The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-04-09
IN A FIERY FURNACE.
Firemen Working Upon Burn
ing Milwaukee Hotel,
Are Precipitated by the Roof
Breaking
INTO THE FLAMES.
Nine Men Buried Under the
Burning Ruins.
Roasted AlR5 in Sight of Their
Companions.

MILWAUKEE,, April 9.-The Davidson
theatre, the finest theatre in Milwaukee
and one of the handsomest and costliest
buildings in the country, was destroyed
by fire, which broke out between and
o'clock this morning.
The valuable scenery carried by the
Liliputians, which was playing ten
days engagement and was to close on
Wednesday, is all gone. Manager Rosen-
thai of the company says it was worth
$25,00 When the fire was seemingly
under control the theatre roof, on which
a score or more of the brave fremen
stood, as they fought the flames, went
down and the brave men were carried
with it to the floor of the auditorium
below.
Some were extricated from the furnace
of flames, in which the whole interior
was now enveloped, by the brave and
more fortunate comrades who risked
their lives to drag out the PROSTATE forms
of the dead and injured men. Seven or
eight men were soon brought out and
those who are able to speak, said there
must be ten more in the ruins where liv-
ing death awaited them.
For these poor fellows there was no
chance. The burning roof had fallen on
them and they were roasted to death. if
they had not been killed in the terrible
plunge from the roof.
A cry Of horror went up from the fire.
men who saw the awful catastrophe.
The members of the insurance patrol
were covering up the seats in the par
Quette of the theatre when suddenly
light was seen through the roof above.
The men in the theatre ran back just in
time and the next moment the roof fell
into the parquette of the theatre.
Several of the men in the theatre
were caught by the falling timbers-
The scene that followed is never to
be forgotten by those who wit
messed it. For a moment all was
dark, then suddenly a tremendous sheet
Of flame shot up land with it came the
cries of the fireman who had fallen
through the roof TO the theatre below.
One man was heard to cry: My God,
help me, / am roasting to death"
The men were buried under the blaz-
ing timbers- Little water could be
thrown on the fire at first which now rap
Idly made its way through the theatre
and scenery. The water was finally turn
ed on and several of the fremen, who
had fallen nearest the front door of the
lobby were dragged from the burning e
debris and carried out, more or less in
jured. The men were taken across the
sire ct and their wounds dressed, while
the firemen bravely kept at work pour
ing water on the debris and trying to
rescue others of the unfortunates.
Rescue Made Impossible.
While directing their attention to the
llaze in the parquette the gallery began
TO burn and others portions of the roof
fell making the rescue of the imprisoned
men impossible and adding more fuel to
the fire.
The first fatality of the fire happened
before the more awful tragedy on the
roof Ollie Refs, fireman, lost his life
while trying to reach the roof of the
theatre before the roof fell He had put
up ladder from the northern wing of
the hotel building which is two stories
lower than the theatre proper, when the
ladder swayed and he fell with it to the
roof Of the wing. He was carried away
and died in the arms of his comrades
He was a member Of engine No g.
Assistant Chief Dever, who was among
those on the roof when the crash came
said:
.The members of engine companies 8,
A. 5 and IA were on the roof where the
main portion of the fire was raging
Suddenly, without a moments warning,
the roof gave way aud down il went with
all the men. The third assistant chief,
August Jansen, was among those who
went down with the crash He managed
TO catch tire escape just as the roof
was swaying and held on. We have
tried all we can to rescue the men but
cannot reach them Assistant Chief
Jansen is among those who are missing.
i think he is buried in the debris"
Took 1t Very CoolIy.
John Ice, fireman of company No. 4.
was stretched out on one of the comfort
able cots at the emergency hospital at
$3.50 o'clock frightfullv injured. but as
calm and cool. apparently, if he had
retired for nights rest. Ice said: 1--WE
were all on the roof or the building when
she sunk with US There were near me
at the time Captain inehan, Lieutenant
Freeman, Pipeman O'NeiIl and Fireman
White ! never saw or heard from them
since 4had a wonderful escape owing
70 the presence Of mind l had when
down in the ruins and the quick work of
the relief party that came after me.
When ! struck the bottom / was pinned
down by bricks and timbers and
wiggled around to get loose There
were flames all around me and plenty
OF smoke. My clothing was tangled ur
with something and began to strip OF
my c othes, and that's the way got loose
undressing myself there in the flames
with the ruins piled over me and still fall
ing. oh, but it was a close rub for me
and if my back is not broken. may be
all right. Anyway / hope / shall be
saved Ny head is badly burned ano
cut. How did / finally reach place O
safetyl Why the boy got a line to me