The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-11-02
TALL BUILDINGS ALBA re.
sRVEN.sToRY BUILDINGS IN PITTS
BURG ENvELOPED IN FLAMES.
The Explosion Of Barrel Of Whisky Causes
Fire That Injuries Eight Persons
and Consumes Many Thou.
sand Dollars Worth
Of Property.

PITTSBURG, OcU. III he explosion
of barrel of whisky in the ware
house of the Chautauqua Lake Ice
company this afternoon caused the
destruction OF over $500, 900 worth OF
property, and serious Injury to eight
persons. Several of the injured it is
feared will die. A core or more Of
others sustained slight cuts and bruises
or were tramped upon by mobs sur
rounding the burning buildings
Those seriously hurt We're L. j. Heit-
man, fatal; Martin Griffith, Edward
Specs, may not recover; William Cox,
William Smith, Lieutenant Frank Nc
Cam Of Engine company No. z, Will
| liam Wiseman, John Reseche. At
o'clock a number OF employees in the
third story of the Chautauqua COM
pany's buildings were startled by u
loud report, and almost in an
instant the large room was ablaze.
The men quickly gave the alarm aud
then started for the Stairs, but the
flames had already cut off escape, and
the only means OF escape LETT were the
windows, 80 teet from the ground. The
heat was SO intense that they We're
forced to creep out upon the window
silIs AMI hang by their hands until the
fire department arrived. Flaues burst.
ing from the windows burned their
hands and faces, but they hung until
The fremen got their ladders and
brought them down.
When the fire was discovered the
alarm was sent in. and when IhA first
district reached the scene the flames
were rapidly eating their way through
the great 7-story building. A second
alarm brought out two more districts,
but the fire spread to the 7-story build.
ing of the Pittsburg Storage Company
adjoining, and both structures 200
feet long and 100 feet deep, were burn
ing tierctly.
Two more districts were then sum
moued, and in 20 minutes water was
pouring on the flames from sc IRE OF
engines. At 2 O'Clock it looked as
though the whole block from Twelfth
street to Thirteenth, and Pike to
Pennsylvania avenue was doomed, aud
out. To add to the excitement it was
discovered that large tank Of AIN
MONA was located iii the COMPANY 5 |
building, and the police earring an ex-
plOsiou quickly ordered he occupants
of houses on Twelfth street also to |
vacate, All the houses in the neigh.
DorhOod are cheap tenements and |
crowded almost to sutfUcation with |
Polish Jews and SlaN When they |
were told to move out panic |
indiscribable started among them !
Household good, children aud every
thing that could be carried away Was |
rushed to safety.
AT $50 the walls on the Mulberry
alley ,ide fell in with crash and a
few minutes later the eastern wall
came down. The debris buried long
row of tenements in the alley and a
three story brick dwelling on Thir-
teenth street. The tenements were
occupied by 90 families, but forum
a ely they had been deserted some
time before the walls fell. Not o. OF
the families had a chance to save auy
goods and all their furniture WIS de- |
The ruins took fire immedi- |
ately and for a while the eutire tene.
meut district on Pennsylvania avenue
was threatened wi h destruction. By |
hard work the tiremen succeeded in |
the flames and the fire was
confined TO the buildings OF the storage
and ice company.
1t was dark before the fire was com
pletely under control and all dagger
over. When the walls fell the mob |
made a rush to get out of danger.
Many men tiipped, tell and were
Jramped under feet. Several received |
painful but not dangerous bruises
Sheets OF iron We're cast from the
b Buildings by the fury of the flames
and hurled INTO the crowds. Scores of
people received slight injuries which
were either dressed in neighboring
drug stores or people made their way
home without assistance.
On account Of the varied interest,"
and the large number of people ill.,
volved, definite statement Of con
curing loss and insurance is inpossi
BILE, Reliable sources place the total
loss at $500 600 tc 100000 with insur
ance of about s. 900 U00
-~
P0PULIsT LOVE FEAST.