Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-07-26
HAVOC BY FLAMES.
Fatal Work by the Fire at the National
Capitol,

Capitol.
WASHINGTON, July 26.-Clanging bells,
roaring flames, rushing engines, crashing
walls, agonizing shricks of horses that
were perishing in the fiery furnace-such
was the scene that was presented to eye
and ear as knox's stables at Il and Second
streets and the other buildings in that
block fell pray to the destructive ele-
mcnt. Not since the big fire in the pat
ent Office many years ago. has the fire de-
partment Of the district had to cope with
80 fierce conhagratioa. All its appli-
Gnces were brought into action, but all
efforts were unavailing to save the prop.
erty from destruction. Five brave firemen
were crushed under the falling walls.
Pour men were injured by falling walls
and timbers, and these were promptly re-
moved to the Emergency hospital for
treatment. Three Of the fremen lost
their lives.
Over 800 Horses Crcmated.
Over 100 draft horses, nearly all of
the company's express wagons, and the
contents of the large storage building
were burned. The Adams Express COM
pany stable, adjoining the Knox building
horses were in the Adams company's sta
BILE. but all were taken out by the hardest
kind of work on the part Of citizens and
policemen. Eight two-story houses on the
alley, north of the Knox building and two
small frame houses back of the Adams
stable, were destroyed. Six or eight
other Residence houses were more or less
damaged. Mitchcll's blacksmith shop on
Second street was crushed by falling walls.
The total loss will exceed So, 900.
The Heat Was Awful.
The heat was so intense that firemen
were obliged to throw water on each other
repeatedly in order that they might con-
tinue ut their posts. The men who had to
hold lines of hose on the b street front
OF the Knox building were obliged to lay
flat and hold their faces To the ground, SO
awful was the heat. 4 portion of the
wall of the rear of the Adams Express
building fell into the alley and across the
back exit. The members of hose company
No. and several men of other companies
were caught inside the building Fire Chief
Paris rushed to the rescue. Half n
a,z,n leads OF hose were turned upon the
burning mass which had fallen in front
of the exit. As the bricks cooled slightly
twenty iiremen and rs many policemen
rushed into the building.
Emerged from the Death Pit.
In n moment the rescuers emerged from
what was thought to be n death Dit. In
their arms they dragged the bodies of
three iremen who had been hurt by fall
ing bricks. While they were inside the
heat had been so intense that they were
| almost baked alive. Their comrades were
also scorched and sinSed. All were
dragged back TO the opposite sidewalk
Two minutes after the party came out
tue upper floors of the Knox building
fell. Only the semi-tower. which made
the office corner of the building, was left
standing. With the fall of the walls the
fire was practically under control, but the
flames were hotter than ever. IL was now
30 hot that firemen aud policemen began
| to succurnb to the terrific heat.
Eight Frame Houses Burned.
Eight twC-story frame houses on the
north alley cau-ht fire. They were al
lowed TO burn. Water and hose could not
he wasted upon them. Their occupants
had long since lett them. and for fifteen
minutes bricks had been crashing through
the roofs. Fire started from the roofs of
all the near dwellings Ladders were
brought into use and citizens and police
men took the place of exhausted fremen
and kept the fire from spreading. The
hay and light material with which the
buildings were filed made fierce fire
| The flames darted high into the air, and
made the Capitol. several blocks away
standing on IA hill against black sky,
| like u building painted in flame.
List of Human Victims.
The bodies of the following named fire.
/ men have been recovered: Samuel f..
/ Mastin. Michael Fenton, Dennis Donohne,
all fircmen of No. / company. One of the
Knox stable employees was burned and
J may die. Fully dozen firemen and po-
licemen were overcome by heat and had to
be carried TO places of safety. The injured
/ are: j. q. Wilson, SIS Eleventh street.
/ southeast, broken leg; James kelhal, i6l
| Virginia avenue, southwest, sprained
| back, seriously injured; Lee Bell, 1922 |
I street, northwest, burned about hands
and face: James y. Hooker, truck A,
laceraied forehead. Edward Cahill, citizen,
| shoulder broken.