The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-03-18

was burned at II o'clock this morning
Three-quarters of an hour after the frs
alarm was sent in the southwest wall o
the building, go feet in circumference fel
in, burying twelve men underneath it,
Two of them were instantly killed. third
died short time after being taken out OF
the debris and the Others were all badly
hurt, one probably fatally. All but one
John Bowen, were employees of the Wab-
ash.
The dead are: R. H. Bohlman, skull
crushed, internally injured; J. ]. Pres
ton, back broken skull crushed. killed in
stantly; John Bowen. skull crushed, in
ternally in jured, killed instantly.
Injured-F. H. Howard, head bruised.
face cut slightly burned. will recover;
John Leary. leg broken, arm crushed,
SKULL fractured; may die; Patrick Nc
Martin Greenburg, head cut, will recover;
Harry Zimmerman. legs sprained, body
bruised; Louis Becker, head bruised.
shoulder sprained Hery Gerding, head
bruised and cut; T. G. Lauer, head and
neck sprained; Casper Becker, head and
shoulders cut.
The first alarm for the fire came by tele-
phone to the district offices at 1910 a.
m. A few minutes previously resident
of the neigh borhood of the roundhouse
saw a small flame burst out of the cupola
of tie building and he ran to the office of
the general foreman directly across from
the roundhouse and notified those in
charge. General Foreman Howard sum-
moned the company's private fire depart
ment, consisting of fifteen men, to the
scene, and stream of water was directed
toward the blazing cupola. A heavy wind
was blowing and the fire soon ate its way
down to the roof of the roundhouse.
When Fire Chief Mayes reached the
fire he saw there was danger of the flames
reaching the oil house, repair shops and
the Wabsash elevator, and Immediately
sent IN a general alarm.
Meanwhile the roads fire company
had directed its efforts toward smother
ing the flames to the structure which
menaced the oil house, and the fire at
this point was held firmly in check. The
iron braces supporting the roof expanded
in the intense heat and the frail frame
covering gave way with muffled roar
falling in on the stalled engines. At
this moment the southwest wall fifteen
feet high and eighteen inches thick, was
seen to tOtter outward from the lateral
pressure of the falling roof, and yell
went up to appraise of their danger the
fifteen men at work in this portion of
and twelve of the men were buried in a
pile of brick several feet high. That only
two were killed outright was nothing
short of miraculous. Streams of water
were poured on the smoking debris.
and as soon as possible the work of rescue
began. Preston and Bowen were buried
completely and were dead some time be.
fore their bodies were reached. They
were badly crushed, Bowen's features
being unrecognizble. Bohlman was taken
out in an uncOn scious condition and re-
moved to his home, where he died in
few hours afteward.
By this time half dozen physicians
had reached the scene and attention was
directed toward carrying out the injured.
Leary was found to be the worst sufferer
and it was feared he would scarcely live
out the day. The others, though badly
used up will probably recover.
The tiremen had a stubborn fight with
the now doomed roundhouse, the heavy
wind greatly aiding the stubborn flames.
At noon the fire was practically under
control, after destroying all that was in
tiammable of the building. The property
loss is estimated at 100000, probably in
sured.
Late tonight two more men were found
who were injured by the falling wall.
They are J. Finley, engineer of Andrews
Indiana. and George Towers. machinist.
both in the employ of the Wabash. Fin
ley is quite seriously hurt his chest being
crushed and he sustained severe scalp
wound.