The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-07-18
THE WORLDS FAIR FIRE.
NOT YET KNOWN NOW NAVY PER-
SONS LOST THEIR LIVES.
President SINNERS Accusation that tho
Firemen Were Driven to Their Death
Has Caused . Sensation.

WORLDS FAIR GROUNDS, CHICAGO, July
iS.-One week has passed since the
Worlds Fair fire, and still the mystery of
the exact number Of human lives lost in
the cold-storage trap remains unsolved.
For three days practically no attempt was
made to clear up the ruins, and the work
that has been done since that time has had
only the effect Of indicating the large
amount of labor still ahead before the in
vestigation Is complete.
The cessation Of the work yesterday at
tracted general unfavorable comment, and
although q large force Is engaged in the
ruins to-day the odor arising from the
mass. despite the lavish use of disinfect-
has taken no rest.
The accusation brought by President
John b. Skinner and other officers of the
cold storage company that Marshal Murphy
drove the firemen up the tower to their
death, but did not lead them nor follow
them, 10 creating a great deal Of discussion.
Even:the dead Captain Fitzpatrick comes
In for a share of the accusation made in
regard to the ignoring of all warnings and
information by the leaders Of the fremen.
Walter NJ. Donaldson, Office manager of
the warehouse, Architect Alsop and A. j.
Branch, an Office employe, will be called
on to testify before the coroner as to the
alleged unheeded warning, advices and
information given to Marshal Murphy and
Captain Fitzpatrick.
In speaking of the subject this morning
President Skinner said:
"There was absolutely no excuse for the
loss of n single life The firemen were i'm
formed by our employees that there was fire
below before they went up into the tower,
and the danger was pointed out when there
was plenty of time to order down such as
were already up.
"Among those who warned them and
who is ready to testify to the fact Is Walter
NJ. Donaldson, the office manager Of the
business part of the storage and ice depart
ment. He went into the tower and fully
informed himself of the state of the fire be-
fore the firemen arrived.
"As soon as the fremen arrived he
hunted up Capt. Fitzpatrick and found
him on the rink floor with MS men, some
Of whom were armed with axes. He asked
the Captain to chop hole below and turn
the hose on the fire In the lower part of
the tower. He emphasized and repeated
his statement that the bottom was the
place to fight the fire. Capt. Fitzpatrick
answered with an oath, II am running
this thing. Fitzpatrick was trying to
carry three leads of hGse M at once and
was not making headway. Notwithstand-
ing his rebuff, Donaldson, appreciating the
situation and the necessity for great haste,
begged him to get up one at time. Capt.
Fitzpatrick answered he would get'three up
or none. j. J. branch, one of our men.
asked Capt. Fitzpatrick to work on the
base OF the tower and fight the fire which
was already there. The captain for an an
swer fetched him q back handed blow with
the fiat of his hand, which knocked him
eight or ten feet.
"Mr. Alsip, the architect, was one who
also advised the men of the danger and
told them the fire was below before they
went up and begged them not to ascend.
Marshal Murphy stood there, and in spite
of this information actually drove his men
to their deaths, telling some who hesitated
to Get up there, you d--d cowards.'
eve are prepared to prove this, and 1t
must all come out at the inquest. AS soon
as heard the statement of our men right
after the fire went Immediately over to
Mr.. Higinbotham's Office and told him
what state here"