Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-07-11

flames and air was % great that his
holy Was turned round and round in the
passage within sight Il all. and tho
blsxins tsls er tell over hts form. making
funeral pyre and eodiag bic Asony.
n he vas not dead before striking the
ROT
Another victim remained on the.towsr
until the flames from be.ow had burned
bis lego 81 that the ncsh turned back
wards When the tower toppled over
there was no hope u saving any who
had not been taken on the roof. The
bodies on striking had beoome imbedded
nearly three feet In the gravel and Tar
between the wooien Icists and only
few could be removed Ia . place of
safety before the great central tower
crashed over.
To Save Their ChieG
The most sublime deed of heroism in
the tragic hour was performed by three
rremen In an attempt to save the life at
their superior officer whofn they loved.
Capt James Fitzpatrick. the assistant
ire chief at the fair. He Was on the
roof when the tower fell over without
warning and his leo was broken. be
sides being crushed by falling timbers.
Being on the east aide of the roof he
thought he was in no immediate danger
as truck ladder was cloee 10 the edge
ready for any emergency. The captain
crawiei towards the edge of the roof
already on fire and held out his hand In
mute appeal Tor help. The hand
which is now stilled in death was seen
by Captain Kennedy. of hook and ladder
No. .. lie and two u his men climbed
up the ladder. fighting their way
through the fiames. while three streams
of water were turned on the brave men
10 keep their clothing FROM catching
from fire and their skin peeling of.
The fiery gauntlet was run unflinch-
ingly 10 the top. Captain Kennedy
climbed over into what seemed he'd Of
fame. but he reappeared in few sec
on Is dragging the body of Captain fitz.
patrick. A rope was fastened about the
unconscious and dying captains body.
and with difficulty be Was lowered to
the ground. enveloped in flames. hurled
partly back by streams of water.
IL Was Too late.
The noble rescue, although it only
resulted in saving the captains body
from further mutilation by tire. was
watched by thousands OF people in
breathiess suspense and rewarded by
mighty cheer when the body reached
the ground To be tendcrly laid on
stretcher ard borne to the hospital in
the ambulance. But the doctors shook
their heads doubtfuliy when the burned
and broken form was carrieS in. The
captain never recovered consciousness
and died al . o'clock. Denning died
soon aftsr being brought 10 the hospital
from his burns and other injuries.
Both bodies were taken To the Hyde
Park morgue. where the inquest will
begin tomorrow.
Searching fbr bodies.
As soon as the ruins were cooled suf-
ficientiy by the firemen. the work of
searching for bodies began.
The first boly was taken from the
smoking mass about $40. Ii was evi-
IDENTIFY fireman. rs blue shirt covered
the trunk, which was all that was found
az the unfortunate. A short
time later two more were taken
from the ruins Under one of the
bodies was foun la abroken sword. a mute
informer OF It's wearer's identity.
Columbian guard. The other body was
81 course unrecognizable. as il Was
c.iarrcd 10 cinder. Two more bundlcs
of flesh were discovered at short inter
walls, about ; o'clock and one more at
80 In all six bodies. horribly burned.
were taken out by 10 o'clock, when
operations were stoppeafor the night on
account ~ the risk in working under
beams and iron columns and the absence
OF light.
President Palmer was so affected by
the scene at the holocaust that he was
compelled 10 90 to his hotel in a car.
riagc and be treated 10y doctor. The
national commission was To have met
at , o'clock. but it never did. The board
~ lady managers was in session when
message came boy telephone that 20 fire
men and others had been burned TO
d6aih. The women forgot all about
judges and jealousies and made frantic
rush for the doors.
Aid From Chicago.
Chief Sweeney OF the Chicago fire de
department came up early. followed by
Chief of Police McClaughrey. Both the
chiefs gave what assistance they could
City police officers were sent from
WoodIawn. fiftieth street and Hyde park
stations Ia help the guards and fremen.
bat they were almost compelled 10 tight
their way through the gates. The in
spectors and gatemen of admission refus-
ed to admit them, and one of theoiiicers
In plain clothes was forced TO pay 20
cents 10 get in. The fire burned To- the
ground tso feet of the exposition fence
south 81 the Sixty eighth strcet gates.
carrying in it's work of destruction eiec
tric wires and cables for all kinds of
service. Superintendent Tucker of the
department II admissions said the lum
her for new fence had been ordered
aud would toe in position tomorrow.
All the Sixty fourth gates were closed
after the lire. Tonight the gap in the
fence - being patrolled by guards and
men from the department II admissions.
The fire partly burned nearly all the
buildings on the west side % Stony lei
and avenue between sixty fourth aud
Sixty fifth streets. but none we're com
pleteiy destroyed The loss outside the
grounds will not amount Ia more than
sl0tsu
Feared an ESpIo~iop
The foreign commissioners and United
States army officers acted promptly In
regard 90 furnishing men Tor guard
duty during the highth 10 the excite.
ment. which almost reached panic
when IL wa= fearei the blazing wreck ~
the wooden she'll would cspls~ie on &C.
count q the ammonia stored there aud
the boilers But the word was soon
passed around that The ammonia was ia
soild form. Afl the men - the Third
Infantry 4. y 4. on duty IN the expo
ssiion camp. the French marine coFps.
the spanish military guard aud "Buf
o.. Iaefft. - ~