The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-17

Heroic Act of Engine Driver
Michael MaIOy.

Chicago. May 17.-During the progress
of a fire which last night destroyed the
lard refinery of Armour & Co, in the
Union stoekyards % people were inJur-
ed. I'VE of them in a manner which VIII
probably cause death in a short time
The loss of the company is estimated
by its officers at between s7a0.090 and
100000, with all the chances in favor
of the latter figure There We're NUM-
her of accidents, but by far the largest
nun Der of those who were hurt met
their injuries by the falling Of the hog
runway on which they were standing
to obtain a better view OF the fire.
FATALLY INJURED.
Jennie Smith stenogFapher German
American Provision company, both legs
broken; Ray irwin IL years old, inter
nally injured and head badly cut; IS
rael Morris driver police patrol wagon,
both legs broken; Michael Maloy. driver
of fire engine, internal injuries; unlden-
titled man. body crushed
OTHERS INJURED.
John Hoffman, head cut and arm bro
ken; VIM. Greblin, head cut open; Mrs
Morris Schwader, wife of the manager
of the German American Provision COM
pany, hand and arms badly cut: VIM.
AcKeever, head cut; James Mcnamara,
head cut: Mabel Morse, head cut and
both shoulders dislocated by falling
beam; Mrs. F. H. Frazer, legs badly
cut; Mrs. F. r. Clifford, arm broken;
Harry Jennings, head cut and cheek
bone broken James Duchachan, right
leg and arm broken; Mamie Roach.head
cut; Edward Busby, internal injuries,
very serious, but recovery probable,
David Fleming. arms and back cut
Frank Burns face and arm cut w m.
AfcNeal 10 years old shoulder disloCa-
ted and cut; Leo MiltO, cut about head;
Charles Ieitz face and arms cut VIM.
L4eitz, head cut and legs bruised; ANNA
Sanford, arm cut and crushed. Wm S.
Kellogg, internally injured; Charles
BickersOn, back injured, Samuel Robin
son, body bruised and fingers mashed;
John Savage, foreman, overcome by
smoke, viii recover.
The lard refinery had just been COM
pleted and was considered by its own
ers the most complete establishment of
its kind in the United States. It stood
at the intersection of FOrty-third street
and Center avenue and was five stories
high and $50 by 800 feet. It was filed
with new and costly machinery, ana
during the day 1000 people worked with
in Its walls. The night shift mum bered
zoo, and all of them were in the building
when the fire broke out. 1t is thought
all escaped in safety, although the time
allowed some Of them was exceedingly
brief.
STARTED WITH EXPLOSION.
The ire originated with an explosion
OF three lard tanks on the fifth floor of
the building. The cause Of the explOS-
ion IS unknown but the three tanks,
which were filed with boiling lard, went
mp with a roar almost in the same sec
oud. There were q score OF WOrkTnen in
the Immediate vicinity of the tanks and
q number of them were burned by the
scalding lard. but none was seriously
burned. 1t was not z minute after the
explosion before the entire fifth floor
was mass of flames.
All the wOrlkmen in the building made
a frantic rush for safety. and while
reaching the open air without trouble
some Of those on the fifth floor lost
their hats and coats, there not being an
instant Of time allowed in which to pick
them up. Despite the utmost efforts Of
the fire department the flames spread
through the entire building and within
an hour after the commencement of the
fire all the walls, with the exception Of
that en- the south, were lying on the
ground.
The fire was one Of the most spec
tacular that has been seen in Chicago in
recent years and the display attracted
an enormous crowd of people who filled
all the narrow streets in the stockyards
ana swarmed by thousands upon the
Yiaducts which pass through the yards
at a height of 20 feet from the ground.
VIADUCT FELL.
That portion of the Forty-fourth
street viaduct close to the burning
building was densely packed and sud
denly about % feet OF a hog runway,
extending from the viaduct north to the
plant of Armour & Co. gave way, pre-
cipitating fully 1000 persons to the
ground. The 6remen instantly aban-
dOned their work on the building and
devoted their energies to saving the
people All We're taken from the wreck
age within a few minutes and placed in
"