The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-04-26
THE FIRE FIEND'S WORK
Hundreds Of Girls Barely Escape From
a Burning Building,
HALF MILLION DOLLAR LOSS
Extensive Tobacco Factory Partly
Destroyed and Many EN-
pioyes Seriously In
jured.

MONTREAL, April 25.--W. c. McDonaId's
extensive tobacco factory was partly de-
stroyed by fire this evening. The loss
will reach 100000. on which there Is NO
insurance. There was not fire escape
on the outside nor any appliances on the
inside of the building for the fighting of
the fire. Even the windows were guarded
by heavy iron screens, presumably to pre-
vent theft. '..-. -
The fire started at o'clock in the dry
ing room and for a whilo smouldered.
Then suddenly the flames burst shrough
and most awful panic ensued. There
were 300 employees in the building and
more than half this number were women
| and girls. The shrieks of tho women as
they beat against the iron screens, pray
ing the crowd to do something to save
them, was most heatrending. 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 almost shattered to
pieces when she reached the roof of an
adjoining warehouse. In a similar man.
ner the others followed to the number of
30. The ambulances were kept busy car
rying the women and girls to the hospital
and some wero driven in cabs to their
homes.
So far one is known to be dead, but
several are believed to be in the ruins. It
was nearly midnight before the place
could be entered safely, and owing to the
darkness very little work can be done
before morning. The associated press
correspondent interviewed several who
escaped. They say the scene on the
fourth floor was beyond description.
When the hrst rush for the stairway
occurred the passageway was solidly
packed and many tainted and fell under
the feet OF the crowd. Then
q mad rush was made to the
windows. But the crowd forgot about
the heavy screens which guarded that
means Of escape. Frantic women tore
their hands by beating against the cruel
distractions, but the irons were too strong
Tor their feeble blows. aa
Death seemed inevitable until Marie
Gagnon found a window that yielded TO
the determined blows of those who could
get their united efforts to bear. This
window overlooked an extensive one
story warehouse. Without a moments
hesitation the woman leaped into the air
and landed on the roof below. Encour-
aged by her daring and impelled by the
smoke and flames which were making
rapid progress in that part of the building,
other women followed her example until
about 20 MANNED and bruised forms were
piled on the warehouse roof.
By this time the passageway had be-
come sufficiently cleared to perulifa more
rapid clearing of the building. The work
of rescue by means of fire extension lad
ders was soon in progress and many
almost inanimate forms were carried out
by the firemen. On the third floor, where
the fire started, the scenes wers almost as
heartrendinR, but being warned sooner,
the operatives we're able toy es-
cape quicker by the stairways.
Many were terribly crushed in the
mad rush, but the most serious casualties
were confined to those on the top floor.
Great Indignation is expressed against
the officials whose duty it is to soc that the
law is enforced in regard to the fire escape
appliances. From inquiries at the hos
pitfalls concerning the condition of the
girls injured, it was learned that but little
hope is entertained for the recovery Of at
least five H& =.