Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-10-31
AWFUL HOLOCAUST.
Nineteen Persons Dead a. the Re-
suit Of Z Philadelphia Fire.
FULLY 4 SCORE OF OTHERS INJURED.
Men and Women Died Agonising Deaths
In Presence Of SPECTATOR Unable to
Help Them-The Property Loss
Will Amount to 100000.

Philadelphia, Oct. 20. - Nineteen
known dead and property loss
amounting to upward of 100000 is
the awful result OF a fire which oc-
Cured yesterday in the business sec
ton of the city. The number OF in
jured is not known definitely, but
fully score of victims were located
at various hospitals. Police and fire.
men last night delved into the ruins
in search of bodies supposed to have
been buried beneath the debris, as
it was feared that others besides the
known dead may have lost their lives
in the flames. The buildings de-
stroyed were the eight-story struc-
ture 1919 and 1921 Market street, oc-
cupied by Hunt, Wilkinson & Co., up
holsterers and furniture dealers, and
three-story buildings occupied by
small merchantmen.
At 1920 o'clock yesterday morning
the blaze broke forth in the building
occupied by Hunt, Wilkinson & Co.,
and one hour later the horrible sacri-
flee of life had been made and the
immense loss of property had been
accomplished. The origin of the
death-dealing conHagration is un-
known. 1t is said that an explosion
of naphtha or gasoline in the base
ment was the cause, but this is de-
MED by Mr.. Wilkinson, who says there
never was sufficient quantity of
either explosive about the building
to be responsible for the terrible dis
aster. Rumor has it also that an
elevator constructor at work in the
basement permitted the fame of his
lantern to communicate with some
of the gaseous liquids stored in the
basement and that this was the
cause of the confagration.
Such disastrous fire attended
with so great loss Of life in such
brief time was never before known
in this city. Men and women died a
lingering, agonizing death in the
presence OF thousands of spectators
who were unable to lift hand to
their assistance. The rear of Hunt.
wilkinson l. Co.'s building faces on
Commerce street, small thorough.
fare. On the fire escapes at this end
OF the building two men and one
woman were slowly roasted to death,
while the horror-stricken throng on
the street below turned sick at the
sight. In the front on Market street
a woman, driven to desperation,
leaped from window on the top
floor and was dashed to death on the
pavement.
Firemen claim to have seen men
and women, unable to reach the win
dows or fire escapes, burned to death
in the interior of the building. If
this be so, little or nothing remains
of these victims and it is doubtful If
any portion of their bodies will be re-
covered.
Most of those killed were at work
on the sixth floor, where women were
engaged in sewing. They were at
work in the rear of the building close
to the fire escapes, but became con-
fused by the great quantity of smoke
that rushed up the stairway and the
elevator shaft. 1t was reported that
goods were stored against the win
dows. which prevented the women
from getting out on the fire escapes,
but this was denied by a member Of
the firm.
On the seventh floor there were 20
upholsterers at work, and thanks to
the great presence of mind Of the
foreman of the floor, who is an Of
fetal of the volunteer department at
Mount Holly, n. j., all escaped.
There were II employees and num-
Der of outside workmen on the eighth
floor. A ladder reached from this
floor to the roof, which would have
enabled those on that floor to reach
the roof of an adjoining eight-story
building, but in the excitement this
means of escape was forgotten. Sew
eral made the terrible leap to the
sidewalk and were crushed, while the
others ran the gauntlet Of smoke and
fire down the rear fire escapes.
When the engines arrived the
flames had enveloped the building
from top to bottom and the intense
heat from this terrifying mass Of
flames made it almost impossible to
get within close range of the seeth-
ing furnace. Ignoring the flames for
the time being, the brave fire fight
ers devoted their whole attention to
the work of rescue, As some Of them
stood within the scorching heat Of
the fire with nets outspread to re-
ceive those who leaped from the
burning building their comrades
played lines of hose upon them.
When their work in this respect was
ended many of the firemen were COM
pletely exhausted.
BY noon the fire was under control
and at two o'clock in the afternoon a
force of men, ordered by the depart
ment of public safety. began the work
Of clearing away the debris for the
purpose of recovering the bodies of
the victims buried in the ruins.
Cresceus' Performance at Kansas City.
Kansas City, Mo-, Oct. 25.-At the
Kansas City Driving clubs track
yesterday afternoon Cresceus went a