caused the flames to break out
In an alarming manner about ten feet
from the top OF the cupOla.
Meantime the IRE had eaten its way
down through the network OF timbers
Inside the structure, and unconscious OF
this danger, the fireuen were standing,
as IL were, on the shell of burning
volcano. No one Of the tens Of tbous-
ands of interested spectators who had
gathered from all parts of the grounds
had any intimation OF the perilous pO-
sition in which the forty or fifty fire.
men were then standing.
The fire bad been burning scarcely
twenty minutes, and the hremen were
pulling and hauling at the ropes, when
suddenly the flames busrt out around
the base Of the cupOls In perfect hell
OF fire.
so SUEDEN AND so FURIOUS
was the outbreak and so terrible
was the spectacle that for a moment
the crowd stood tranStiXed with horror.
All the ropes save one on 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 1t aud slid down TO the main
roof Of the warehouse, where he tainted
away. His face and hands were terri
bly, burned. He was taken to the hos
pital, where the physicians say he will
recover.
Two Of his felloW-fremen attempted
to follow him, but before they were half
way down the hose gave way and they
dropped into the seething mass Of fire
aud were lost. Another Of the impris-
oned men started down the rope on the
north side OF the tower and had almost
reached the roof, when it gave way and
he fell, striking on his head, and was
instantly killed.
There now remained, according TO the
count Of various spectators, from twen-
ty-6ve TO thirty men on the tower
They were hOpelesSly beyond the reach
- -. 1aAHar foil chnrt
OF reaching them by full thirty feet
Death Of the most awful kind was fast
approaching.
Al this terrible moment, Capt. Filz-
patrick, with his tall form and white
helmet, appeared In front of the men,
who were huddled together on the mar
row balcony. He appeared to be ad-
dressing his brave followers. What he
said vii probably never be known, for
he alone Of all the men around him at
that moment escaped alive, and his in
juries are such that il is doubtful II he
will ever recover consciousness.
As HE CEASED TO SPEAK
one of the men crept around the burn
ing balcony 20 the east end and returned
moment later with a rope that had
been left there in the excitement. 1t
was hastily fastened to the railing
around the balcony and thrown to the
roof. Capt Fitzpatrick pointed to it.
What be said no one knows.
The foremost man seized IL and start
ed TO slide down, but ere he was half
way the cruel flames rolled up and he
was swallowed into the mouth of the
awful volcano.
Another tried it and met the same
fate.
One after another Eve Of the men at
this moment Sprang from the balcony TO
the roof and were killed Oy 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 portion Of the wall not yet
destroyed.
Seeing his men jumping to their
doom, the heroic captain seized the
rope and started down. A ladder had
been raised but was almost twenty feet
from the end OF the rope. He dropped
and caught on the end Of the ladder.
Marshal Murphy an old personal friend
OF Captain Fitzpatrick, and who mas
NOA hNN III bAAG NAANoAO hAO &c FNA NAANAe
with him for score OF years, was on
the roof. Seeing that there was a
chance TO save his old comrades life he
surang forward and was soon at the top
OF the ladder. A shout Of admiration
and announcement went up from the
multitude below. The heroic Marshal
started back with his friend but was en-
velOped In flames. With an energy OF
despair he clutched his comrade and
slid down the ladder to the roof where
he FELL PROSTRATE.
Both Murphy and Fitzpatrick were
unconscious. They were lowered to
the ground and tsken to the hospital,
and It is doubtful IL either will recover.
Scarcely twenty-five minutes had lapsed
since the fire was discovered, but so
rapid had been its progress that the en-
tire tower was burned away aud it fell |
with an awful crash, carrying with it
several fremen who were playing on
the flames with the hose from the roof. |
Then there was a wild scramble tG get |
Of the roof.
A large quantity Of linseed oil was
stored on the top door aud when the |
tower fell il crashed through to this in
fammable fuel, and then the flames |
rolled up high in the air.
E-av,ar aal Frov, H.