The Forrest City times., 1902-02-07


 CHARLES wESTEEHoF. p.peman.
 The Injured.
 CHIEF sWTNGLEY. hurt by falling
 WILLIAM MANN. foreman. about hips and legs
 PATRICK MCCARTHY. engineer. struck b falling bricks.
 MONROE MOORE. cleric ftEkl in- sHeetar= teh through shaft. bruised and scratched
 WILLIAM JUEIG. driver for Assistant Cbief TaierrE. fractured skull and inter FRANK LINGO. assistant diver. bruised and hurt internally.
 St. Louis. Feb. 6.-Seven fremen were killed Tuesday night in a fire Ut 3i4 Chestnut street, opposite the Mer- chants exchange.
 The building. a four-story brick. was occupied by the American Tent and Awning Co..and the fire was prac- ticaliy under control when the caras- 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 pipemeh were there fighting the flames
 The floors gave way, and the pipe men wen, down with the debris.
 Fire Chief swingIet's story.
 The three pipemen were there. suppose. by order of Foreman Steele. said Chief Swirgley "Assist- ant Chief Fucker, 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. 12, were Charles krenning of l2 and Mike kehoe of 13.
 Those of us who were in front of the building heard a crash at the rear. but did not know exactly what had happened until krenning came running cut.
 ~krennin2 ran into Assistant Chef Thierry. He said: Chief. the floor fell. and two men on the pipe are covered up
 "'Give me some men, said Thierry. and I'll go back and get them out
 ''Thierry and called for men. anl a four men came up Thierry start e. To lead the way.
 "krenning followed right behind Thierry. Then came Frank Mcbride and Dundon.
 Wand and Juelich went last Two minutes later came the crash.
 "i never saw catastrophe come so without warning. I was knocked down by the debris and fell under the water tower. When l got up. half stunned. the building was in ruins. and the only thing that could be Gone Was to put the men at work digging to get out those who were inside.
 None ef us knew just how far ThierrX and the others had gone so We eould not tell where to look fer them
 Chief Swingley was unable to speak without deep emotion of the catas- trophe, and when he spoke of Thier- ry his voice failed
 Brave Fireman Thierry.
 Thierry headed the reseuers. who were volunteers, and belonged to diff ferent companies.
 The little party disappeared in the building. II had been gone but a mo- ment when all the walls of the puild- ing began to totter under their weight.
 There was a cry of warning from the spectators, but was drowned in the tunult.
 From tottering. the walls began to rock. Suddenly one bulged at the bottom. bent inward at the center and broke q the top. Then the whole building eoIlaased. ! the debris falling across Chestnut street as well as upon the site of the baiIdiBg
 William O'Donnel. John r .rceH anu William OConnen. of Salvage | Corps Ne. l. were covering material l with tarraalins on an upper door when the wall started to fall. They | were carried outward with il and | landed safely in the street.
 William Wann. foreman of Engine Company No. F. was on the second | floor when the collapse came. Fa;iing plaster warned him of it. aEa he | slipped down the banister to the first floor. and ran into the street.
 Patrick F Mccarthy and William Jeulich who were about to enter the building fo assist in the reseue of their comrades. were struck bv fall | ing debris and severely injured.
 When the building fell all the light circuits in the neighborhood were cut. and darkness was added to the horror of the scene. The debris had what little fire remained in the building just before the col lapse.