The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-05-06
ARMORY BURNED.
It Was Built for a Fortress, and 80
1t Proved h, Be
To tho Doomed Men within who Endeav.
ored to Get Out - Battering Rams
Failed to Break Down the Great
Doors-A Public Calamity.

CHICAGO, April 26.-The magnificent
new armory of the First regiment, Illi-
nois National guards, was destroyed by
fire Tuesday morning. Two men are
known to have perished in the flames,
and it is supposed that six others shared
their fate. Two others were rescued
from immediate death by heroism OF
the firemen, but not until they were
badly injured. The casualties are:
Dead-Harry johnson, colored jani-
tor, slept in building; Walter Williams
colored janitor, slept in building.
Injured-E. w. Latina, electric light
lineman, burned about head and neck,
will recover. Christopher Wiggins,
electric light lineman, burned about
back and shoulders; will recover.
The loss of property is placed al
about s215,O00, which is very made
quately covered by insurance. This in
cludes the loss of s15O,OOO on the build
ing, the scenery of the Trocadero con-
cert troupe, the arms and accoutre-
ments, the dress and service uniforms
and the handsome furnishings Of the
various first regiment militia compa-
MES.
The fire started in the kitchen of the
armory, located on the southwest COR
ner of the second story. How it started
is unknown, but it made rapid progress
and worked it's way around the gallery
to the north before it was discovered.
Then the fire breaking through the
windows was seen by people on the
streets, and an alarm was turned in.
1t was too late, for the fire had secured
a firm hold, and when the engines
arrived the firemen found all entrances
barred by the blank walls of masonry
and the huge iron-barred sally-port on
Michigan avenue. The building was
constructed to withstand a siege, and
the event showed it was admiralty
adapted for the purpose.
Had the fire been in an ordinary
structure with as little food for flames,
it would have been easily extin-
guished AS it was, there was little
chance to fight it. The death Of
those in the building was attended by
particularly narrowing circumstances.
They reached the great door in safety
while the fire was spreading within.
There seemed no danger and escape
was apparently certain. They at
tempted to open the small wicket gate
in the center of the door and then for
the first time their perilous situation
dawned upon them. The wicket was
locked and four inches of solid oak,
bolted and barred with huge steel
locks. stood between them and escape.
Gradually the fire spread behind them.
The western galleries were all ablaze
and the flames We're spreading rapidly
along the north side and approaching
the spot where the men were now fran
tically beating on the doors and vainly
endeavoring to force them open.
The crowd outside heard their frantic
appeals for aid, and an effort was
made to batter in the doors. But the
stout oak was too well braced. The
blows rained upon it had no effect, and
while the crowd outside was engaged
in the fruitless attempt the cries of
those entrapped ceased and at the same
instant the north wall and the roof
seemed to separate, the bright flame
leaped to the sky, and with :. crash the
roof and top of the wall fell in, while
in the increased draft the flames spread
with redoubled fury and the building
was nothing hut a furnace.