The Van Buren press., 1902-02-08
Six are Covered by the Debris Of
a Falling Building,and are
Crushed t. Death.
TERMINATION OF ATTIRE IN A FIRE TRAP.
Floors Gave Way, Carrying Down
Three Men, when Assistant Chief
Thierry Headed n Rescue Party,
and They are Crushed by Falling
WaIIs-The Work of Rescue.


DANIEL w. STEELE, foreman.
WILLIAM DONDON, ppoman.
CHARLES KRENNING. pipeman.
FRANKLIN MCBRIDE, tillerman.
CHARLES WESTENHOF, pipeman.
The Injured.
CHIEF SWINGLEY, hurt by falling
bricks
WILLIAM WANN. foreman about hips
and legs.
PATRICK MCCARTHY, engineer, struck
by falling bricks.
MONROE MOORE, electric light in
| spector; fell through shaft, bruised and
scratched.
WILLIAM JUEIG. driver for Assistant
Chief Thierry, fractured skull and inter-
nal injuries,
FRANK LINGO. assistant driver,
bruised and hurt internally.
st. Louis, Feb. 6.-Seven fremen
were killed Tuesday night in fire at
314 Chestnut street, opposite the Mer-
chants exchange.
The building, four-story brick,
was occupied by the American Tent
and Awning Co.,and the fire was prac.
tically under control when the catas-
trophe occurred.
The structure was erected many
years ago, and was little better than
fire trap. The fire was on the
third and fourth floors, and three
pipemen were there fighting the
flames.
The floors gave way, and the pipe
men went down with the debris.
Fire Chief swingley's story.
"rhe three pipemen were there, l
suppose, by order of Foreman
Steele" said Chief Swingley. assist
ant Chief Rucker, who has charge Of
the downtown district, and myself
were in direct command, but neither
of us had given these particular men
orders to go upstairs. If they had
not gone we would probably have
directed men to go, for there was
nothing to indicate danger.
"With Dan Steele, foreman of No.
~, were Charles Krenning of ~ and
Mike Kehoe of 49,
"Those Of us who were in front of
the building heard n crash at the
rear, but did not know exactly what
had happened until Krenning came
running out
"Krenning ran into Assistant Chief
Thierry. He said; Chief, the !loor
fell, and two men on the pipe are
coyered up.
"'Gvc me some men, snid Thicrry,
and I'll go back and get them out
"rhierry and called for men, anl
as four men came up Vhicrry start
ed Co lead the way.
"Krcnning followed right behind
Therry. Then came Frank Mcbride
and Dundon.
"Wand and Juclich went last, Two
minutes later came the crash.
'I never saw Il catastrophe come
30 without warning, | was knocked
down by the debris and fell under the
water tower. When ! got up, half
stunned, the building was in ruins,
and the only thing that could be done
was to put the men ut work digging
TO get out those who were inside.
"None Of ny knew just how far
Thcrry and the others had gone, 81
we could not tell where TO look for
them"
Chief Swlnglcy was unable to spcuk
without deep emotion Of the cutns-
trophc, and when he spoke Of Their
ry his voice failed
brave Fireman Thierry.
Thierry headed the rcscuers, who
were volunteers, and belonged tn diff
fcrent companies,
The little party disappeared in the
building II had been gone but mo-
ment when all the walls of the build
ing began TO totter under their
weight.
There was cry Of warning from
the spectators, but was drowned In
the tumut'
From lettering the walls began TO
rock. Suddenly one bulgcd ~ tho
bottom, bent inward ut the center
aud broke at the top.
Then the whole building collapsed,
the debris falling across Chestnut
street, M well ns upon the site OF
the building.
William 0'Donncll, John p,rccll
and William O'Conncll, of Salvage
Corps No, /, were covering material
with tnrpoulins ON IN upper floor
when the wall started 20 fall, They
were carried outward with !, and
landed sofcly In the street
William Wann, foreman of Engine
Company No. 10, was on the second
floor when the collapse came. Failing
plaster warned him of 1t, and he
slipped down the banister to the first
floor, and ran into the street
Patrick y. Mccarthy and Wdinm
Jculich, who were about 10 enter the
building TO nssist In the rescue of
their comrades, were struck by fall.
Inc debris and severely Injured,
When the building fell I'LL the light
circuits In the nclghborhood wore
cut, and darkness was added TO the
horror Of the scene. The debris had
smo,hcred what little fire remained
In the building just before tho col
lapse.