The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-22

I'm immune, Chief he told the as
sistant marshal when he reported to
him a few minutes later, the only man
left of his crew.
Streams of water from one whole
fire company were poured on the pyre
and had cooled it to some extent
when Seyferlich declared he heard a
voice under the ruins. 1t was about
1890 a. m, several hours after the
fatal fall. A shouted command
brought another detachment of fire.
men from nearby posts. who tore at
the pile of debris with bare hands,
the fated crew still was alive. Four
bodies were recovered in a few 1lin-
utes. They were:
JOSEPH MURAWESKI, pipeman.
PATRICK E. COLLINS, engine
company captain.
DENNIS DOYLE, engine company
captain.
Unidentified pipeman.
Coroner's Jury Watches Flames.
Coroner Hoffman arrived early and
empanelled jury which sat watching
the flames.
AS the bodies were brought out the
jurors Joined the hundreds of civilians
who were aiding the firemen.
Out in her Ashland boulevard home
Mrs. Horan, wife of the marshal,
learned she was a widow and disbe-
lieved until assured by the newspaper
reporters, when she swooned. She has
required medical attention.
With the arrival at the yards of the
anxious friends of the firemen came
devices for clearing wreckage. The
wrecking engine of the Chicago &
Eastern Illinois broke a derrick, top
pling obstructing box cars into the
ditch as it came.
A road scraper attached to one of
the cables scooped up great masses of
bricks, and scorched f1remen savagely
pushed the great scoop into the brick
head in hope of reaching the sufferer
whose groans could be heard
Long before noon Assistant Marshal
Seyferlich, on his rounds of the fire
area, began to find here and there
men who had fallen from exhaustion
and their companions had been unable
to aid them. Some recovering, started
in anew to stay the progress of the
flames.
Mayor Busse Narrowly Escapes.
Mayor Busse, who had gone to the
fire and was sorrowfully discussing the
death of Jim Horan, with Assistant
Marshal Seyferlich, had a narrow es-
cape. An explosion of ammonia pipes
threw bricks, beams and frozen meat
in shower about them. Seyfrechlich
threw himself in front of the mayor
and then grasping him by the arm rush
ed him away to safety.
By IL o'clock the news had gone to
all the firemen of the loss of their chief
who was very popular in the depart
ment. Wearied men SObbed as they
continued their fight against the fire.
A crushed helmet was brought up in
a scoop of the big scraper. Soon the
front piece of the helmet came up on
another load. 1t was that of Assistant
Chief Burroughs.
11:3O a. m, included the beef house OF
Morris & Co., with loss to building and
stock of $500 900; warehouse No. 6, loss
to building and stock $3.50, 900; refrigera-
tor storage shed $50. 900.
Several other buildings were afire but
it was believed the flames soon would
be under control.
Mayor BuSse called a special meeting g
of the council for this afternoon to take
such action as is necessary.
The fire, carrying it's loss of life,
which may reach forty, started from
an explosion. Immediately after the
first alarm was given the fire spread
with great rapidity and in a few min
utes it was seen that the firemen had
hard fight on their hands. A general
alarm brought Marshal Horan from
his home on the west side of the city
and as soon as he reached the scene
he took up the task of directing his
men. With Battalion Chief Burroughs
he led a line of pipemen and truckmen
to the east entrance of the building and
a battle against the flames was taken
up from beneath the heavy wooden
canopy which hung menacingly above
them. Apparently not noticing their
danger the firemen crowded beneath
this death trap. and then with a roar
Of an explosion and tumbling tons of
bricks the chief of the department to-
gether with more than a score of his
aids were lost to view from their COM
rades.
In less time than it could take to tell
it the word spread among the firemen
that their leader ha1 gone down under
the ruins and their efforts were doubled
in attacking the furnace like building
which was now enveloped from ground
to roof by the flames.
Ammonia Pipe Burst.
AS time wore on and the marshal
ent to the men that he was either lost
or had been removed to a hospital.
Frantic inquiries were made at all hos
pitfalls and search of adjoining buildings
made but he could not be found.
Likewise the other men were missing.
of the leaders and captains of two or
three companies had reported several
of their men missing.
1t was stated that the explosion which
caused the drop of the canopy was
from the bursting of an ammonia pipe.
Inc nT0 was HTSI discovered III l!ld
basement in what is known as the hide
room. A watchman making his rounds
heard an explosion and Immediately
turned in an alarm by telephone and
then fed from the building.
The long wooden canopy which play
ed it's part in forming the death trap
for the ffremen ran along the entire
east side of the building. Railroad tracks
hindered the work of the men and made
it necessary for the fire fighters to
climb upon the platform beneath the
covering.
for other firemen who were fighting the
flames from above it, sending streams
of water into the second story of the
building.
A graphic story of the collapse OF
the east wall which carried the mer
down to death beneath the wood cover
ing is told by Lieutenant Joseph Mac
kew who WAS leading a cnnananv of fire: