The Washington herald., 1909-01-21

Chicago, Jan. 2O.-Forty-six workmen
lost their lives and two score more were
injured this morning in a fire which
destroyed the intermediate crib. a mile
and half OF seventy-third street, in
Lake Michigan, used by George ". Jack
son. the contractor. in the construction
Of a new water tunnel.
A force of eighty-eight men, who lived
al the crib and worked in shifts was in
the structure when the fire broke out
Forty-two, more or less seriously injured,
were rescued by tugs and brought to
shore, whence they were taken TO hos
pitals.
Confined in a fiery prison. with all
means of communication with the shore
cut of, and the icy waters OF Lake Michi-
gan all about them. the workmen made 4
desperate fight for their lives. which
was Witnessed BY crowds on the shore
Naked and Half Clad.
Naked and BaIf-clad men. choked
with smoke, made their way 10 the
lower floor OF the crib. and few OF
these found the exits
Ten minutes after the Ere started
flames had gained such headway that
the attention Of men and women
on the shore and in adjacent cribs was
attracted. Forty-two men who escaped
death did so by clinging 10 the outside
Of the burning building OF by jumping
to cakes Of ice floating on the surface
OF the lake
Men trapped in the center Of the crib
sought TO escape by way OF the tunnel
shaft The place proved a living tomb.
Men who rushed Into the tunnel or
were at work there were smothered
TO death.
Measures for Relief.
AS soon as the alarm was given prompt
measures Of relief were taken. but the
quick spread Of the flames in the wood
en structure. and the distance 10 be
covered. made these efforts all but use
less.
The FIRE originated in the powder maga-
zine on the first landing. Many OF the
employees were asleep-in their hunks. and
others were Just going TO work when
a sheet Of fame shot through the build
ing.
Many we're burned 10 death before they
could reach the doors Others. their
clothes ahame. leaped into the icy waters.
A number unable 70 swim. sank be
meath the surface. Others swan to cakes
Of ice TO support themselves until the
arrival Of relief.
Appeal for Help.
The flames broke out at about S O'Clock.
Within a few minutes a telephone mes
sage was received at the Offices on shore
that the crib was on fire and appealing
for help. The fire spread rapidly. 1t
was but a few moments when the crib
was a mass OF flames.
Hundreds Of persons gathered on the
shore 10 watch the fire The tug Nor
ford was moored alongside The crib when
the fire broke out Twenty-six of the
men were picked Up by the craft. which
was driven away from the crib by the
flames
An explosion drove the little vessel
farther from the crib and the captain
was compelled 10 make for the shore.
leaving men hanging to ice cakes and
debris TO their fate.
Men Choose Drowning.
As the tug steamed away the despair
ing men were seen to choose death rather
than torture by jumping into the icy
water The men called pitifully to their
to come back for them, but
Il was impossible
The intermediate crib vas a tenn
p0rary structure 1t was a link in the
tunnel built out to the partly 4inished
Edward F. Dunno" crib. the shaft Of
which was sunk last August The crib
was built Of wood. except for the steel
shaft. and once the fire had started it
spread with great rapidly.