Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-01-23
FIRE N llA|CAGO
Ma NC TEMPLE
*
Two Thouss People In the
Buildingss the Time Make
Their Escape
EXPLOSION ADDS TO DANGER
Elevator Men Run Their Cars Thru
the Smoke and Succeed in Getting All
the Occupants Out A Number of
People lnjured-The Fire . Sight
Long to Be Remembered.


Long to Be Remembered.
Chicago. Jan. 23.-F'ire broke out In
the Masonic Temple. twenty-five
story building, one block from the Iro-
quois theater, this afternoon. There
were 1000 people in the building and
there was much excitement. The fire
started On the fourth floor. All the
elevators were kept running and the
building was quickly emptied while the
smoke was pouring out. A thousand
shoppers were attracted To the build
ing and the sight of the majestic build
ing in clouds of smoke, was one long
to be remembered.
The fire soon spread to three floors.
chemicals in a number of doctors Of
fees furnishing food for the flames.
The elevator conductors continued TO
run their cars. and allayed somewhat
the fears of the fright-stricken occu-s
pants. Every corridor was soon filed
with people trying to get TO the lifts.
Several women tainted. but 1t is believ-
ed every person in the building es-
capped withou, injury.
Dangerous Blaze.
The tirelnei were summoned by the
automatic fire alarm sent In from the
rooms in which the fire occurred. The
tiremen quickly made connection with
the stationary standpipe in the build
Ing and began throwing tons of water
onto the floors where the fire began to
make headway. The danger of the
ilanes was increased by the suspected
presence of quantity of chemicals.
which the occupants declared were
stored near the place where the flames
originated. The occupants, warned by
the smoke and flames, lost no time in
seeking exits. Guards We're placed al
the elevator entrances on each floor
to prevent congestion and the panic
stricken people We're easily taken out
anu lTOHl IHS DulIulDg.
Origin of Fire.
The origin OF the fire was the ex-
plosion OF chemicals, in Doctors office
on the fifth floor. The explosion was
heard distinctly on the floors immed-
lately above and below. but not by
hundreds of other occupants of the
building. Flames followed the explo-
sion and quickly spread to adjoining
floors above. So rapidly did the sky
scraper fill with smoke, that the fire.
men found i, almost impossible to
work. In short time the fire was rag
ing on three floors containing chem
icals ana many doctors offices.
Men Kept Cool.
In the height of the excitement a
man climbed out on the fourteenth
floor onto fire escape anG made his
way to the ground. The men ~ the
most part kept their senses. but the
women were soon in panic and sew
eral tainted and had to be carried from
the building The police were early
on hand and assisted the firemen to
control the fire and quiet the people.
Armed with axes firemen broke win
dows and doors to get to the seat of
the flames.
Many Marrow Escapes.
In an hour after the alarm was
turned in the fire had been exuin-
guished A number of persons were in
jured as result of the fire. r. Fried
lander. in whose rooms the flames
originated, was found unconscious,
overcome with fumes from the chemi-
Gals. Twelve girls employed by him
made their escape.
The Injured.
The injured are as follows:
julius Ernest, stock clerk, hands and
face burned.
Jack Stack, boy.
Henry Buehi, stock boy.
Waiter Downey, laborar.
Waster S. Parker advertising soldci-
tor.
w C. Preston.
John sullivan
John Long.
T. Leonard.
George Mueller.
Fred Lynch.
John Stearns.
Lewis Trernain.
All of the above we're slightly burned.
b. Smith. aged so, was thrown down
an area way, was found unconscious
and removed to his home.
For time it was feared the water
which threatened to flood the basement
would put out the fires in the boilers
and stop the elevators Drains were
found ample, however, to carry off the
water and the elevators continued to
run. AS they passed the burned floors
they were subjected TO intense heat,
and the smoke swept thru them TO the
windows in the rear. The great ro-
tunda. with fourteen elevator shafts.
made an ideal chimney for the escap-
ing smoke and the elevator men were
forced to breathe the smoke-laden air
until the people were removed. Faint
and weak. however, they remained at
their posts in a heroic manner and
helped the people to escape.
L. F,riedlander. brother of the pro-