The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-07-11
MANGLED AND BURNED.
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burning deck. He was q fireman. and he
grasped the remnant OF the burning rope
just as the whole to wer structure parted
%diagonally and fell towards the north.
right over the prOstrate bodies OF the poor
fellows who had leaped TO escape the pitt
less flames. The last man who went do own
to death at tho tower kept feet down as far
as the rope went. and then the rush of
flames and fire was so great that his body
was turned round and round In
the passage within sight of all.
and the blazing tower fell over
his form. making a funeral pyre and
ending his agony if he was not dead before
striking the roof. Another victim re-
NAMED on the tower until the flames from
below had burned his legs SO that the flesh
turned black. When the tower tOppled
over there was no hope of saving any who
had not been taken off the roof. The
bodies on striking had become imbedded
nearly three feet in the gravel and tar be-
tween the wooden joists and only q few
could DO removed to q place of safety be-
fore the great central tower crashed over.
AN ACT IF HERoisM
Tbs most sublime deed of heroism in that
tragic hour was performed by three fire.
men in an attempt to save the life of their
superior officer. whom they loved. Captain
Fitzpatrick. the assistant fire chief at the
fair. He was on the roof when the tower
fell over without warning. and his leg was
broken. besides being crushed by falling
timbers. Being on the east side of the roof
he thought he was in no immediate danger.
as a truck ladder was close to the edge,
ready for any emergency. The Captain
era " led oward the edge of the roof. AL
ready on fire, and held out his hand
in a mute appeal for help. The hand
which Ie now still in death was seen
bv Captain Kennedy. of hook and
-l1-- 80 wrA-
climbed ND the ladder, fighting their way
through the flames. which burst through
the whole east side and from the roof.
while the three streams OF water were
turned on the brave men TO keep their
clothing from catching fire and their skin
from peeling of. The fiery gauntlet was
run unflinchIngiy to the top. Captain
Kennedy climbed over to what seemed a
bed of lame. but he resppeared In a few
seconds ia gging the body of Captain
Fltzpatricx. A rope was fastened about
the unconscious and dying captains body
and with difficulty he was lowered TO the
ground, enveIoped in flames. His body was
borne to the hospital in the ambulance.
The doctors shook their heads doubtfully
when the burned form was carried in. The
Captain never recovered consciousness and
qjcd at 9 O'clock. Kennedy. who was hor-
ribly burned in rescuing Fitzpatrick. also
died. after being brought TO the hospital,
from his injuries.
o BODIES
As soon as the ruins were cooled suffi-
GENTLY by the tiremen the work of search
ing for bodies began. The first body found
was taken from the smoking mass at $50.
1t was evidently q fireman. and a blue
shirt covered the trunk, which was all
that was found of the unfortunate. A short
time later two more were taken from the
ruins. Under one of the bodies was
found u broken sword-a mute informer of
Its wearer's Identiry-a guard.
The other body was. of course. uDrecog-
nIzable as il was charred to a cinder. In
all elk bodies. horribly burned. were taken
out 10y 10 o'clock. when operations were
stopped for the night on account of risk
In working under the beams and iron
columns and the absence of light
President Palmer was SO affected by the
scene at the holocaust that he was CON-
PEELED TO 90 to his hotel in n carriage aud
be treated by q doctor. The national cou,-
mission was to have met at 3 o'clock but
managers was in session when o
message came by telephone that sew
enty firemen aud Others bad been
burned to death. The women forgot all
frantic rush for the doors. Chief Swernle.
of the Chicago fire department.. came MP
early. followed by Chief of Police Nc.
Ciaughrey. Both chiefs gave what as
slBtance they COnId. City ponce OtH-
GERS wore sent from Woodland. Seven
tieth-street and Hyde Park stations
to help the guards and fremen, brt they
were almost compelled TO fight their way
through the gates. The inspectors and
gateInen. of the department of admission.
refused TO admit them. and one of the Of.
ficers in plain clothes was forced to pay so
cents to get In.
The warehouse. engines and the ioe-mak-
ing plant. which were the property of the
Hercules Iron Company. of Chicago, repre-
seDted an expenditure of $500. 600. There
were three engines which cost So. 600 each.
operated by three immense boilers, now
destroyed. In the center of the build
On the south side was the ice-makIng de-
p8rtment: on the north side the cold stor-
age: the north side of the second. third
aud 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 floor thel sleeping rooms for en-
ploy es. thirty or forty of whom remained
in the huilding at night. When the fire
broke out there were fifty or sixty men
q boys in the building as employees
OF the company. bnt all escaped. with
the possible exception of one boy. who
is missing. On the fifth floor were the Ice
skating rink and the cafe. both of which
were TO have been opened in two DAYS. In
the cOld-storage vaults we're a stock of
vegetables. wines. liquors. fruit and dairy
products valued at $780, GO, all of which
/ il desrrnyad-