Los Angeles herald., 1906-10-26
SEVERAL PERI. \
IN FLAMES
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streets, in the Riverview district Of
Kansas City, Kas.
1t was at the junction of the ele-
waited railways two blocks west of the
XIV river and a mile southeast of
what now is the business district of
Kansas City, Kas.
1t was erected fifteen years ago at a
cost of $S5,OOO to be used as a board of
trade. The city grew away from 1t,
however, and 1t was never used for
its origina. purpose, but for many
years had been occupied as an apart
ment house The structure was four
stories in height, with a deep base
ment, and faced two streets. 1t was
built of brick and stood alone The
ground floor was occupied by w. A.
Lovelace's barber shop; Edward T.
summers drug store; Central Avenue
as Fixture company, Mrs. Belle Wag-
ner, restaurant; the Smith Overall
laundry and the Labor Record.
The fire broke out on the ground
floor from some unknown cause. Iso-
lated as 1t was the burning building
was difficult Of access and 1t was some
time before the fire department reached
the scene. Several companies were at
fire in another part Of the city. When
the firemen arrived the entire building
was in flames.
So quickly did the flames spread that
within few minutes after the fire was
discovered all means of escape by the
stairway for the scores Of occupants
was shut Off
Obstacles Arise
On two sides of the building the ele-
waited railway tracks hemmed it in and
made still harder work for the firemen.
Then another obstacle arose. The
fremen did not have sufficient ladders
and many of those they had were too
short to reach the upper stories. A
suffocating smoke filled the building,
evidently coming from the burning
merchandise on the floor below. and
some of the occupants probably were
never able t. leave their rooms.
When the firemen arrived they saw
men hanging from window sills on the
upper floors and frantic women with
babies in their arms and children
clinging to them leaning far out from
the windows unable to find any means
of escape and yet taking advantage of
the little fresh air which the windows
afforded. The firemen quickly ran
their ladders up, but they al not reach
above the third floor.
Many persons were on the floor
above. The firemen first devoted them
selves to the people on the second and
third floors and did not then heed the
screams of the people above. Many Of
the persons In the interior of the build
ings were already overcome by the
dense smoke and had to be carried out
by the firemen. But many We're able
to escape down the ladders without as
sistance.
After getting every one they could
find out of the second and third floors
the firemen turned their attention to
the people above. AS the ladders did
not reach above the third floor the men
on the fourth floor literally forced
their wives and children down to the
fremen on the ladders and then jumped
down themselves. Some of the more
excitable ones jumped to the ground
and were either killed or badly injured.
Some whom the firemen tried 20
catch fell the entire distance to the
ground. Frank Ditmer, a mail clerk,
jumped from the fourth floor and
caught hold of a ladder two stories
below, and although he saved himself
he broke all of the fingers on both
hands.
Laborer Saves Family
Jesse Ford, a laborer, carrying his
wife in his arms, climbed out of a
window of the floor. He walked
along a beam until he reached a point
directly over "a firemons ladder and
then dropped the woman to fireman
below. The fireman caught her and
passed her safely to the ground. Ford
then went and got his 9-months old
baby and saved 1t in like manner.
He then jumped himself and was
caught by fireman.
G.. H. Wilson was one of the five
persons on the fourth floor to get the
attention of the firemen. He appeared
at a window directly above him and
dropped his baby down to a fireman.
Wilson dropped his wife down and she
was saved and he followed, escaping
serious injury.
John Lynch grabbed the baby of
John Sparks and jumped with 1t and
with the child fell into the burning
debris below. Both disappeared and
were killed.
Another baby thrown from one of
the upper windows was caught by a
fireman uninjured
The fire interrupted street car traf-
fic on the elevated road and motor
man whoes car stood just opposite
the burning building, said he saw seven
or eight persons I'M the upper floors
struggling frantically to escape and
he is certain all of them succumbed to
the smoke and toppled over into the
ruins. He said he had a clear view
and would have witnessed the rescue
of the persons If any had been pos
sible.
Long after the floors had fallen in,
piling up household goods in one great
mass, which were quickly attacked by
the flames. gas from an open main
that entered the building, continued
to burn. reducing to ashes nearly ev-
erything within its reach.
The total financial loss is estimated
at 100000. OF this amount $60,OO0 was
on the building, owned by w. A. Bum
ker, which was insured for $4,000.