Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-07-11

forced him 10 turn swsy. He ssid the
exposition officially had nothing more %
do with the Hsreoies Iron oosnp~Ey, lie
exhibit and concessicn 10 supply sce
and store p~fishabis goods than IL had
with any other exhibitor or Rkes
siones. He undesstood that eve one
affected by tie, loss II the cold skbrag~
ssrehouss, had made individuaiarraog
ments TO have their nnnaesiisse wants
suppsiei
A cold storage on the grounds was
necessary. Colonel Davis aaid. and he
intimated that the concession 20 thr
Hercules Iron company would be taken
from them. lie eouiplimentsd tho for
eign commissioners and others Who had
prcffered their physical forces aud their
services ia obtaining subscriptions for
the families Of the victims-
Coloncl Iticr's Cvsstssi~a-
Colonel Rice said littie. hut that liz
tie went long way. "fhis y the result
of the reduction In tho fogcc of guards
by the administration. Hthe two guards
who we're taken from the warehouse iast
week had been there they could have
extinguish-d the fire With the cbemi.
Gals at hand as they hue done bsfore
in the same place. Tho guards we're
there Ia take precautions against fire.
because II the dangerous construction
Of the building"
In an interview tonight Chief Sweeney
said that the probable cause of the ex.
plosions which wrecked tbs tower was
the ammonia use. in the manufacture
Of ice. and that while those who handle
these chemicals maintain otherwise. be
was certain that the ammonia exploded.
The chimney he said. which passsd up
through the tower was not hricaed up
and 10 that defect was due the begin-
ming IL the olaze The chief tonight
received telegrams Ut sympathy from
the Minneapolis and Toledo fire depart
ments. the latter containing subserip-
ton Of slO0
The Storage House.
The warehouse. engines and the ice
making plant. which wore the property
IL the Hercules Iron company of Chi
cago. represented an expenditure OF
sJ00.000. There were three engines
which cost 10000. each operated by
three immense boilers. now exposed.
The ice making machinery VAS turn
ing out 10000 tons OF ice a
day In the center Of the building
under the towers was the engine house.
On the south side was the ice making
department. on the north side the cold
storage. on the north sides of the second.
third and fourth floors were also devoted
to cold storage. On the south side Of
the third floor were the Offices Of the
company. and on the south side of the
fourth iioor the sleeping rooms for
employees, 81 or 40 of whom remained
in the building at night When
the fire broke out there were 80 or
sixty men and boys in the building as
employees of the company, but all es-
capped. with the possible exception OF
one boy. wi o is missing. On the fifth
floor were the ice skating rink and cafe.
both Of which were to have been opened
in two days. In the cold storage vaults
were a stock Of vegetables. fruit. wines.
liquors. fruit and dairy products. valued
at $4,000. all Of which is destr Dyed.
The death-trap shaft which pierced
the lower five feet short of the mouth
OF the cupalo. was made Of thin sheet
iron and covered with q frame work Of
wood and staff five feet thick. The con
tinuous passage Of air from the engine
kept the shaft and frame work hot as a
furnace.
Their D-.xtcrity fncir Death.
Two hours after the extent of the
calamity was known s2I00 had been
subscribed for the benefit OF the fam
lilies OF the fallen heroes. The fund will
grow tomorrow when il becomes known
that such list is being passed around.
various parts Of the grounds who were
taking up subscriptions. ostensibly for
the benefit of the bcreayed families.
Engine Company No. | the accredited
star organization of the fair.
this morning boasted membership
OF twelve men. They were the
first Ia arrive at the burning
building They ran In the
tower. taking ropes with them. waiting
for other arrivals TO bring their hose la
attach the hempen strings. For fifteen
minutes the brave fellows were UP there
being reinforced every minute 10y other
arrivals and just rs the first cad Of hose
reached them. their doom came.
The cold b.oodei iiend was upon
the scene IN the form of the man who
pushed tho hutton II a kodak while the
doomed men were huddled together on
the northeast corner of the blazing
tower. just prevlovs Ia taking their ter
rible leap for life; the man with the
camera appeared on the platform 81 the
elevated road He rested his box upon
the railing, aud after deliberate aim.
photographed the men. many of whom
were already hanging from the corner.
Ficnd With n Kodak.
He took three or four snapshots as the
men were dropping aud then walked
away 90 "A more advantageous place
The act was witnessed by many people,
who Kissed the perpretaior IL the cold
blooded act, and loudly dcclsimed his
penurious instincts.
IA soon as the bodies were recovered
Coroner McIlalc carefully gathered up
the charred and blackened pieces. and
placing the remains of each separate
individual IN g nnyssck. sent them 10
Rolston's morgue The first body taken
10 the morguc was that of a fireman.
suppu~ed to be Frank Dennlng.
~ Truck No. IL lie was badly
burned and was taken 90 the
world fair hospital where he died .n a
short time. lie = the only victim found
up 20 . o'clock who can be positively
identified The tive other bodies are un-
recognizable masses Il burned fiesh and
homes. Tho only property found is q
voman's small silver watch and "a fire
mans ba,lgo Nothing whatever was
found on the other bodies by which they
can be identified
~ the Engine House.
At the little white fire station between
machinery ball aud the terminal station.
the rema ants q aompany ID gathered
g. rect themselves after their terrible