Evening journal., 1894-04-13
FATAL FIRE IN BUFFALO
Workmen Penned In the Top
of d Tall Factory.
MANY WENT DOWN IN THE RUINS


of Lives Lost, and si,OOo,ooO Damage
Done by the Turning of the American
Glucose Company's Works.
BUFFALO, April 1s.-The plant of the
American Glucose company was destroyed
10y fire The loss will be about 81 900, 600
The insurance is s5s5,O0O,
There were perhaps i25 men at work
there when the fire broke out Ii will not
be known until census of the employees
is taken whether a single man or so men
were cremated. 1t is known that some oi
the men escaped 10y the fire escapes. and
some of those on the upper stories jumped
into the canal.
A great many of the men at work on the
upper floors were ignorant Poles and Ger
mans. They may have been burned, and
they may not. 1t is impossible to tell now.
The chances are, however, that several
men were burned to death.
The works were situated on the Ham
burg canal, Scott, Perry and East and
West Market streets
They consisted of an IL story brick build
ing, used for the manufacture of glucose
and starch an eight story brick building.
used as a powerhouse and as a place for
making the cattle feeding product, which
is made from the corn after the glucose is
extracted an eight story brick building,
used as refinery, and an eight story store.
house.
-Four Who jun ped Were Hurt.
The fire was discovered in the dynamo
room OF the main building by the engineer,
who was in the next room. lie gave the
alarm, and ne and his fireman rushed out.
| In 10 minutes the whole II floors were on
fire, and flames were bursting through the
windows and darting from the roof The
glucose company ordinarily employs a
/ great number of men, but of late il has
not been running at its full capacity al
though it has been working day and night
shifts. Four of the men who jumped were
hurt. These are;
John Young a workman; hurt about the head
and face.
Two Poles who cannot speak English, names
| unknown; both severely injured; one with both
i legs broken.
John Stein, workman; severely burned.
The fire spread with incredible swift
ness. In 10 minutes the entire main build
ing was a mass Of flames In 90 minutes
the walls began to fall, and they fell at
frequent intervals until inside of As min
utes there was but one corner standing.
| The main building was connected with the
power and feedhouse by an elevated bridge
over Scott street. The flames crept across
| this and ignited the feedhouse This
burned more slowly than the main build
/ ing, but for all that it was but a short
time until the flames had complete CON
troll of the buildings.
Meanwhile the Buffalo city fish market,
which stood just across the street on the
/ of lsafa So fl.
caught fire. Five fremen were sent inside
it TO fight the flames, and a number of
streams were turned ON the roof The
building was a long, low brick structure,
and the firemen made a good fight to save
it, but a portion of blazing wall fell on il
and started the roof TO burning fiercely
The firemen inside did not know this, and
no one told them. The consequence wa.
that in a few minutes the roof fell in and
buried the five iiremen.
Five Fircmen Injured.
Three of them escaped with no other i'm.
juries than "A few bruises, but John Weber
of Engine No. / and Lieutenant Louis
Schraeder Of the same company were not
so fortunate. Weber was taken out un.
conscious. His face is badly burned. some
Of his ribs We're broken, and he has also in
ternal injuries. 1t is question whether
he will live or die
Lieutenant Schraeder I'D his back and
legs hurt. Both We're Den to hospitals
The feedhOuse was completely destroyed
The refinery and the storehouse went next
and by midnight there was nothing left o
the mammoth establishment but few tot
tering walls.
The glucose works were owned and con
trolled by &. J. Hamlin, the famous trot
ting horse man, and his sons. There is
branch of the institution at Peoria, Ills.
and another at the foot of Court street il
this city.
Early this morning Fireman Chris Lanl
of Truck No. / was compelled on account
of the danger from falling walls to jumI
from the roof of one of the low building,
to the ground. He escaped with broker
leg and slight injuries.
/ ffIuH1aurraH