The Portland daily press., 1898-02-10
EXPLOSION OF WnlSKEY.
Lives Lost in Terrible Fire in
Pittsburg.
NOT KNOWN HOW MANY BODIES
ARE BURIED In THE RUINS.

Alley Was Filled With Newspapers Men
Firemen and Policemen-Six Bodies
Had Been Taken From Debris at TIVE
This Morning.
Pittsburg, February ga fire of mys-
terious origin was discovered about eight
O'Clock this evening in the large six story
cold storage plant of this Chautauqu&
Lake Ice company and at this hour
(1l.s0) it looks as though the entire build
ing would be destroyed together with
about a million dollars worth of merchan-
disc of all kinds stored within It's walls.
The building occupies the block from 18th
to 18th streets between Pike street and
Mulberry Alley. 1t is six story brick
building with three heavy fire walls
making in reality four buildings. The
ice company has it's plant and storage
warehouse on the lower floors and the
Union Storage company occupies the
balance of the building with merchandise
Of all descriptions, the property OF many
merchants and householders of the city.
One of the compartments was used as the
government bonded warehouse and con-
tained about 400 barrels Of whiskey and
alcohol. Fifty horses belonging to the ice
company were stabbed in one end of the
building but were rescued.
The windows of the block are protected
by heavy iron shutters which cannot ba
opened and for this reason the firenen
were badly handicapped, being unable to
get at the fire properly. The loss cannot
as yet be estimated but at least SlO0, 600
worth Of property has already been con-
sumed. The building and contents are
we'll insured.
At11.15 p. IN. an explosion of whiskey
occurred which blew out tho Mulberry
Alley wall with terrible results.
At the time the alley was filled with
others. Many were caught by the falling
wall. There are rumors that at least 20
or 80 men are still under the debris
Three dead have been taken out, among
them Police Captain Berry. The other
two bodies are at the morgue unrecog-
nized as vet. Many people were injured
by flying blocks and beams and all the
ambulances and patrol wagons of the city
are in constant service.
Some OF the injured whose names have
been secured are:
Charles Simon, travelling salesma
from Cincinnati, badly cut on the head.
VIM. Fleming, squeezed by falling
rafter, may die. as
Dsi1sef Malcnsy, carried through to the
cellar. but dug his way out. He is hurt
internally.
Charles Wilson, bridge builder, badly
cut and hurt internally.
VIM. Desmuke, a puddler, head and
shoulders badly cut.
Mary Desmuke, his wife, hurt internal
Davis Stewart, badly cut on the head.
Capt. J. A. Brown, building inspector,
both legs broken.
Robert Rosamand, Lieut.. Engineer Co.
No. 2, leg crushed.
Owen K. Fielder. compound fracture OF
right leg. 9A
| George Douglass Bellevue, thought to
be internally injured.
| VIM. Fleming, Commissions on body.
Joe Headley and Kit Wilson, head cut.
Robert Dawson, head and body injured.
| The telegraph, telephone and electric
| lights at the corner of 18th and Pennsyl-
| vania streets fell shortly after the expo
sion and killed an unknown man.
just after the explosion the large ware
house of W. A. Hoalver & Co., situated
| on Pike street, directly opposite the
Chautauqua company's building was
ablaze and in short time was beyond
hope OF saving.
About !. 10 the llre was gOtUen unuer
control and no further spread is expected:
The two large buildings are a total
| wreck and the loss cannot be much less
than million dollars. Until the fallen
walls have been cleared away there can
be no certainty as to the number of vic
| tins.
At2a 10. there are six dead at the
morgue, only two Of whom have been
identified. They are Police Lieutenant
A. j. Berry, acting captain and VIM
Scott, Jr., aged twenty. son OF the presi-
dent of the Chautauqua Ice company.
His brother is missing and supposed to
be buried under the ruins. The follow
ing is the best list of the heavy losers OBJ
| tainable tonight: Hoevler Storage com
pany, budding and contents, $500, 600;
Chautauqua Ice company, $150, 900; Union
Storage company, 81 900, 900; Small Penn
Avenue houses. $25,0u0; making total
of $l,775, ,O00, all we'll insured.
Some of the heaviest individual losers
who had ,goods,m the warehouses are:
The Economy Distilling company, 5000
barrels OF whiskey worth $3.50, 900; Monon-
gahela Textilescompany, 125, 900 pounds OF
wool; Colling Cigar. 25 car loads tobacco;
W. N. Williams 20 car loads of sugar.
A statement of insurance cannot be OBJ
tanned tonight H-e