The Washington herald., 1908-02-15


in the fire department to-day could tell
you more about big Charley Kruger, the
deputy fire chief, who was killed in the
fire this morning al 217 Canal street. than
=. Andy HorgenritteT, even though It was
=sAAndy who for the past eight years has
always driven Willie" the horse attach
ed to the dead chiefs wagon, to all the
fires the chief was summoned to during
the period mentioned
But Andy knew Chief Charley better
than any one else and he was within an
arms reach Of Kruger's white helmet
when the chief broke through a rotten
basement floor and was drowned in six
feet OF black water IN the subeeIlar be-
meath.
Calls for Help.
There were twenty-eight firemen IN the
little basement when their chief went
through TO his death. Though they wers
all friends of the chief it was to Andy
alone the half conscious man appealed
from the hole beneath the smoke.
Save me. Andy" he called.
Andy couldn't help.
He was hanging over the hole, where
he had caught himself from following
Kruger. He and the flremen cropping
about him were not much more han half
conscious. Gas fumes from the melted
pipe ends and smoke from the FIRE blazing
above and 10 the immediate right were
all about them
Andy Refuses to Talk.
You got the story Of what happened in
the cellar from some one other than
Andy to-day
= Andy sat on chair tilted back against
the head of ''Wilies" stall at the chiefs
headquarters in Lafayette street most OF
the day Chief Martin or the two fire.
men who had come up with him from
Engine 9-McGrael and Donnelly-just
after Kruger's death. answered the ques-
tons Of the sympathetic business men Of
the neighborhOod, who knew the dead
chief so we'll. and of the reporters and
the chiefs friends.
An official high in the department paid
tribute TO Kruger. declaring New York
had lost one Of its greatest frehghters.
At the time Kruger was killed the three
stores and the four stories OF lofts above
them, running from 215 Canal street west
to the corner Of Baxter street. had been
burned te a shell. Although the flames
in the upper stories had been pretty we'll
conquered. there was still a hot fire
among many bales OF excelsior in the eel
Jar Of No. 217.
kruger Goes to Death.
The third alarm had been sent in
shortly after 1 o'clock in the morning. 1t
was not until two hours later that Chief
Kruger led six men Of truck into the
basement at the rear Of No. 215 in order
10 make a flank attack upon the burning
bales in tie basement and subceIlar Of
!. No. 217.
He led the Indian file. Also, as always,
ANDY Horgenritter his driver. walked just
next to him. Kruger blew out his Ian
tern as he began TO breathe the escaping
gas from the melted pipes in the base
ment
For a moment Andy could see the blur
of the white helmet just beyond. And
when the darkness and smoke closed
about the party as they got down into
the vile smelling basement Andy and tine
six followed by the sense OF hearing and
the feel Of the warm wet wall.
Work for the Doctors.
These six came closer to death than the
squads OF fremen that followed IN their
wake At one time there were twenty
eight men stretched out on the pavement
that had been dragged unconscious from
the gas and smoke OF the basement. All
in all, Drs. Archer and Reiss, Of the de-
partment, had the hardest work that has
fallen 10 them in many night
As the men advanced into the dark and
gas-hlled basement a cry suddenly came
from the chief followed by splash into
the water somewhere below.
Andy. the driver. who was closest to
the chief. felt himself going, too. He
caught himself against the edges Of the
hole
For time the chief clung TO Andy's
legs and pleaded for help,
"Save me, Andy! For Gods sake try 10
get me up. Just keep my head above the
water Andy" he cried from the hole.
Andy was helpless.
Dead when Extricated.
There were more fremen cropping hur-
riedly into the basement now TO help pull
the chief to safety. When they got him
life was extinct.
SWhen the morning came and the fire
men were excused for breakfast in squads. |
they neglected the meal They went over,
instead. TO the Elizabeth street station. |
That was where the dead chief lay.
They stood around and talked in sub
dued tones Of their loss. They told Of
the dead chiefs exploits. and especially !
dwelt on his masterful handling of the
contingent Of New York flremen who |
were sent to Baltimore to help check the |
confiagration IN that city several years
ago.