Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-10-25

by the stairway for the scores Of oc-
cupants was shut of, ON two sides ~
the building he elevated railway
tracks hemmed II IN aud made still
harder work for the fremen. Then
another obstacle arose. The bremen
did not have sufficient ladders and
many OF those they had were too
short to reach the upper stories A
suffocating smoke filed the building
evidently coming from the burning
stocks OF, merchandise on the floor
below and some Of the occupants
probably were never able to leave
their rooms
HANGING FROM WINDOW SILLs.
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 cling
Ing to them leaning far out from the
M,.iuows unable to lind any means OF
escape and yet taking advantage Of the
little fresh air which the windows af-
forded. The firemen quickly ran their
ladders up, but they did not reach
above the third floor. Many persons
were on the floor above. The firemen
hrst devoted themselves to the peo-
pie on the second and third floors and
people above. Many of the persons In
the Interior OF the building were al
ready overcome by the dense smoke and
had to be carried out by the firemen.
but many were able to escape down the
ladders without assistance. After get
ing everyone they could find out Of the
second and third floors the firemen
turned their attention 10 the people
above As the ladders did not reach
above the third floor, the men on the
fourth floor literally pitched their wives
ana children down to the firemen on
inc ladders and then jumped down
themselves. Some of the more excita-
Die ones Jumped to the ground aud
We're either killed or badly injured.
some whom the firemen tried to catch
Tell the entire distance TO the ground,
FRANK Ditar, 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
SAVED HIS WIFE.
Jesse Ford, a laborer, carving his
wire IN his arms. climbed out OF a
window OF the fourth floor. He walked
along beam until he reached u point
directly over fireman's ladder and
.hen dropped the woman TO a fireman
below. The fireman cought her and
passed her safely to the ground. Ford
then went back and got his 9-months-
old baby and saved It In like manner.
ne then jumped himself and was caught
by a fireman,
II. q. Wilson was one Of the first
persons on the fourth floor to get the
attention OF the firemen, He appeared
at window directly above ladder
ana dropped his baby down to fire.
man. Wilson then dropped his wifo
down, and she was saved and he fol-
lowed. escaping serious injury.
John Lynch grabbed the baby of
John Sparks and jumped with 1t ana
with the child fell into the burning
debris below. Both disappeared and
were killed
ONE BABY SAVED.
Another baby thrown from one of
the upper windows was caught by q
fireman uninJured.
The fire interrupted street car traffic
on the elevated road and o. motorman
whose car stood just opposite the burn
Ing building, said he saw five or six
persons In the upper floors struggling
frantically to escape. and he Is certain
all of them succumbed to the smoke
and toppled over into the ruins. Hc
said he had clear view and would
have witnessed the rescue of the per.
sons II any had been possible.
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 every
thing within its reach.
The total financial loss Is estimated
at 500, 600 OF this amount $50, 900 was
on the building. owned by W. A. Bunker
and insured for $4,000