The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-04-25
FELL INTO THE FLAMES.
NINE FIREMEN KILLED IN A
BURNING THEATRE.

The Blazing Roof or the Davidson,
at Milwaukee, Wis, Drops In,
Carrying With 1t Those Who Were
Fighting the Flre-Noble Deeds Of
Heroism.
The Davidson Theatre and Hotel, the finest
playhouse in Milwaukee, Wis.,, and one OF
the handsomest and costliest theatres in the
country, was destroyed by fire early few
mornings ago, and eight flremen lost their
lives by the falling In OF the roof. The
scenery carried by the Liliputians, who
were playing ten days engagement at the
theatre, Is all gone. Manager Rosenfeld, or
the company, saysit was worth 525, 900. The
roof was sheet Of fame before the firemen
arrived, out ladders were run up, and the
mon rushed on the roof. six stories from the
ground. In doing 80, Ollie Ries, one Of the
men, slipped and fell to the ground, being
killed by the fall.
All the men from No. 4 Engine were d.
rected to the rear OF the roof, right over the
stage, where the fire was the worst. Some
men from other companies were with them
when, without warning, the roof gave way,
precipitating eight ofthe men eighty feet into
the fire on the stage. All Of them were
either killed by the fall or burned to death
or suffocated.
The dead are: Archibald Campbell, Cap
tain OF the Hreboat James Foley; james Q.
Freeman, Lieutenant Company ; John Car
roll, Chemical; August Jansen: Third AS
sistant Chief Of Department and brother OF
Chief John T. Jansen OF the Police Depart
ment; Frederick Kroeschmuer, 8 Chemical |;
Frank McGurs, Lieutenant of Truck and
Acting Captain OF Il Company; Thomas
Morgan. Company No. !; Ollie Ries, 3 Com
pany; Frank Whine. 4 Chemical.
The four other fremen went down with
the roof. but were rescued and taken to the
Emergency Hospital.
Fireman James Crowley was rescued soon
after noon after having been pinioned down
under a mass OF timber for several hours and
after having faced death in three forms
fire, drowning and sufocation.
An engine was kept pumping away the
water that steadily rose and threatened to
drown him, and air was forced through
hose to keep him from being choked to death
by the thick smoke that filed the building.
The large building was used for theatre
on the ground floor and the rear. The part
above the ground floor was the Hotel Da-
wilson. The hotel was we'll filled with
guests, but they were all warned IN time
and escaped without injury.
The fire originated apparently on the
large one, and the fire had made great pro-
gress In the oily scenery and was perfect
furnace when discovered.
The Linputians. with an immense amount
OF scenery, were filling two weeks engage
ment In "a Trip to Mars" In the house. The
stationary scenery, which was large, and
that OF the Liliputians gave the flames ad-
vantage, and the thing went Ike tinder.
When the roof fell In the members Of the
insurance fire patrol were covering up the
seats OF the parguet. They ran back just In
time to escape the falling roof, as portions
Of it dropped into the parquet.
Immediately after the roof fell the fremen
went at the work Of rescue. Streams Of water
were thrown into the blazing heap Of debris
from the walls, and the men OF the insur-
ance patrol ran into the pit and began to
drag away the timbers that pinned down the
men who had fallen with the ROOF
The work progressed slowly and an hour
passed before the first body was recovered.
As soon as the injured were taken out ambu-
lancos conveyed them to the hospital. On
either side Of the blackened walls OF the the, ;,
atre are the words: Absolutely freproof."
Michael Dunn, Captain OF the fire tug
Cataract, was on the roof when it fell, but
did not 90 down with 1t. Other f1renen
rlgged rope, making 1t fast to part Of the
hotel building, and dropped It over into the
awful hole through which their comrades
had fallen.
seizing the rope. Dunn slipped into the
furnace. Soon there was cry from below
to pull the rope up. Dunn had found Pipe
man Yeo helpless, tied the rope around him,
and ordered it raised.
The total money loss occasioned by the fire
Is about S225, 900, as follows Theatre proper
and stationary scenery about S175,0
Rosenfeh Brothers, proprietors OF the Lili-
putians, who were playing at the theatre,
$4,000; Joseph Clapder, orchestra leader,
$4,000,