The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-18
FLAMES EXACT THREE LIVES.
NINE OTHER MEN INJURED BV THE
FAIL OF THE SAME WALL.

The Wen Members of the Volunteer
Fire Department of the Wabash
Railroad at TOIcdO-The Compa-
ny's Round House the structure
That Proved n Death Trap-siN
Engines Made Useless b., the Fire,
The Loss $4,000 90 100000 with
Insurance TO the Full Amount.
Toledo o.. March IA disastrous fire.
attended by heavy loss of life. occurred
in this city this morning. Three men lost
their lives. two being instantly killed.
Nine others were more or less injured.
one OF them, John O'Leary. a machlnist,
1t is thought fatally.
The list OF dead is as follows
r. II. Bohlman, aged 56, painter; mar
ried. seven children; skull crushed and
Internally injured.
J. J. Preston, aged IS, car inspector;
married. six children; back broken and
skull crushed.
John Bowen. aged Is, a spectator; skull
crushed and internally injured.
The injured are:
II. +. Howard. general foreman eastern
division; back bruised, face cut slightly
burned.
John oLeary machinlst, leg broken.
armed crushed, skull fractured; may die.
Patrick McDonough. fireman. skull
fractured, shoulder broken.
Martin Greenburg car repairer. head
cut.
Harry Zimmerman. painter. leg sprain-
ed, body bruised.
Louis Decker. painter head bruised,
shoulders sprained.
Henry Cerding, car repairer. head
bruised and cut.
Jasper Becker painter; head and shout
ders cut.
4. G.. Lauer. truck foreman, neck
sprained, head cut.
All Of the dead except John Bowen were
employees of the Wabash railroad They
constituted the companys fire department
for the protection OF the shops and were
engaged in lighting the flames when the
accident occurred that resulted so dis
astrously to them.
The round house Is located at the foot
OF South street. 1t was a substantial
brick structure with "A capacity Of twenty
engines. and contained six locomotives
when the IRE broke out. The flames
were first seen in the cupola that sur
mounted the roof. shortly after 10 O'CLOCK.
An alarm was telephoned 20 the city
fire department and in the meantime the
on the blaze, which soon made Its way
to the roof.
The walls OF the building were believed
to be secure and the brave fire fighters
pressed closely In towards the building
the more effectively to combat the spread
ing flames. 1t was seen that the roof
would soon fall, but no danger was
apprehended from that source until to
the horror Of the spectators. the south
west wall. weakened by tho destruction
Of the frame supports that connected
it with the roof was observed TO tremble
and suddenly fall out on the volunteer
firemen.
Before the majority Of the men could
realize their peril the heavy wall was
down on top of them. burrying them
under heap OF smoking debris. All but
Bowen. Preston and Bohlman We're
quickly taken out. The two first named
werer completely covered by the ruins.
were completely covered by tne ruins.
From out of the smoking heap the man
gled bodies OF Bowen and Preston were
taken: they We're beyond need OF human
care. Bohman was still alive, though un-
conscious, but he succumbed to his In
juries shortly after being taken home.
A dozen surgeons We're quickly sum
moned and prompt assistance was rem
dered the injured. Leary, the machinist,
was still unconscious, and at one time APP
peared 10 be sinking. He rallied tempOr-
arily, but 1t is not thought he can recover,
When the first of the city fremen an
swered the alarm they saw that there was
imminent danger Of the fire spreading TO
the Wabash elevator and the repair shops.
which stood close by. The oil house was
also menaced, but luckily the flames were
held In check at this particular point A
general alarm was sent in and by dint of
numbers the firemen finally succeeded in
saving the surrounding property.
The round house was completely
wrecked and the six engines rendered
practically useless. The loss is estimated
at from $4,000 to 500, 900, and is believed
to be fully insured.