The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-11-23

LIVeBs
CHICAGO, Nov. 22.-Ths interior of
the Exchange building, o seven-story
structure at the corner of Van Buren,
and Franklin streets, was destroyed by
fire to-day, entailing o loss of $3.50, 900
upon the OWNERS and tenants of the
building and causing the loss OF FIVE
lives, the fatal injury of two others and
the injury OF six other people, all of
whom are expected to recover.
The dead are: Patrick j. O'Donnell,
lieutenant of engine company No. 2;
Martin Sherrick, pipeman; John Downs,
plpemsn; John Prendergast, pipeman.
The dremen were crushed by falling
debris. Kittie Landgraf, jumped from
the fourth story window. injured in.
formally, died at county hospital.
The injured are: Harry Neil, Jumped
from fourth story window, internally
injured and left arm broken, will die;
Nellie Turner, jumped from third story
window, internally injured, will die;
Aggie McCalin, Olga Kellar, Hattie
Brennan. Edna Ritterl and Mary Pin
ket were overcome by smoke, all will
recover; Daniel McNally, driver for
engine company No. 9, buried beneath
debris, will recover.
The fire WAS frat discovered in the
apartments occupied by Stern aud
Beirs. Thirty girls were at work there,
and psnic ensued. Although every
effort WAS made to control the fright
ened girls. several opened the windows
and climbed out on the ledges. One of
abe frat to DO this was Nellie Turner.
She screamed for help, and some ono on
the ground shouted to her to lump.
She, however, went to another window
near a fire escape and climbed out.
Those on the street watched her move
ments with great anxiety.
She grnsped the escape and swung
herself of of the stone Ledge on which
abe had stood, and the hundreds on the
street below cheered. She commenced
to descend. Officer Flahersy was also
on the fire escape between the first and
second Gtory. and when he saw the girl
above him he started up to aid her. He
WAS too lnse. She suddenly lost her
balsnce and fell. Of1:er Flsherty tried
to catch her, but could not reach her
She WAS picked up unconscious.
The escape Of Olga Kellar, CT SIS
WaubauhtA avenue, Is regarded as
marvellous by those who saw her whom
she appeared at the fourth Story win.
dow. When the room where she wna
working began 80 fill with smoke she
ran 70 ono of the windows overlooking
Van Buren, street. She threw APP the
cash and climbed out on the ledge,
clinGing with one hand to the narrow
strip OF work on the outside of the sash.
She saw few feet below hor the lad
der on which two firemen stood and she
prepared TO jump.
"Wais, don's jump" shouted Captain
HormAnson, who had almost reached
tn. window.
Great volumes of smoke poured out
the window where the girl stood, and at
times her form was entirely obscured.
To the hundreds of persons who were
watching her from the street.. the Sec
onds seemed like hours. Cheer after
cheer wens up for Captain Hermsnson
as he climbed up. Ho had almost
reached she woman when he suddenly
stopped. None on the street knew the
cause. He had heard the girl scream,
and as he looked up he saw her reel and
release her hold on the window sashing
She had been overcome by the smoke
and had fallen.
Captain Hermanson braced himself,
and as the unconscious form dropped he
seized it with his right arm. The effort
nearly coat him his own life, for he mar
rowly escaped falling. From hundreds
of throsts cheers were heard as the
brave captain descended the ladder with
his human burden. BY noon the fire.
men thought the worst of the days bat
tie was past. They were mistaken.
Shortly before O'Clock large safe on
the fifth floor fell to the fourth carrying
1t and the third, second and first with it.
Five men, members Of engine COM
pany No. 9, we're working OIL the ground
floor and were buried beneath the mass
OF brick, stone and timber. All were
killed but Daniel McNally. After
nearly an hours work the rescuers had
opened passage way through the pile
OF d chris and succeeded in getting close
enough to where the fremen were
buried TO assure themselves that Lieu.
tenant O'Donnell was alive. He was
just able to talk, and IL was with great
difficulty that his words could be heard.
Men who knew him we'll recognized his
voice.
"Is any one near youq" one O. the
rescuers shouted.
"Yes," came back the snswer fsintlv
from O'Donnell.
How mapy?"
Two"
"Alive or deAd?"
Dead, 1 think"
Gradually the lieutenant's voice be-
came weaker. and his reply to the last
question was scarcely audible. The
rescuers called to him and asked him
how seriously he was injured. He could
not make q reply,