The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1897-02-04
FIRES FIERCE REVEL
VAST LOSSES OF PROPERTY AND
SEVERAL LIVES.
Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, and
Several Other Cities Visited by the
Destroying EIement-Scores of Men
Have Narrow Escapes from Death.
Record for One Day,

Record for One Day.
Fire destroyed two buildings at tn
southwest corner of Monroe street an,
Fifth avenue, Chicago. Tuesday night
when the temperature was degrees be
low zero. Falling walls injured twelv
tiremen, one of whom, Jerry O'Rourke
Will die. The damage inflicted reache
100000. When the blaze was first dis
covered, at 6:25 o'clock, strong ives
wind was blowing. Five minutes late
the city for blocks around was lighted b!
the glare of fast increasing contia gra
ton, and crowded by putting fire engines
ladder trucks, stand pipes and hose carts
The firemen worked greatly hampered by
| the elevated railroad structure. electric
wires and the cold. From the roofs of adj
joining buildings powerful streams were
thrown, apparently without effect, upon
the flames The fireboats Yosemite and
Fire Queen were also summoned from
heir station in the river when Marshal
Campion turned in a general alarm. AL
the fire fighting force not engaged upon
the burning buildings was needed to
guard surrounding property from storm
Of glowing Goals and blazing debris car
ried broadcast by the wind.
The first streams broke the windows
and gave air to the blaze. A portion of
he first building afire had burned Jan. =,
and the charred surface caught quickly.
No efforts could save this structure or
contents, so attention was turned to 9TH
ers.
A Miraculous Escape.
Thirty-five insurance patrolmen. under
Capt. Shepherd, had entered 1868 Mon
roe street to cover stock with tarpaulins.
Marshal Campion sent this warming:
This building was burned ten years ago,
and three huge cracks were made between
it and the building burning. Flames will
come through You are not safe. Get
out" No heed was given the warning,
and in short time 2 torrent of flame en-
tered so quickly and fiercely that all
egress from the lower floor was cut off.
The men were driven from floor to floor,
until at the fifth they were stopped by
flames from above. Apparently they were
in a death trap, when at the last moment
that man could live in the blistering heat
and sitting smoke Capt. Shepherd discov-
cred a fire escape at rear window. All
down this to safety, but their
escape was miraculous, for before all
reached the ground the roof and top floors
fell in.
Close Call for Company.
Ten extra engines were called. Capt.
Barker had been notified of the cracks in
he fire wall, and warned not 10 enter.
But with five men he started up fire
x,-;+b &C Nv
lighting from above to prevent the spread
If flames through the cracks. When all
lad passed the third floor. flames burst
rom windows below. Nothing remained
,ut to Chamber TO the roof; and over its
dge they all disappeared, the captain
asst, with his clothing ablaZe from sheet
f flame that burst from the cornice. His
len had waited for him. and smothering
he burning clothing, they made n dash
cross the roof to another fire escape,
nd descended safely.
Falling Walls Bury Firemen.
Meanwhile the fire in the building at 200
nd 202 Monroe street burned fiercer and
ercer. The entire interior was burned,
o that the walls had nothing TO sustain |
hem in place. Across the narrow alley |
rom the burning building upon roof |
ere stationed engine companies 81, 5, 9 |
nd Z, under the command of Marshals |
eyferlich and Swenie, son of Chief Swe- |
lie. The wall OF the burning building
as one story higher than the roof where
le fire companies were at work. No dam
nr to them was apprehended, even in
lse of 4 falling wall. as it was thought
lat the alley was wide enough to afford
lem protection. In this the firemen were
istaken. The upper structure tottered.
It's coming this way" shouted Fireman
uinlan. and dropping his hose, he ran.
he mems clothing was coated with ice.
heir utmost haste therefore WAS slow
,eed, and before any had taken three
cps the upper portion of the wall of the
lrning building fell with crash. Tons
mortar and brick were hurled upon
i'd about the fleeing firemen. Engine
Nos. and G were caught be-
cath the body of the mass. The heaviest
,rtion fell upon jeremiah O'Rourke and
rried him PROSTATE 10 the roof with it.
he catastrophe was seen from the street,
I'd aid quickly reached the injured men,
: way of the elevators from adjoining
lildings.
Ice Hiuders Work.
By this time the building at 200 and 2e2 |
onroe street, with all its contents, was
total loss. The building at 196 and 19S
as blazing from the basement to roof
ID the work of the tiremen was concen-
ated upon this structure. The streams
ON thirty-five engines and the two fire
ats by $50 o'clock brought the flames
the latter building under control. The
ter walls of the entire buildings were
len with tons of ice. Huge icicles de-
nded from the fire escapes and the win
w sills.
Cause Is a Mystery.
The losses:
Nos 1876 and 1873 Monroe street: First
or, Continent Shoe Company, loss $50
0. fully insured.
Second floor and fourth floor, Pickwick
othing Company, wholesale clothing,
IS $4,000.
Third floor, vacant
Fifth floor, A. NJ. Stewart. manufactur-
) agent of clothing, loss $4,000, fully {
'ured.
Nos. 200 and 202 Monroe street:
FIRST and second floors, Wurzburger !.
os. 4 Co, wholesale furnishing goe5s, 6
S 10000. fully insured. !
Third floor. vacant.
Fourth. fifth and sixth floors, G.. II.
ster Il Sons. wholesale woolens apd !
iforms. loss $4,000. Jan. > this firm
stained practically Il total loss from fire,
d this loss had not yet been adjusted :,
e insurance adjusters refused to allcw
Otal loss claim OF $4,000 ut that time. l.
ey invoiced the salvage at $4,000.
Building owned by Luther McWillams G
Marshall Field Il Co., loss $4,000 :,
National India Rubber Company, S4O,- =
}. fully insured
The cause Of the fire was not ascertain 4
by the police or firemen. i