Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-30
Disastrous Blaze in Business Section
Of Chicago Today.
LOSS ESTIMATED AT $3.50, 900
Fire Fighters Handicapped by the
Bitterly Cold Weather.
EVERYTHING CAKED WITH ICE

CHICAGO, December 3O.-Fire at an early
hour today completely gutted the buildings
extending from PIG to 222 Monroe street,
badly damaged the building at 212-214 Mon
roe street. caused loss aggregating $780,
600. and resulted in the injury of nine fire
men, two of them seriously.
The injured are:
Captain Robert O'Connor, serious.
James Woolley, serious.
VIM. Padden-
Michael O'Hara.
Captain John Evans.
Captain VIM. Carey.
Captain Thos. OConnor.
Luke Hayes.
Lieutenant Oswald.
The fire is supposed to have originated on
the second floor in the work room of Wool
ley & Co, wholesale ySoolens, at 22O and ODD
Monroe street. and, famed by fierce
northwest wind, spread rapidly that
when the first fire companies arrived on
the scene the whole south end of the build
ing was mass of flames. A second and
then third alarm sent in. but in spite
of the tons of water thrown into the burn
ing buildings by thfrty-eight engines and
two fire tugs, the wind and the bitter cold
SO hindered the firemen that for time the
entire wholesale district was in danger.
The flames quickly communicated to the
building at 21G and 21S Monroe street grad
ually spreading east to 2l2 and 21i Monroe
street. where its progress was finally
checked Immense brands Were carried
far as l2th street. and the fremen were
kept busy eXtinguiShing small fires on the
roofs Of surrounding buildings.
Schedule of the LOSSES
The principal losses are as follows:
Building at 22n-22222 Monroe street. loss
$4,000
Edwards Stanwccd x Co. successors to
Phelps, Dodge K Palmer, boots and shoes,
third and sixth floors; loss. $2on,0o0.
Woolley & Co. first and second floors,
wooden goods: loss. sl:5.oaO.
Schwartz x Kline, shirts, fourth floor;
less, SG.ppa.
John Harrer. cloak manufacturer. firth
floor; loss, 5000
Building at 21G-21s Monroe street. occu-
pied by J. W Butler Paper Co.; loss, So
J. W Butler Paper Co. damage on stock,
S2-0.oo9; fully insured.
Henry o. Shepard Company. printers oc-
cuPying building at 212-214 Monroe street;
loss, 100000.
The building at 217 5th avenue was dam
aged to the extent Of 81. 900.
Besides these. there We're several minor
losses caused by smoke and water. Figures
on the insurance are not as yet obtainable,
but it is probable that most of the losses
are well covered
Miraculous Escape From Death.
The escapes from death of Captains
~ CVHIpIf E<NtilS anu carey ana Flremen
Padden, O'Hara and three others was lit
tie short of miraculous. All of the men
were working on the roof of the building
at 216-21s Monroe street, and as the fire
crept closer to the west side of the struc-
ture. the men were gradually driven toward
the middle of the roof. Suddenly the east
wall of the building adjoining fell with
terrific crash. An immense mass of brick
and timbers crushed into the roof where
Captain O'COnnOr and his men were at
work The roof tore away from the sides
and fell with a crash to the floor beneath,
carry ing Pipemen O'Hara and Padden down
in the debris, and leaving the others on
the fTail broken edge of the roof high above
the flames. Captain O'COnnor, Lieutenant
Callahan and Pipemen Fountain and Hor-
gan finally succeeded in rescuing the two
unfortunate pipemen. and crawling along
the shaking walls. made their way to
fire escape and safely to the ground. After
the fire had been raging about an hour and
a half. the walls began falling, and several
hremen We're more or less injured, James
WOlIey so seriously that he was taken to
the hospital.
Worst Fire in Years.
When the fire was at its height it looked
as though the buildings as far east as the
Franklin street and 5th avenue would all be
destroyed. The firemen concentrated their
efforts there. and aided by fire wall held
the flames in check until the walls fell. The
fire was one of the worst the fire depart
ment has had to contend with in years.
The cold was intense. the thermometer be-
ing several degrees below zero, and several
men were severely frOStbItten-