Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1898-03-17
FIFTEEN LIVES LOST.
Worst Fire In Chicago Since the Cold
Storage Warehouse Holocaust.
DESTRUCTION IN AN HOUR.
Inmates Given Choice Between Jumping
and Burning-Exact Number of Killed
and Injured Not Known at Present.
Was seven-story Structure.

CHICAGO, March l6.-The worst fire
that has occurred in Chicago since the
cold storage warehouse holocaust at the
Worlds fair in 1893 broke out in the
building at the corner Of Wabash ave-
nue. and Jackson boulevard today. The
death list will probably reach 10, and
may exceed that figure. The injured
number about 80.
So far as known the dead are: u
Miss KATE CARNEY, forewoman of the
National Music company, believed to have
persisted in the flames after helping to
save the last one of the 40 girls in her
charge
w. A. OLMsTEAD, president of the Ohm
stead Scientific company; when the ex-
plosion occurred he ran to the rear of the
seventh floor of the building, and has not
been seen since. It is thought he is buried
in the ruins.
SAMUEL A. CLARK, jumped from fourth
floor, employee of Olmstead.
MILES A. SMITH, salesman.
THREE UNIDENTIFIED MEN.
CHARLES ANDERSON, missing
PHILIP FARLEY, missing.
CASHIER BINNs, Sweet-Wallach Co.
The Injured.
BIB. Cunningham, employed by the
Northern Pacific Express company, head
and body burned.
Mary Lapere, 5n South Sangamon;
street, employed by the Sweet Wallacb
company, burned in descending fire es-
cape.
Herman Overman. 271 West Harrison
street, descended the fire escape with Miss
Lapere, but fell from the second floor,
burned and received internal injuries.
Policeman Rogers overcome by smoke.
Samuel 6. Snyder, employed by Sweet
Wallach company, burned severely.
E. A. Wise, employed by Sweet-Wal-
ZACH company, burned severely:
The Conover Piano company occu-
pied the first, second and third stories
of the building, the other tenants, in
Guiding the Presbyterian board of pub
LEGATION, and the Sweet Wallach COM
pany, dealers in Photographic supplies,
the latter firms on the sixth floor. 1t
was here that the fire broke out. Three
hundred girls were employed by this
firm, and when the fire broke out
panic ensued, many of the unfortunate
women being trampled under the feet
of their comrades in their
frantic efforts to escape. Cut of
from escape by the elevators
and the stairways. people penned in the
building began jumping from the win
dows, and though the fremen and
others held nets and canvas, many were
dashed to death.
According to an eyewitness, as many
as 10 jumped at once from the top floor
and others were seen shortly after to
fall back into the flames The flames
quickly spread. The floor occupied by
the Presbyterian board of publication
and Sunday school supply company also
contained material which readily
burned. On the lower floors, the piano
supplies and instruments held in stock
by the Conover Piano company were
soon transformed into finder. The
| firemen were badly handicapped by the
heat, which was terrific. Within IA.
dius of block the heat broke panes of
glass and dislodged signs, and streams
of water were directed on the buildings
on both sides of the street that far
away, in order to prevent them from
catching fire. Several times minor
blazes did occur. The greatest danger
was in the rear of the Conover build.
ing, where were located big dry goods
stores Thirty-fve minutes after the
fire had broke out, the floors had all
fallen, and moment or two later the
rear wall fell. Shortly after the front
wall bu1ged outward, and the tracks Of
the Union Elevated loop being com.
pletely covered with debris and block
ing the whole elevated system.
The building and contents are total
loss. In less than half an hour after
the fire broke out the structure, which
was Z stories high, so feet front by 1870
feet deep, was level with the ground
It was of what is known as smill con.
struction,' with front of plate glass.
The occupants were the Emerson
Piano company. Conoyer Piano com
pany, Chicago Cottage Organ company
Decorators Wall Paper company, Ma.
tional Music company, H, Holtzman &
Go. (piano stools), Presbyterian boar6
of publication, Alfred Beril, sheet mu
sic publisher Sweet Wallach company
Photographic supplies w. A. Olmstead
school supplies.
The building was owned by Fred z
Ayers of Lowell, Mass. It was worth
about $75, 900 and is said to be partially
insured The elevated railroad tracks
which passed the building, were badl,
damaged, and there was loss of $40.
900 or $4,000 from the breaking o.
plate glass in the stores on the opposit,
side of Wabash avenue.
The 7-story building adjoining o,
the north, Nos. Sll-2l3, was badly dam
aged and Its contents soaked witt
water and partially burned The los
on this building and the contents is es
timated at $40, 900.
!; Stranded Ship Total Loss.
, HALF Moon BAY, Cal, March 49,
, The wrecked ship New York is rapid
, SINKING in her had of sand and in