The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-06
Front and Rear Of a Five-Story Build
ing Thrown OH the Fire Fighters AL
most Without an Instant's Warning.
SIX MEN TAKEN OUT DEAD
And Ten Rescued from the Hot
Bricks More or Less Injured.
Chief Elliott Censured for Risking the
Lives of His Men When 1t Was Known
the Walls We're Thin-Other Fires.
=

DETROIT, Oct Six men are dead, ten
are more or less injured and eighty thou
sand dollars worth of property was de-
stroyed by the burning of keenan, & Jahn's
dve-story furniture establishment, on
Woodward avenue, to-day. The dead, all of
whose bodies nave been recovered from the
ruins, are:
MICHAEL HI. DONOGHUE, lieutenant
of chemical engine company.
j. r. DAILY, pipeman.
J JOIN w cH RASEkk;e gipf pIpe%an.
MARTIN BALL, pipsman, ,r,o., u,ork.
er and substitute fireman.
FRANK e. STOCKS. fireman; head and
face frightfully cut; ersr,an. sca,n
wounds, back and arm hurt.
JOHN E. NEWELL. truckman, scalp
cut. arm and leg bruised;
THOMAS c. GARRY, fireman; scalp bad
ly wounded. severe body bruises.
PATRICK j. lieutenant engine
company: slightly injured
Bbs eR3NI n RlpsHnManG;R silsn srsm nnn!' head
cut, hand smashed and minor injuries.
HENRY KIMBERLY. fireman; scalp and
n HERIG fireman; leg broken.
face cut.
FRED BRAHErM. injured internally;
condition critical.
The fire apparently originated at the
bottom of the elevator shaft and swept up
ward with tremendous swiftness. About
sixty-ive persons were at work in the
manufacturing portion of the building in
the upper stories, but all escaped unhurt.
The water supply seemed at first made
auate, and the building was soon ruined.
After the interior of the structure had
been partially burned, it became apparent
that the front and rear walls were In dam
ger of falling. but Fire Chief Elliott per-
mitted his men to advance with their hose
as closely as possible both from front and
rear. Suddenly the front wall sagged for
ward and the great mass OF hot bricks,
timber and iron crashed to the sidewalk
with a tremendous roar. Amos at the
same instant the rear wall crumbled and
fell into the alley at the rear. Above the
tumult of the panic-stricken crowd rose
the shrieks of the ounde ara imprisoned
fremen. Sixteen in all were in the path
of the tumbling walls. but ten escaped
alive after a few seconds of thrilling ex-
periences. Their comrades worked to res
cue the dying and remains of the dead in
the hot ruins amid a binding smoke, and
| all were recovered. but none of the six had
! survived, and their limp and crushed re-
| mains were in some cases almost unrecog-
nizable.
Chief Elliott is being roundly scored for
risking the lives of his men, when, as is
| claimed, there was no call for such a
hazard. He says that he had no reason
| to believe the walls were unsafe, and that
the men were only doing their regular du-
ties as fremen. The walls of the building,
as was well known, were considered espe-
cially thin. so much so that the city build
ing Inspector had refused to allow the
owners of a new building now being erect
ed on adjoining property to use the parti-
| ton wall. 1t is considered probable that
an investigation as to the necessity fol
risking the mems lives will be held.