Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-01-11
FOUR F|REMEN
MEET THEIR DEATH.
Perished in One Of Most Spectac-
ular and Disastrous Fires in
Recent Years in New York.
HALF OF FORCE CALLED OUT.
Floor After Floor Gave Way. Beneath
Which and trumbling Walls Thlr-
" Flrcmcn We're Caught

| New York Jan. 10.--FOur firemen went
| to their deaths tonight when they re-
| sponded TO a fire that ruined the Parker
building a 12-story business structure
occupying The block between East Eigh-
teeuth and Ninteenth streets on Fourth
avenue. Fought by half the firemen of
Manhattan and apparatus that blocked
the streets, the flames We're never con-
trolled. and only with difficulty We're
they confined to the building in which
they Originated. Floor after floor gave
way and dropped to the basement, and
beneath these and crumbling walls
no less than 80 firemen We're caught
and either killed or seriously injured.
When the fire had burned itself out
and the ilremen's roll was called, three
men of Sngine company No. q and one
from Fire Patrol No. 5 failed to re-
spond.
THE DEAD.
Thomas Phillips.
Thomas O'Connor.
John Lynch.
John WALTON.
Tim Hutchinson of Patrol No. 3 was
removed dying to the hospital
Capts. Weldon and Darvan of En-
CINE company Nos. "a and 70 were in
jured internally.
The monetary loss was estimated to-
night at S5,001,000.
THE FIRE.
The fire was one OF the most spec
tacular as well as disastrous in re-
cent years. From start to finish, its
course was marked by heartrending
scenes, sensational escapes and flahes
of heroism.
The building was occupied chiefly by
publishing houses though score of
other businesses had workuoonls or
offices there.
The loss to the tenants Is total. The
fire started on the fifth floor in the
Offices of Roper and Jackson, publish
ers. and before stream OF water had
fallen upon It, the flames had shot up
through the elevator shafts and pres
entity all of the upper floors We're ablaze.
On the fifth floor where the watch
man discovered the fire five girls en-
ployed by the Dittmar Wooden COM
pany were at work AS the flames
rose above them the girls hurried down
stairs to the street. on the top floor
in the Suffolk Engraving companys es-
tablishmen six men were working.
Their escape was cut off and they fled
them on three sides and they were In
imminent danger of death when res
cued by means of life line shot from
mortar gun and manned by "A hook and
ladder company on the roof of the
Florence hotel adjoining on Eighteenth
street The hotel is seven stories In
height and from its roof a rome was
fired across the top of tho burning
building. There 1t was seen by the i'm
periled men and the free end made
fast about q chimney. Down this rope
handover hand dropped the six men to
safety.
Meantime the Florence hotel had been
empted of its 200 guests, and nearby
houses were also vacated.
ESCAPE CUT OFF.
Seven firemen of engine company
No. ~. which first arrived. ran UP TO
the first floor OF the burning building
after 55-foot extension ladders had
been raised to the windows of that
story to make possible the firemens
Retreat. After a fruitless effort TO stay
the flames at the place of origin. the
iiremen were driven to the windows,
only 10 find that the tops OF the lad
dels had been burned, cutting or their
only retreat. Three of the seven made
desperate effort to reach the roof.
They were not seen again. and are
SuPPpnfu ~ Dt ictit III the lIlt
other four We're rescued by men of
hook and ladder company No. Z. who
at the risk Gf their own lives. ran III !
scaling ladders and dragged the more
or less burned men from the windows.
These men had barely reached the
ground when the great masses of ce-
ment which formed a pillar of the steel
framework gave way and crashed to
the ground, carrying with II everything
below the seventh floor.
FIGHTING FOR LIFE.
John Fallon. Tim Hutchinson and
Sergeant Kelley went down in the |
wreckage, Fallon was not seen again.
Hutchinson and Kelley. lighting des- !
perately against the plaster and ce-
meat which threatened to bury him
alive, managed to reach the street, |
though frightfully injured. Hutchin- |
son was able only to say that his part |
ner. Fallon. was In the debris. when |
he collapsed and was removed in n |
dying condition. More than a score |
OF flremon were working within the |
wall or near enough to be struck. when |
they collapsed.
Battalion Chief Shea was rendered |
unconscious by n blow on the head, |
and received cash In the cheek. Dep |