Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-05-07
FIFTY OVERCOME.
New York Fire Ladies' Run Into
Great Danger.
LAID OUT By AMMONIA FUMES,

Flames Lick Up Cold Storage Establish
ment, Causing a Loss of Half a Million
Egg-Roast That Used Up 54,OOO,OOO OF
the Hen Fruit-One of the Men Over
come Dies and Several Are in a Serious
Condition.
New York. Nay Fifty or more
men disabled and one dead was the
record of the New York fire department
at fierce fire at No. 161 to 165 Cham
bers street last night. The fire was in
the large cold storage warehouse of the
Merchants Refrigerating company, and
it was the fumes of ammonia and the
heaviest OF smoke that struck down
firemen almost by the dozen. The call
for ambulances was as rapid as the
call for engines. A score of doctors
and nurses were summoned to do duty
in saving the lives of the mer, risked SO
bravely. The dead fireman is John
Rheinhardt, CT engine company No. Z.
Those overcome, some Of whom are in
a serious condition, include members
of a dozen companies that were called
out as reserves. when Chief Bonner
lcuEi .at was icsiiS iliS iIith Oi tNti
hand. The fire was unusual one, and
is estimated to have done damage to
the extent Of at least 100000.
How Rheinharlt Met His Death
The interior Of the large cold storage
warehouse of the Merchants Refrigerat-
ing company. occupying the upper floors
Of the fve-story brick and stone build
ing 1s9 to 1853 Chambers street, running
-
destroyed by the fire. The loss will
probably amount to more than S500,000.
Three alarms called sixteen engines to
The scene. and thirty or more firemen
who entered the basement OF, 161 Cham
oers street, where the fire started, Were
overcome. Fireman John Rheinhardt
missed his way in leaving the cellar
and was finally taken out unconscious.
He died in an ambulance On the way to
Il hospital. Rheinhardt was taken from
the cellar by Fireman John ]. Murphy
and John O'Conne,i. They were both
overcome while rescuing Rheinhardt
and had to be taken to the hospital.
Engine House Turned Into a Hospital.
The first floor of 161 Chambers street
in the basement of which the fire
started. was occupied by Robert Gair
as Il paper warehouse. AS soon as the
firemen got into the cellar they were
Immediately overcome. Rescuing par
ties were formed of policemen, citizens
and firenen. who carried the uncon-
scious men across the street to Engine
house Nc. .. which was formerly Old
Chambers street hospital The horses
Quartered there We're turned out and
a hospital made of the place again.
General ambulance calls were sent out
for ambuiances. When the ambulance
and a corps Of extra doctors arrived
they found men lying about on all
sides unconscious. The flames spread
up through the building rapidly.
Was a Great Fry of Eggs.
The windows of the upper floors.
used, for cold storage, We're boarded up
and greatly hampered the firemen in
their work. At II o'clock two floors fell
with a crash. At midnight the flames
broke through the roof of 163 Chambers
street, and at late hour were still
consuming the building. Lines of hose
had been run up through the adjoining
buildings and water was pouring upon
the flames. 1t Is said that there were
$50, 0c0 cases of eggs, containing thirty
dozen each, valued at about SO a case
IN, hn