The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-06-10

mat 1t was almost impossible 30 do
anything with him. Wattles was final
~ compelled 10 run for his life, as the
flames were sc0rching his clothing He
ran to window on the south side Of
the building, across which were iron
bars. Wattles managed to tear two
or three Of these from their fasten-
ings, and, with two other men who had
followed him, climbed out on the sin.
They were seen by the fremen, who
called 10 them to remain where they
were and they would save them. a
ladder was run up and the two men
who were with Wattles were taken
down. He became craZed with excite
ment and. not waiting for the return
Of the fremen, sprang for a net which
some men were holding on the side
walk beneath. He fell partly fin it
and partly on the sidewalk and sus-
tanned injuries which probably viii
cause his deathh.
Kent was left lying on the floor OF
his room and evidently died of suIoca-
ton. His body was badly burned after
death. Three hours after the outbreak
Of the fire the body was found on the
floor Of his room, one leg burned to a
crisp and the head burned Off. RE
was identified by means Of his cloth
ing.
Iron Bars Prevent Escape.
A scene that wrought to the pitch Of
madness the great crowd that had
gathered around the building was en-
acted at a fourth story window on the
north side. Across this window was
heavy wire screen, and on the outside
of the screen were iron bars running
parallel to the sill. The space between
these bars was too small to allow the
passage Of even a small boy, and be-
hind them was gathered d crowd of
men whose numbers were afterwards
I found TO be between twenty and thirty.
Escape in other directions was inn
possible. for the fire filed an the halls
and was steadily eating its way toward
the window at which the men were
standing. The once chance for life for
that crowd Of men lay through that
screened and barred window. The men
closest to the screen tore and tugged
at it in a vain effort 10 tear il from
its fastenings. and the men behind
/ them fought madly 10 get close enough
to the screen to fasten their fingers in
ii. So fiercely did the prisoners pull
at the screen that from the street be-
low were plainly visible tiny streams
of blood that trickled from the LAGER
ated fingers and hands and flowed over
the window sill. A number of the men
at the window were in straight jackets
and manacled. and those, not being
able TO help either themselves or others,
were the widest of all in their frantic
/ efforts to break through the bars.
Cool Heads Save Many Lives.
The crowd in the street watching the
I u til
/ the screen was simply an insane mob.
They shouted all sorts of commands
and directions at the men and gave
/ orders 10 the fremen. who were doing
all that men could do to get through
the bars from the outside As the
flames came steadily toward the men,
/ the people in the street jumped up and
down and screamed in helpless rage
/ It seemed as though nothing could be
/ done and that all Of the men WOU6
die within six inches Of freedom. That
any of the men escaped at all is owing
+ To the work Of ". r. Davis Of Cedar
Rapids. Ia. q patient in the institu-
| ton. He induced the men to cease
their disconnected pulling at the screen
and to unite their efforts. Four men
at first took hold Of the screen and in
almost a minute the crowd behind
& puSuEQ Lneul away. anu D-lbIt AAE 49A4
/ men could get to the screen again they
were compelled to fight with their
/ fists
| Davis managed TO get his men to
/ the window again. and after a few
/ desperate pulls they managed to tear
down a portion OF the screen
/ Nerved TO the work by their success.
] the bodies Of the men sWayed back
and forth as they put all Of their
| strength into one last effort. Finally
/ the screen came down, but the bars
/ remained. and they were heavy, placed
there for the purpose Of Withstanding
+ all the efforts Of insane men. AS many
as could place their hands on the lower
bar took hold. 1t bent almost double
\ and six men went 10 the floor with a
/ crash. holding on TO the iron bar which
/ they had torn from its fastenings. So
I quickly did The men behind them
( spring TO grasp the second bar that
( those who had torn down the first were
badly trampIed upon before they could
/ rise.
! Continued on PAGE 81