Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-11-21
Three Firemen Killed and Two In
jured as Result of Fierce Blaze
at Cleveland, o.
FIRE BREAKS OUT IN BARN
Of ELECTRIC RAILWAY COMPANY
Heartrending Scene When Comrades
Are Compelled to Delay Rescue OF
Unfortunate Men-Hundred Motors
Valued at $4,000 Each in Building
Which IL Destroyed,

CleVelanQ, w., NOV. ll.-Inree 1ro-
men were killed and two injured as the
result of the largest fire that this city
has suffered in months early Monday.
The dead: Robert Duffy, truck No. 2;
James Schweda, truck No. 2; Robert
Reed. truck No. 2.
The injured: Michael Corrigan, truck
No. 1, legs broken; Harry Vandevelde.
truck No. 2, suffering from shock, in
hospital, outcome uncertain; Battalion
Chief Andrews, slightly injured about
body
Caught Under Falling Walls.
Duffy and Schweda were killed almost
Instantly. having been caught under a
falling wall Reed died an hour or two
later in the hospital.
The fire was in the large street car
barn of the Cleveland Electric Railway
company. on Holmden avenue and
Pearl street. and broke out about three
o'clock from, as yet. an undetermined
cause: the employees Of the street car
company believe. however. that it was
of incendiary origin.
There were 100 motors stored within
the building. which covered an area Of
four acres, and the flames spread like
Whirlwind, necessitating the calling
out of all available fire-fghting appa-
ratus in the city. The motors are val
ued at probably $4,000 each. The loss
on the building is placed at SIC, 000
The fatalities were caused by wall
falling suddenly upon Duffy. Schweda,
Reed. Corrigan and Vaudeville.
At four o'clock 100 frantic firemen
had succeeded in uncovering six bruised
and bleeding forms from beneath the
walls
Fireman Schweda, Of truck No. 2, was
dead when found. Harry Vandevelde
had both legs broken and was inter-
nally bruised. Robert Reed was taken
unconscious from the ruins
Firemen Work Desperately.
The scene at the fire was heartrend-
ing Big brave firemen worked desper-
ately in removing the smoking, steam
ing bricks from their comrades. The
firemen were constantly driven back
from the ruins Of the fallen wall by
the smoke and fire. A half dozen
streams were directed into the debris
in desperate effort to cool it sufficient
ly so that the work of rescue could 20
on. The firemen, held in check in the
meantime, were frantic to resume their
work. They stood wringing their hands
and crying as if their hearts would
break. In sheer desperation a number
rushed through the binding smoke and
flames. Michael Corrigan, of truck No.
1. was seen at the edge of the brick wall,
his legs pinioned beneath a mass OF
bricks. He was pleading with his COM
rades to rescue him.
A dash was made through the smoke
and fire and COrrigan was seized by
half dozen hands and dragged to a
place Of safety. 1t was found that both
of his legs were broken Moaning pite-
ously, he was placed in an ambulance
and taken to hospital
The firemen worked heroically in the
scalding, steaming bricks. and the
bruised and bleeding form OF Robert
Duffy was next brought out Duffy was
dead and his body was taken away A
moment later the lifeless body of Frank
Schweda was taken from the steamine
ruins. The father and wife of Schweda
were killed less than a month ago in
street car accidents.
Another charge was made upon the
smoking ruins. and after ten minutes
work Robert Reed and Harry Vande-
velde, frightfully bruised and burned.
were taken unconscious from the ruins.
Vandevelde was taken to hospital.
Battalion Chief Andrews. who was
standing a little back of his men, was
struck by large pieces OF stone and in
jured about the legs. He was taken
home in his own carriage.