The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-11-27
Panic Stricken Girls.
Narrow Escape of Hundreds
of Them From Fire.

Narrow Escape of Hundreds
of Them From Fire.
CHICAGO, Nov. 21.-A fire which
caused property loss Of 100000 and
imperiled the lives Of half "a thousand
persons, mostly young women, origi-
mated at 8 O'Clock this afternoon on the
third floor of Charles Emmerich & Go
feather and down goods factory, 175
1S1 south Canal street. The confag-
ration was attended by scenes of intense
excitement and score of 6remen mar
rowly escaped being killed by FIRE and
falling walls. When the flames were
raging most furiously, in spite of the
best efforts of 25 engines and a small
army Of iremen, frebrands were carried
BY the wind to adjoining manufacturing
buildings aud it looked as if mauy more
would have to 60.
The seven story brick building from
It's Caual street, south to the corner Of
Jackson street, the nine-story brick
building adjoining on the North, and
the greater part Of the fcur-story brick
building in the same direction. were
entirely destroyed. These buildings
occupied nearly the whole of the block
on the west side of Canal street be-
tween Adams and Jackson street. The
seven and niue-story buildings were
owned by Warren Springer. and the
owner of the four. story building. which
is ope-tbiris sawed, VIM J Wilson
The buildings were amply insured.
The following firms were burned
out:
Shober & Carquevllle, ithographers,
who occupied most Of the Excelsior
building at the corner of Jackson
street; George E Lloyd & Co., cleo
trotype and stereotype machinery manu-
facturers +; Geo. E. Lloyd & Co., Cleve.
land bicycles Chas. Emmerich & Co..
feathers aud down goods Scbnadig
Bros. and Co.. ladies shoes F.; Abner
shirt waist factory; Gibson Gas Fix
ture company; Chambers brick ma
chiuery manufacturers, Russell Piano
company; Banner shirt waist factory,
Epwortt piano and organ factory
Heusner Bakery company; Samuel
Lyon, mill supplies George F. Blake,
steam pump works; Knowles steam
pump works; Derby Cycle company
Strouss, Eisendra,h & Droo, manu-
facturers OF mattresses ard quilts.
The fire started fror an explosion of
chemicals used 10 cleaning feathers and
tee rapidity with which the flames
spread in the Enmerich factory. where
200 girls and women are employed
created panic % thas building. Tne
frightened employees 90 the upper aoorO
rushed for the elevators. which we're
small aDd few. and the s;airways we're
soon jammed with horror-stricken and
faintiug females Cool headed men aud
police officers summoned By the fire
alarms 10 quick succession caue to the
rescue and prevented ire horrcr.
Officers stood guard at the elevators
and stalrways 10 prevent more than
safe pun br Ct womeu using those means
of exit
The excitement was as grea: among
the 200 female employees Of the Banner
Waist company, whose factory adjoined
the Emmerich factory. Only thin
wall divided the springer building,
which we're practically ooe. and io an
alarmiogly short time the flames had
extended up and down and through the
walls to the buildings on each side.
The police and 6remeo had hard task
to get all the young women in safety to
the street, many having to be carried
out unconscious or else driven out, be-
cause they waDted to save their small
personal property while there was not
time for all 70 get their cloaks and hats.
So far as the police learned. all who
were employed in the building escaped
Without serious injury, although many
were bruised and scratched.