Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-14
FIRE FIGHTER NLLEDiu0N AND THE BEAR
Deputy Chief Krqer Died Possible Anglo. Russian Com
Leading His Men. bination Over Macedonia.
FATAL GAS=FILLED CELL AR ALIGNMENT OF THE POWERS
Thirty Men Overcome at Once by Sav Press Charges Austria With
the Fumes Sharp Practice.
VETERAN DROWNED IN SHAFT SHE SOUGHT INDIVIDUAL GAIN
End His Life Italy Well
in other Places England
FATAL GAS=FILLED CELLAR
Thirty Men Overcome at Once by
the Fumes.
VETERAN DROWNED IN SHAFT
Subordinates Always Said He Would
End His Life in Harness-Fires
in Other Places.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, February 14.-Charles
Kruger. deputy chief of the fire depart
ment. was drowned at a fire in Canal
street this morning while leading picked
body of men in a desperate attempt to
check the spread of the flames. Thirty
of the rank and file were overcome, six
of them being seriously injured.
The fire was in a five-story structure
numbered 217. occupied by Fischer e.
Company, manufacturers of mirrors. 1t
had started in the cellar and worked
through all the floors to the roof. Then
1t began to spread to the adjoining build
ing, No. 215. Chief Croker was in general
command of the fire fighters and the
deputy chief suggested that the flames
might be checked If party of men were
sent into No. 215.
Let me take a picked squad in there" 3"
he said.
Croker knew that the job was danger
GUS, and he replied that while he would
not order men into the building he would
not forbid Kruger from going in. Kruger
thereupon chose six men from a hook and
ladder company and led them to the rear
OF 2lo 1t proved that the basement was
full OF gas. the fire having melted the
pipes. Kruger Immediately extinguished
his lantern and began to feel his way
about the cellar. Water was pouring
down on the men and flowing into the
subcellar by way Of an elevator shaft.
Fell Into Six Feet Of Water.
Look out for the shaft, men," called
Kruger. He had not spoken before the
men began to stumble from dizziness
caused by the gas. The deputy chief
was the first to fall He staggered
straight to the shaft and fell into six
feet of water in the subcellar. Not one
of the men behind him could get as far
as the shaft.
of voices in the basement had ceased
suddenly. sent firemen to investigate.
Word OF what had happened spread
quickly and many men deserted their
posts to go to the rescue. Those first in
were overcome almost as soon az they
had crossed the threshold. At one time.
counting Kruger and his picked squad.
there were thirty men lying unconscious
in the cellar. Twenty-nine were brought
out and laid in a row on the sidewalk by
fremen who themselves staggered with
dizziness.
While the department surgeons were at
work it was noticed that Kruger was not
among the rescued. By then the gas
had been shut off and there was a rush
of men back to the cellar. Kruger's
body was soon found at the bottom OF
the shaft. The surgeons got to work
at once. Oxygen was administered, but
without avail. At last the surgeon stood
up and said: Hes dead"
Firemen Burst Into Tears.
Chief Croker lifted his hat. as did all
the firemen standing about, and many of
them burst into tears. Kruger was per-
haps the most popular officer in the de-
partment He was famous for the con-
sideration he showed his men. never or
dering them to duty in which he was not
ready to take the lead, as he did this
Damage to property by the fire was
$4,000.
said one of kruger's men When the CHIEF S
body was being carried away. Il have
always in the lead. He never said. Boys.
go into that place or this place. he
always led us himself. He said, Boys.
follow me- And that's just what he said
this time when he led us into that base
ment. Boys. follow me-. 1t was just
what many of us men expected. We
have often said that the old man would
be killed at a fire leading his men"
Kruger was fifty-seven years old and
had been a member of the department for
thirty-six years Several years ago kru-
ger was acting chief of the department
for a. time while Chief Croker was tempo
rarily under suspension.
Buffalo Newspaper Offices Scorched.
BUFFALO. n. Y, February 14.-Fire
broke out this morning at 3:13 O'Clock In
the plant of the Buffalo Courier Com
pany. the general print shop. not the
newspaper, and before it was brought
under control an immense amount of
damage to paper stock and completed
work. such as circus posters. OF which
great amount were in the warehouse,
was DONE The cause is not known. but
the fire was under great headway when
discovered flames licking out of all win
dows on the rear that faces on an alley
The firemen had difficult work because
of falling floors and presses. but they
confined the blaze to the extension In
which it started. Other parts of the
building and adjoining buildings were
damaged 1t is estimated that the DAM
age to building and stock will amount to
$3.50. 900.
Evening Times. adjoining, was damaged
to the extent of $4,000.
Paint Plants Run of Hard Luck.
CHICAGO. February A.-Hard luck.
which has pursued Heath & Miiligan,
paint manufacturers. for the last year.
another blow last night.
when fire started in the five-story retail
store and office building Of the firm. at
I72 Randolph street. An explosion on the
first floor preceded the fire. which may
have been caused by spontaneous COM
bustion.
The damage on the stock and building
will not amount to more than $4,000. but
the fire will complicate the firms already
involved affairs.
1t was only last Saturday that the firm
went into the hands of receivers, with
81 800 900 in liabilities and not more than
81 GOO, 900 on a maximum estimate in as
SETS
Another fire a year ago destroyed the
factory at Canal and Lumber
streets. and started it on the downward
road to financial disaster. That earlier
fire cost the company $500 900.
Railroad Shops Burned.
FISHKILL LANDING, February a.
The roundhouse and machine shops of
the Central New England railroad at this
place were destroyed By fire last night.
The loss is about s1O0.O00. Among the
destroyed were locomotive and
a large amount of machinery.