Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-02-06
SIX KILLED,
F1remen Plunge to Their Death
in a Boston Building.
THE ROOF GAVE WAY.
Floor on Which Firemen Were
Stationed Carried Down.
The Structure 1t is Said Had Been Weak
.ened by Previous Fire-Four Fire
men Injured.
SIX KILLED,
THE ROOF GAVE WAY.

Boston, Feb. Six firemen, includ
ing district chief, captain and a lieu
tenant, were killed at fire here this
morning which burned out the interior
of fve-story building on Merrimac
street occupied by G, w. Bent & Co.,
manufacturers of beds, bedding, etc.
The dead are:
John F. Egan, district chief.
James Victory, captain engines 50
and 49,
George j. .Gottwald lieutenant en-
CINE SO
Patrick H. Disken, hoseman.
John J. Mulhern, fireman.
w j. Walsh. hosenan.
Four other fremen were buried in
the ruins, but they escaped with more
or less serious injuries. They are:
Joseph NJ. Clarity, captain engine I.
Thomas E. Conway, hoseman
r. J. Doherty hoseman.
Edward Shea, hoseman.
The building. which is owned by the
Union Baptist Church, is very heavily
damaged above the second story. Bent
& Co.'s loss will be heavy. The sec
ond story and everything below will be
seriously damaged
The men of engine were on the
fourth floor and those of engines 81
and 3S were on the second floor when
the rear section Of the roof collapsed,
carrying down portions of all the floors
to the basement, and buryiug the fire
men between great masses of debris.
For a time the exact number of vic
Tins was in doubt, as it was not known
how many men were in the building.
1t was reported that 10 men were in
the debris.
During this. time the water was
turned off, owing to the supply giving
out, and the flames had gained consid-
cradle Roadway, but all the efforts of
the department were directed towards
removing the wreckage under which
the men were buried, and after they
were taken out, the progress of the
flames was soon stopped.
Is The fire is supposed to have started
in the rear of the building, and was
nearly under control at the time of the
accident. The men of Engine were on
the fourth floor and the men of En-
gnes 80 and 80 were on the second floor
when the rear section of the roof coll
lapsed, carrying down portions of all
the floors through to the basement
and burying the firemen beneath great
masses of debris. For time the exact
number of victims could not be deter
Il1leu, as IL was UOl hIlOMI JUST HOW
many men were in the building at the
time. A hasty canvass of the members
of the department showed that the 10
men named above were missing.
During this time the water had been
turned off, owing to the supply having
partially given out, and the flames had
gained considerable Roadway but all
the efforts Of the departments were di-
rected toward removing the wreckage
under which the men were buried, and
after they were taken out the progress
of the flames was soon stopped.
The first man to be taken out of the
ruins was Edward Shea who was
found at 6.12 o'clock about 40 feet from
the front of the building, on the ex-
IRENE westerly end, pinned between
the timber about midway between the
first and second floor, having fallen
from the fifth floor. AS he was taken
out he said to those who were remov-
ing him: Don't bother about me. Get
the other fellows that are in there"
The next man to be taken out was
Capt. Garrity. He was found within a
few feet Of Shea. pinned under some
heavy timbers and was brought out
in a semi-conscious condition, at lib
O'clock. 1t was 1871 before the next
man was taken out, although he had
been in sight of the rescuiag party for
some time. He was pinned under some
timpers, which held his legs in such a
manner that the timbers had to be
sawed through before he could be re-
leased, This was Tom Conroy of En-
CINE T. Three minutes later Phil Doher-
ty Of Engine z was rescued.
At about this time it was learned that
Lieut.. Mccarthy had been struck in the
leg by flying bricks, He was removed
to the house of Protective No l, where
he was attended by a surgeon.
It was Just 1905 o'clock. more than
81 y tk1a fire CT ,faI H.
cry came from inside the building. 1--WE
have got Them and the Lass bodies
were brought out AS Captain Victory
and Chief Egan Were lifted there were
some signs of life. A shout went up
when Il was reported that both were
breathing Chief Egan was found beneath
mass of bedding and feathers. His face
was badly bruised and dark purple spots
covered his hands and face.
Capt Victory was found near Chief
1Igan and in practically the same state.
They were quickly placed in an amhu-
lance Egan died on the way to the
hospital and Victory about 10 minutes
after reaching there. The four men
remaining under the debris were found
few minutes later They were all
dead.
The collapse of the roof was probably
due to the great weight of snow on it,
which became heavier when the heat of
the fire caused 1t to partially melt. The
accident was one that could not be
avoided and the firemen were not ex-
posing themselves needlessly. They were
only taking one of the many chances
which they have to take in the perfor-
nance of their work. and met their
death at the post Of duty.
The contents Of the building are valued
at 100000 and are total loss. The
damage to the building itself will bring
the total to about $4,000. This is par
tally covered nv insurance
The Evangelical Baptist Benevolent
and Missionary Society and the Ire