New-York tribune., 1910-03-26
IA DIE In FIRE
STARTS BY ACCIDENT.
Girls Trapped on Top Floors
One Jumps to- Death.

Chicago. March 25.-Search OF the wreck
age for the remaining bodies OF those who
lost their lives I'm the burning OF the six
story building OF the Fish Furniture Com
pany. at Nos. 1915 and 1908 Wabash avenue.
here early to-day was discontinued this
afternoon owing 20 danger from tOttering
walls. but not until after twelve OF the dead
had been recovered and eleven OF these
Identified
While earlier estimates placed the num-
her Of victims trapped on the upper floors
Of the building as high as twenty. later and
more thorough investigation indicates that
there were only sixteen. Two Of these es-
capped. which leaves two 70 be accounted
for. They are probably dead
Leo StOeckeI. a clerk OF the Fish COM
pany. who by accident IS said 20 have
started the fire. told his story 10 Fire At
tOrney Frank Hogan this afternoon. Al
though stoeckel IS sdmittedly more unfort-
unate than culpable. Hogan says he will
bring some charge against the young man
20 insure his attendance az the inquest. TO
be held on April q
StOeckel was brought before the fire at
| tOrney with his hand which had been
burned. swathed in bandages. He appeared
heartbTOken-
About S:45 o'clock this morning. :;
Stoeckel said. Mr.. Mitchell. wsp is a MEM
ber OF the firm. gave me three pocket cigar
lighters. and told me 20 go 20 the finishing
room on the fourth floor and iii them with
benzine. I had filed two OF the lighters
out OF the five gallon can. and was work
ing on the third when there was an ex-
plOsion.
"A sheet OF flame almost blinded me. I
did not fully regain my senses until had
reached the street. The lighters contained
cOntrivance TO make a spark. but whether
l ignited one OF them or not I don't know.
l either dropped the can OF benzine when
the flame shot up in front OF me. or IL was
blown out Of my hands,"
Following Is a list OF the identified dead:
DARLINGTON. Harry. painter.
ANDERSON. Ethel. stenographer.
BELL. Miner w. advertising manager.
BRUCKE. Rosie. stenographer.
BURDEN, Mrs Hannah, fOreWOman.
SULLIVAN. Lillian folder
GREEN. William. clerk
LICHTENSTEIN. Ethel. stenographer.
MITCHELL. Harry NJ. member. OF nrm-
MGFATH. VerOnica. stenOgrapher.
QUINN. Gertrude folder.
Mary wargO. folder. and Bert 81. Clair,
confidential clerk. are missing.
One Of the bodies was identified by Flor
She said she recognized a shoe taken from
one Of the bodies as one which had been
worn by her sister. Florence. who is eigh
teen years old. and a switchboard opera
tor. might easily have shared her sisters
fate. She was 20 have gOns 20 work fos
the furniture company at noon. taking the
place OF another girl
Alexander Bush. a stTeetca- conductor.
Identified one CT the bodies as that OF Rose
Brucke. whom he was 70 have married on
Sunday. He recognized her through a num-
ber Of trinkets. including an engagement
ring he had given her.
The women and girls were at work on the
two upper floors when the explosion oc-
CURED on the floor beneath them The
spread OF the flames was almost instantsne-
Gus and when the girls rushed 70 the stair
ways they found escape cut Off They next
turned 20 the front of the building. smash
ing in the window. HOrrihed spectators IN
the street saw Ethel LichtensteiI. I. a stenog-
rapher. step 20 the window ledge. and heard
her scream for help. Then she jumped
Falling on the awning over the front en-
trance 20 the store. she lay unconscious uh-
Ill DR. William I. Kinsley. crawling out on
the canopy. lifted her up She was taken