Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-10-25
EMPLOYE's STATEME NT.

madly 10 the rear.
EMPLOYEES STATEMENT.
An employee of Hunt Wilkinson & Co.
made the following statement;
THE fire started In the basement at
the bottom Of the new freight elevator
| SHIFT. Workmen were employed adj
joining adjusting the mechanical APP
parptus. 1t being intended TO start the
elevator today.
THE first any Of us on the ground
| floor knew OF the fire was
when a sheet of flame leaped
upward through the shaft. Ev-
cry one at once rushed out through
the rear. There had been on explosion.
| Almost instantly the flames spread
throughout the building and there was
/ 10 possible means BY which the people
on the upper floors could escape except
by jumping"
From the rear OF the building all the
women and men employed IN the cur
tain and drapery finish department In
the seventh floor leaped TO the ground.
All were more or less injured, some
fatally
one woman VINO leaped from win
dow fell astride of an awning pole ana
her body was born almost In half The
corpse hung In the air many minutes
before the firemen could recover 1t.
The dense smoke was responsible for
the loss Of some lives Fremen stood
on the pavement with life nets spread
ready to catch those who jumped but
both victims and life-savers were SO
blinded they could not see each other.
Director of Public Safety English was
one of the first OH the scene, directing
the work of rescue. He expressed the
fear tho many bodies are buried In
the center OF the ruins and he believes
Il will be days before all the bodies are
recovered.
NEW ESTIMATE OF THE DEAD.
At 2 o'clock reports from various
sources led Director English TO esti-
mate the number OF dead at nineteen.
No attempt TO search the ruins can
be made before tonight. The largest
retail stores Of the city are located In
the neighborhood Of the fire and there
was great excitement In all these
places Until the walls Of Hunt, Will
inson & Company's establishment fell
il seemed certain that no power could
step the spread of the flames
At John Wanamaker's store hum
dreds Of men manned the fire annaratus
and stood ready TO battle the flames
that threatened thai establishment.
Other stores ordered the female en-
ployes to their homes and the men got
the books and records 10 places OF
safety. t
| The station OF the Philadelphia &
Reading railway at twelfth and Mar
ket streets, one OF the largest In the
country was right In the track Of the
fire and efforts Of portion Of the fire
department were directed TO saving
this structure.
After the walls fell the flames sub
sided and the surrounding property was
saved ,.
UNIDENTIFIED BODIES.
Shortly before 3 o'clock the men at
work In the ruins unearthed four bodies
that could not be identified
II was stated at o'clock that twenty
four are known to be dead Only three
have been identified as follows:
IDENTIFIED.
Susan Gormly, aged AZ years, died at
hospital
Fred Wilmington. aged 80. died on
way TO hospital.
Henry A. Sparrow, died on way to
hospital.
THE MISSING.
Dolly cramer, supposed to be killed.
INJURED
William Shields. assistant foreman
Of engine company No. II, blown off
ladder. conclusion OF the brain. twenty
scalp wounds, condition critical.
Joseph Toner, hoseman OF engine
company No. IS, inhaled smoke serious.
At one hospital three men, q woman
and a boy lie unconscious and not yet
identified.