The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-12-11

Dense smoke, to locate the stairway.
Joe heard them. He quickly called to
them and succeeded in leading them to
the stairway leading to the second
floor, and thence down to the Market
street sidewalk. He was greeted with
cheers when he appeared.
ANOTHER HEROIC RESCUE.
Commissioner-elect Harry Hill saw
the flames bursting from the rear of the
block, and he started up stairs to warn
the occupants of the rooms on the Sc
cond floor. A woman came rushing into
the hallway excited and dressed only IN
her night clothes. crying for hello. Mr..
Hill grasped her in his arms and carried
her down the stairway % the front Of
the building. There were other equally
heroic deeds witnessed by the thousands
of persons assembled in the streets be-
low. The utmost coolness was display
ed by some of those rescued.
While some of the firemen played
streams upon the blaze, captain Bax-
ter of the Centrals entered the upper
floors to ascertain whether every one
had been removed. { had been rumor.
ed that several persons still remained
in the building. No one, however. was
found in the rooms which were entered,
1t was well, however, that such was not
the case. for no human being could have
survived the seething mass of flames
which enyeloped the entire building ten
minutes after the occupants had been
removed.
CARING FOR THE SUFFERERS.
Mrs. M. C. Barber. residing opposite
the SaXton block, invited the women
and children who escaped from the
block to partake of the hospitality of
her home. The women were given
clothes and such comforts as their
cases required, and they were kindly
cared for by Mrs. Barber and some
friends.
ALLEGED FIRE PROOF WALLS.
Thousands of people witnessed the
crumbling of the walls. When the
flames first broke forth from the lower
store rooms. 1t was said that the build
ing had fre-proof walls, and no i'm
mediate danger existed of the walls
tumbling down, even though the inter-
Tor of the block was completely gutted
The fireman, however, kept at a re-
spectacle distance from the walls, just
far enough so that the streams from
their hose would reach the inside of the
block.
The flames first burst from the north
east corner of the building, in the north
side store room. Pedestrians on the
streets saw no other flame for a mo-
ment. 1t was thought the fire was not
so dangerous: but ere long the flames
spread to the other portionus of the in
terror and then fire shot out of windows
and doors. The fremen endeavored to
control them. but they could not.
Stream after stream was played into
the lower store rooms, as the apparatus
arrived, but the flames grew more fierce
and larger in volume. They finally
communicated with the second floor.
smoke escaping from the front win
dows. The third ignited as quickly.
involving the abandonment of hope on
the part of the firemen of saving the
building.
ONLY BARE WALLS REMAINED.
Then the roof and fourth floor was a
mass of flame. The sparks shooting
high into the air. the burning Goals OF
fire being carried in all directions for
over a mile. .t...
Crash after crash was heard, indicat-
ing the giving away of floors. Finally
only the bare walls of the building re-
mained standing. Even then. assurance
was given that the fire could cause no
further danger, but the walls were
weakened by the falling floors and sup
ports.
A tremendous crash followed and then
a portion of the rear and also of the
Eighth street walls was seen swaying,,
and with thunderous, crushing sound.
they fell the brick and mortar being
scattered over the street below.
The firemen expected the falling of
the walls. when they saw them sway
ing. and they drew back from the prox-,
unity of the building at these points. /,
The front wall remained standing n
length of time. However,
1t was weakened and almost without
any warning. it fell. 1t was fortunate
that it did not fall outwardly upon the
street more than 1t did, for many fire.
men and spectators were standing so
near that they would have been Sc
riously, If not fatally, injured. t