The herald., 1895-04-26
Employees Caught in a Burning
Warehouse
MANY YOUNG GIRLS INJURED
A Panic Takes Possession of Number
of Women
Young Women in the Excitement of the
noment Leaped From Windows and 1t
Is Probable Will Die

MONTREAL, April 25.-W. G. McDon-
AIDS extensive tobacco factory on Ontario
street was partly destroyed by fire this
evening. The loss will reach $500, 900, on
which there is no insurance. There was
not a fire escape on the outside nor any
appliances on the inside of the building
for fighting the fire. Even the windows
were guarded by heavy iron screens, pre-
sumably to pre- ent theft. The fire started
at o'clock IN the drying room and for a
while smouldercd. Then suddenly the
flames burst through, and most awful
panic ensuetl.
There were n nety persons employed in
the building and more than half this
number were women and girls. The
shrieks of the women as they beat against
the iron screens. praying the crowd to DO
something to save them, were most heart
AS the flames burst through, four fire.
men were on the roof, and for twenty
minutes their lives were despaired of,
until finally ladders were found to bring
them down. They were badly burned.
The girls were nearly all on the fourth
floor and were frantic with fear. With
much trouble one of the iron lattices was
knocked off. when one of the girls jumped
and was severely injured. She alighted
on the roof of an adjoining warehouse.
In similar manner the others followed
to the number of thirty. and the ambu-
lances were kept busy carrying the women
and girls to the hospitals, and some were
driven to their homes. So far only one is
known to be dead, but several are be-
lieved to be in the ruins.
An Associated Press correspondent in
terviewed several who escaped. They say
the scene on the fourth floor was terri ole.
When the first rush for the stairway oc-
Cured, the passage way was Solldly
blocked and many tainted and fell under
the feet of the crowd. Then rush was
made to the windows. But the crowd
ing the windows. Frantic women tore their
hands, beating against the Instructions
but the irons were too strong for their
feeble blows. Death seemed inevitable
until Marie Gagnon found a window that
Welded to the determined blows of those
who could bring their united efforts to
bear. This window overlooked an extern
sive one-story warehouse. Without a
moments hesitation the woman leaped
onto to the roof below. Encouraged by
her daring and impelled by the smoke
and flames which were making rapid
ample until about thirty manned and
bruised forms were piled on the ware
house roof. By this time the passageway
had become sufficiently cleared to permit
more rapid clearing of the building
The work of rescue by means of fire ex-
tension ladders was in progress, and many
almost inanimate forms were carried out
by tie tiremen.
Great indignation is expressed against
against tine officials whose duty it is to see
that the law is enforced in regard to fire
escape appliances.
From inquiries at the hospitals at a late
hour tonight concerning the condition of
the girls injured by jumping from the
window of the burning building, it was
learned that but little hope is entertained
for the recovery of at least five.