Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-05
FORCE OF FIRE IMPRESSIVE
Flames Driven by Wind Scatter EN-
bers Over Half Of City.
MINOR BLAzEs ARE NUMEROUS
Crowds Line the Bluffs and watch
Unequal FtRht, while Thou
saads Organize Into Fire
Brigade.


Flames rich ruddy rec. rising between
belches OF heavy smoke white with the
vapor OF the slmmering grain, save the
fire almost a volcanic aspect. From the
comparatively Insignificant beginning at
the Nye- Fowler warehouse, with.
in less than a half hour the entire build
ing was sheathed In a coat of fire. Tongues
of fire reached 300 feet into the air. over
an area OF nearly four blocks when thr
fire became general
The vast column OF superheated air ris
ing from the canyon-libe hollow in which
the buildings stood created a draft that
augmented the effects of the stiff breeze
from the southeast. In this rising current
masses OF burning matter from the heart
of the furnace into which the sheetiron
buildings were transformed were sucked
like cartridges into a pneumatic tube
Sailing high into the air column above to
point where again the prevailing wind
became the chief component of force, these
floating brands were tossed out over the
city over a district Of ten blocks. Countless
minor fires started among the dwellings
lying TO the north OF the fire. In this
danger zone householders and spectators
fought 70 extinguish the fires that started
from the sparks. 1t was ceaseless vigil.
Explosion the Climax.
AS the fire gained force 1t became more
spectacular. reaching a climax when the
explosion in the Nancy mills plant came.
Tons of red hot brick and flaming sheets
Of lumber were thrown 100 feet up to burst
into cloud OF sclntilating sparks
The glare Of the mighty conflagration
was reflected in the sky for many miles
Thousands OF the curious tined the bluffs.
viaducts, roofs and other points of van
tage around the fire zone. Automobiles
and carriages poured in from distant
suburbs bearing parties of sightseers who
fingered long. Among these Indifferent
spectators mingled anxious fox whose
home and fortunes were involved in the de.
vastation going on before them.
Gas from Grain Helps.
Seething heaps of frying grain generated
volumes OF gas and vapor which rose
with the roar Of a little Vesuvius to be
whipped into ribbons by the wind. The
racing streamers OF vapor reflected back
the glare from the pit OF distraction be-
low.
Down along the tracks that wove in
and out among the burning building stood
lines OF box cars which soon caught up
the Flames to become ready AVENUES OF
further communication. Trains OF fire
raced down the yards to points where IN
dividual fights could De made on the cars
Switching crews arrived too late to save
many cars.
whistles from tire answering engine
signals screamed through the roar of the
flames and crashing walls.
Hoarse cries of the firemen and fire
fighters pierced the crumDllng undertone OF
the thousands of voices Of the spectators.
Fire engines raced and puffed and careened
along the streets approaching the fire zone
in the desperate struggle for water they
could not get. .....f ...s -....
The, battle was one. but, hopeless from
Ii 80 o'clock. when the alarm came, until
the last of the buildings in the avenue of
fire fell--it was a battle, but losing one.
Efforts TO quell the fire, once it gripped a
building, were futile.
Independent Elevator, stands.
Standing stern and bold against the seeth-
ing fields Of fire loomed the heights OF the
Independent Elevator company's plant, q
fireproof structure Of steel. Within the
heated grain In the storage compartments
stewed and steamed, pouring forth fumes
at the crevices and laps of the expansive
wall. Each Of the long row of cylindrical
storage tanks became a cauldron, but the
big elevator stood like a castle staunchly
standing while its besiegers fretted about.
The walls Of the grim black elevator
reared themselves in contrast made con-
spicuous by the flashes Of light that came
with the enlivening of the fire by falling
walls and exploding tanks.
The tall hulk Of the Nye-Schneider- Fow-
Ter elevator stood long after the works OF
destruction had spent It's final ruin. The
lingering walls gave way gradually from
the top after the caving Of the roof. A
series OF grain compartments ripped open,
the one after the other in the progress Of
the crumbllng. AS each gave way cascades
OF thousands Of bushels OF burning grain
poured down the sides TO feed the con-
flagration beneath.
Showers OF stars and weird fantastic
figures formed themselves in the wild toss
ing Of the fire.
FIremen In Great Danger.
Tottering walls came near to bearing
down a squad Of firemen to death in the
fight at the point of origin. Boring in
with their hose lines a squad of the fire
laddies had worked up close to the west
side of the elevator when sheets of flaming
lumber came down with the weakening OF
the undermined roof
/ James Prussia, company No. TO- Omaha,
and John 0allaghan, company No. IA, were
caught by the deadly avalanche as they
started on their none too early retreat at
the warning cry from the throng at a safe
distance above. They were both burned
painfully but not dangerously Prussia was
sent TO his home suffering with burns and
bruises about the face and neck. Gallag-
han, who came off lighter, was given a bit
OF emergency treatment and continued in
Fl