Mexico Missouri message., 1909-01-28
30 ARE DEAD IN
LAKE CRIB FIRE
VICTIMS ARE DRIVEN INTO ICY
WATERS BV THE DEATH.
DEALING FLAMES.
SURVIVORS TERRIBLY BURNED
Rsseuers Were lmperiled by Dyna.
mite stored az Bottom Of Blazing
Structure In Lake Michigan
Near Chicago.

Chicago, III. - seyentv.fye men
employed on "A crib two miles out in
Lake Michigan jumped into the lake
Wednesday morning when the crib
was destroyed by FIRE. Fifteen were
drowned, according to the report of
the superintendent. and several others
inhaled fame and suffered burns
when the FIRE started, the men
found themselves trapped and had the
alternative Of burning to death on the
crib or risking death In the waters OF
the lake All took their chances with
the lake.
Crib Burma Like finder.
The crib was only temporary,
fiimsy AFFAIR and burned like finder
10 the waters edge when the blaze
started.
A lookout on another crib several
miles away telephoned just before 8
O'Clock that he had looked at the crib
through sea glasses and could see Is
or 20 men clinging TO the edge of the
wreck. which was sim aglow. A
heavy sea is running and It is feared
several OF those clinging to the crib
may be swept away.
Tons Of Dynamite In Foundation,
Superintendent George Curtis OF the
SiKty.ninth street crib told the police
there are several tons Of dynamite in
the foundation Of the crib just below
the waters edge. The indications are,
he said, that the FIRE is rapidly burn.
ing down TO the explosive.
He added that, usually, several men
are always at work in q tunnel under
the bed of the lake, which is being
constructed TO connect the mainland
with the crib. There was no way to
warn these men, he declared and they
probably are still in the tunnel.
Should the dynamite explode, he de-
clared the crib would be destroyed
and the outlet OF the tunnel blown
away. This would let the water into
the tunnel and catch the workmen like
rats In a trap.
Several tugs have been chartered by
the police and fire departments and
have gone to the scene. About half
of the survivors have already been
taken out Of the water by the tug Muir.
ford and a gasoline launch from
jackson Park.
Dynamite ImperiIs Life Savers.
Dynamite stored in the shaft be.
meath the crib threatened further de-
struction. The lIfesavers and res.
cuers who went TO the scene were in
constant danger lest the cmbers drop
below on 10 tons Of the explosive. A
number OF men were in the tunnel at
the time and are believed to have been
lost.
The dynamite Is submerged"
George w. Jackson, builder of the
crib, announced two hours after the
fire started, "and danger OF a further
disaster is ayerted, think. can see
through the telescope that the mach.
merry has dropped down the shaft. That
would have exploded the dynamite II
the water had not rushed in.
THE poor fellows below there are
probably gone--trapped without a
chance even to night for their lives"
Awful scenes were pictured by the
survivors. These were rescued by
the tug T. T. Morford OF the Durham
Towing company and the Hreboat
Michael Conway OF South Chicago.
Twenty-six Of the survivors were
taken 70 the Franklin street pier, 9th.
srs to the SiXty-eighth street crib, and
others to the South Chicago Hospital.
The intermediate crib burned like a
spark. In the few brief minutes be-
fore the entire wooden superstructure
WAS ablaEe rs men had 10 determine
between positive death By Are or prob.
able death in the ice-covsred waters.
Many resisted the flames until the
last minute, dropped into the water.
chung 20 the edge Of the pier until
their fiAEers were nearly burned on,
then dropped 20 their death.
Not a man would have been saved
but for the presence Of the tug Nor
ford, which was mSOred near the
Sixty-eighth street crib. Capt. I'd
Johnson was one Of the first TO notice
the flames. and he started his boat TO
the scene only q short distance away
BY the time he was at hand many
had been drowned. others were struE,
Cling In the waters. some half-clothsd
were cllnging TO cakes Of lee. and all
the living we're shrIeking for help or
uttering hysterical prayers. The lurld
flames breaking through the fog added
10 the horror Of the sight.