Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-05

who were upon any portion of the
first flight of stairs had "a chance for
their lives.
The children at the foot of the
stairs attempted to fight their way
tack to the floor above, while those
who were coming down showed them
mercilessly back into the flames be-
low.
Two Hundred Fight for Lives.
In an instant there was a frightful
panic with 200 of the pupils fighting
for their lives. Most of those who
were killed died here.
The greater part of those who es
capped managed to turn back and
reached the fire escape, and the win
dows in the rear.
What happened at the foot of that
| front flight of stairs will never be
known, for all of those who were
caught in the full fury of the panic
were killed. After the flames had
died away, however, huge heaps of
| little bodies, burned by the fire, and
trampled into things of horror told
the tale as well as anybody need to
know it,
Parents Try to Save.
The suburb of COllinwood contains
about 5000 people and within half an
hour after the fire was discovered
1f
around the blazing ruins of the school
house. hundreds of parents fighting
! frantically with the policemen and
| fremen who were busily engaged IN
| saving the lives of the children
caught in the burning building and
doing their best to extinguish the fire.
The police were utterly unable,
through lack of numbers, to keep away
the crowd that pressed upon them.
and the situation soon became so ser
ious that a number of the more cool
headed men in the throng took it upon
themselves to aid in fighting back the
crowd while others worked to help
the firemen and the police.
Among these latter was Wallace
UPTON. who reached the building short
" after the front door had caved in
and disclosed to the horror stricken
crowd the awful scenes that had been
enacted there.
| Sees Daughter Perish.
Just in front of Upton's eyes was his
own 10-year-old daughter, helpless in
the crush. badly burned and trampled
upon, but still alive.
The fire was close upon her, and If
she could not be saved at once, she
could not be saved at all.
Upton sprang to heip>her, and with
all his strength sought to tear her
from the weight that was pressing her
down and from the flames which were
creeping close.
Although he worked with desper-
alton of despair. his strength was UNI
equal to the task.
Fought TIL Girl Died.
He fought until his clothing was
partly burned from him and the skin
of his face and hands was scorched
black. Other men attempted to in
duCe him to move, but he refused I'M
It'll he saw that his girl was dead and
that he could not save her life by sac
rifcing his own.
He then withdrew from the school
house, and, although so seriously in
jured that he may die, fingered about
the place for several hours. refusing
to go 10 a hospital or to seek medical
attendance.
Mother Sees Son Die.
About the burned school house there
are but few residences. In one OF
: these Mrs. Clark Sprung lived. Her
, little boy, AlvOn. aged Z, was a pupil
| in the second grade.
When the fire started the mother
ran over TO the school and arrived
when the first floor was a mass o.
, flames.
t At a window on that floor she saw
the face of her boy. He recognized
= her and pleaded for help. Rushing
[ across the street, Mrs. Sprung seized
stepladder, hurried back to the
t school, and placed it against the win
) dow.
| Climbing up, she reached for he
= boy. She caught him by the hair. 1
: burned off in her hands and the la(
fell back into the flames.
e Flames Quick to Kill.
: The flames spread with such ter
: rife rapidity that within so minute
h from the time the fire was discovers