Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-11-24

head. grssped the window ledge with
his hands and then dropped. The pep
pie watching him had iust time 10
throw bale Of jute beneath him aud u
was no sooner in place than Dunniug
struck IT, He bounded up like a rubber
ball and then fell to the sidewalk limp
and mangled. lie was taken 70 near
by drug store and afterwards 10 Har-
pers hospital. whore he shortly after
ward died from his injuries
Dropped TO His Death.
The falling Of James Mckay followed
in few minutes. Wien he appeared at
tho window he made no sigu that be
was staring death in the face For a
few moments he looked at the people
who appeared at dizzy distance below
as though wondering what he might do
to save his life. There were shouts
from below. but be evidently could not
hear wha. was being said. The roar OF
the flames drowned all noise that came
IN from the street. After this short hes
itation he threw his feet out OF the win
dow aud slid down until he was holding
on only with his hands on the sill. lie
hung this way for several seconds before
no released his hold. The blazing Dire
was bursting out OF the window when
the terrified man finally gave up allhope
Vt saving himself and slipped loose from
his hold tie struck on the easement OF
the second window and partly turned
over. This threw him so far out OF the
window that part of his body struck the
electric wires below. lie struck on the
sidewalk within few feet 81 the build
ing Police. firemen ard spectators
quickly RAD 10 him, and he was carried
TO the ambulance. He was unconscious
when picked up. and II was thought
that life was extinct He lived, how
ever. for a couple Of hours after being
removed 10 Emergency hospital The
awful spectacle OF McKay's and Dun
ning's descent was hardly over when
they saw another man creeping toward
the upper window nearest the corner.
tie was evidently on his hands and
knees, blinded and sutfocatng In the
dense smoke. He reached the sill, laid
one arm upon il and tried 60 drag him
self To tho open air just beyond. lie
was too far spent. One hand he clasped
over his face, and then A sudden burst
OF flame closed around him. The nor.
ror.stricken beholders saw his head
drop. his arm drag slowly back and then
he sunk from view as the flames rolled
over his body.
General Alarm Turned Ins
Meantime general alarm had been
turned IN and nearly all the companies
In the department responded. The cor
ner OF Jefferson avenue and Bates street
was a scene OF intense excitement. and
the avenue extending up 10 Randolph
was hlled with fire apparatus dashIng
n 81
OF hose and thousands OF spectators
crowding their way tn the ropes which
had been stretched by the police. BY
the time that company No was on the
scene. the upper story was mass OF
fiames and they were spreading vita IN
credible rapidity. The smoke rolled
out in huge volumes. and az times al
most completely envelopcd the surround
ing buildings aud the hremen. The big
extension ladder was raised amidst il
all and firepen dragged line OF hose
up aud tried 10 play on the roaring fur.
mace. but the heat and smoke soon
drove them down. aud the truck itself
had 20 be removed few minutes after
wards. the flames scorching the upper
portion Of H. The water tower was
placed in position. but IL seemed an al
stream of water was turned on.
Fire Famed by strong Wind.
a strong wind began to blow from the
west sweeping the fire eastward. IL
seemed impossible 20 stop the 6re short
- Randolph street but the fremen
swara,ed up on the adjoining buildings
snd poured torrents % water 90 the bot
asila and smoEing roofa The floors q
the kslson Moore building began falling
Ia short time after the tire started
snd NJ - hall OK the bates street wall
collapsed A moment later there we're
two loud reports. and then the entire IN
terror u the building apparently col
lapeed Tbs, undoubtedly. prevented
the spread n he flames. and al 30 the
fire vac practically uudes controi After
the IRE bad tees gotten under control
and the excitement hac spuseEhat euh-
sided, rumors ~ greater loss - lie -
cane curr~nt The firm immeliateiy
opene'i register AZ an adiassu' sters.
and The rumofa became eeFtsinties az
employees wao registered tod sicFiss -
her narrow esoape- and spoke posi-
lively ~ the men they kues WEIR on the
i0p Hoor When The Ere hroke sut
Bier, Ran esr IT'S IiGs
EdTsrd l. Ebert Nss ore - fhe
freight receivers working 90 he ffth
foF = The huding 30 the trae To-
ssrm US cvsr. Whsr ~ saR be bal
q rifn Tor hs life fhnre xsrs sgill &c
this hoor tae ioioFin9 reope hat ~
saw Patrick Narxey. F.d9zrt Ger
thsr usniei Esxef iirnrv bsr ana
Fipsrs Nlos- Ftert ssys thai be haf
han8iy reached the Hsor bsa rhee
fte rcf fei a. sna b. = carfash that
the nee cea'd nof haze fosirxed 80
deTa lhe only etaer rgsaaer tseT
caaid hape escap-3 N1uii hags hesn -