The Meeker herald., 1895-08-24

ned under these and apparently NOT
much hurt. The men worked rapidly
tearing away the wreck to get to her,
but it was seen that 1t would be
long task.
While this was going on other parties
had come In on the other side and were
working under the overhanging re-
mains of the roof. which threatened to
fall on them ut any moment. 1t soon
became apparent that at least dozen
people were buried beneath the runs.
One man. who said his name was How
ell and that he was from Indiana, as
nearly as could be understood, was
near the center of the building. He
was caught in his bed and pinned
down by beams. Not far from him was
place where two women We're impris-
oned. AT another point woman's
voice was heard begging some one to
rescue her and her two children. At
other places groans could be heard
which gradually died away, showing
that there were victims who had either
become unconscious or succumbed to
| their injuries. The area Of the wreck
was extensive and hundred might
easily have been buried beneath the
ruins.
For a time prospects We're bright for
the rescue of all those who were vet
alive. A hundred men We're working
with all their might, and cries of cheer
were exchanged between rescuers and
prisoners. But about twenty minutes
after the work began, puffs of smoke
began to issue from the ruins. and 1t
soon became apparent that there was a
raging fire beneath the wreck. started
by the exploding boilers. The men
worked with redoubled energy. but the
olyn NJ thtnEnr ann
the prisoners cried that they were being
smothered. Even the firemen were soon
driven from the pile by the suffocating
clouds. and general alarm was turned
in for the entire fire deartment. All the
streams available were turned on The
ruins and the firemen gradually worked
their way back to the scene Of Their
former labors. But now there was
scarcely sound The woman toward
whom Chief Roberts had been working
was silent and had either been smoth.
cred or burned to death, for bright
flames We're pouring from the hole the
firemen had made in her direction.
That portion of the ruins where the
several women had been located. was
directly over the place where the boil,':
room had been. and the fire was fiercest
there All hope was gwen up Of rescuing
aiiloke and flames were driving the res.
cS.ers back. Attention was now turned
to 4ae portion of the ruins farthest from
this point, while dozen streams endeav-
ored to beat back the flames. The man
first discovered was still being worked
over by Harris and his companions, aid
ed now by scores of others. When the
smoke first drove all out of the place
Harris realized that Munal would suf-
focate, and running to a restaurant near
procured bucket of water and a
sponge. Enough Of the debris had been
cleared away so that Harris could push
the wet sponge down by the side Of tho
beam where Munals face was judged to
be, and in this way he was enabled to
continue breathing.
Twenty feet beyond where the men
were working over Munal, was another
man imbedded even deeper in the ruins.
He was nearer the fire and as he felt
the flames approaching his cries and
prayers We're pitiful to hear. The fire.
men worked towards him until the
whole side Of the building still standing
the -ftbtofsA 4phrltbf fspafnt "iinpossrrHe
to remain In the dangerous position
where the men We're. and they were or
dred back to safety. leaving the hap.
|
not have been eXtrcated under an hours
work. and the flames made any kind OF
effort impossible. Two women shared
the fate of this man, and IRE and smoke
soon enveloped everything around them.
one actually dying in plain sight of the
workers.
Work was now entirely confined td
fighting the fire back from the place
where Munal lay. and in endeavOring to
extricate him. Shifts of dozen men
each worked until exhausted by heat or
smoke and then retired for air, while
others instantly took their places. Munal
was pinned down by several immense
beams and timbers. and 1t was an al
most impossible task to extricate him
Axes. ropes. picks. hooks and every i'm
lement that could be brought into use
was eagerly seized, while the others tOr1
at the bricks and splinters with their
hands. Men tore off all their upper
clothing but an undershirt and dived
into the hole regardless of their lives
or persons. After an hour of this strain
enough Of the debris was removed so
that Munal's head appeared.
Police Surgeon Jareki arrived at this
moment and Immediately took his place
in the hole where he could keep MunaTs
head moist and properly attend to him
while his lower limbs were being extri-
Gated. 1t was position Of great danger
for all, on account Of the flames and the
overhanging roof, which threatened to
come down at any moment But the
men worked on, hauling at beams with
ropes and using every device to clear the
space around the suffering man, who
bore his agony with great bravery and
cheered on his helpers. At last, about
half past two o'clock, great cheer arose
and word was spread among the great
crowd waiting outside, that the work
was finished. Soon firemen and citizens
appeared at the entrance Of the alley
bearing Munal on stretcher. He was
conscious but suffering great agony, and
the physicians expressed little hope for
his ultimate survival. He was tenderly
borne to the police ambulance and taken
at once to the county hospital while the
workers rushed back to the wreck.
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