The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1910-12-29

walls fell on the various tides OF the
building and buried firemen who we're
near
Call after call was sent In for rein
forcements. A dozen patrol wagons
took the injured to hospitals.
Loud cheering greeted the appear
ance of Lieut.. George o. Berkeley, Pipe
man James f. Foster and Engineer
William Bailey. who were thought to
have been buried in the ruins.
The men were supposed to DO dead.
but succeeded in fighting their way
through a creyice. They had reached
the outside when both men fell to
the ground unconscious and were
dragged to safety by companions.
Search for Chief Koran.
The discovery was quickly made
that Chief Koran was missing, but 1t
was believed he had succeeded In es-
Gaping. A search was made for him
without success. Then 1t became
known that he had been in the build
ing and directing the firemen when
the explosion occurred.
An abandoned lead OF hose was
found. and then II became known that
the members Of engine company 20
We're missing.
This was followed by the discovery
that the members Of engine companies
80 and SO were missing. Members OF
other companies also could not be
found, and as the flames progressed 1t
was reported that the loss Of life
would probably reach so. IL not more.
Groans MI the air. Fireman after
f.eman was dragged from beneath the
ruins. Il was not believed one Of
them would recover. All had been
caught beneath the falling walls when
the explosion occurred.
More than 100 engines respected TO
the various calls, and tons Of water
were poured on the flames. tut 1t soon
became evident that the building was
doomed.
A huge water tank at one corner OF
the building showed signs OF topping
over. adding to the horror, but after
swaying while the crowd looked on
helplessly Il held firm. A dash was
made for the building By firemen and
spectators in an effort to save the
buried nremen. A burst OF flame and
heavy smoke drove them back, all but
suffocating the front rank OF res
cuers.
Floors Fall on the Men.
Chief Koran and Assistant Chief
Burroughs were standing Just inside
/ the walls of the burning building, d.
recting the work Of the men of com
panies 80. 80 and 20, when the walls
were blown out with report like o
! cannon. The second floor Of the build
ing collapsed, .burying all the men
! The three other floors OF the building
! held.
/ Again and again the rescue PARTED
tried TO fight IA way into the debris
but flames and smoke proved tot
much for them. a dozen hose pipef
! were turned on the smoldering masA
which broke into flames every few
minutes, but the water appeared Il
have no effect For more than an houi
the men battled with the stubborI
smoldering mass.
Ignore Burns In Rescue Work.
Burns and bruises were ignored II
the heroic efforts to tear away the
red-hot brickwork and blazing beams
but whenever the men fought theiI
way 70 their comrades pyre a burst
OF flames would again drive then
back.
Meantime other firemen had made
for the other side Of the building ane
D 90. amf hA W "A
there in an effort TO get at the buried
men.
They were compelled 10 desisi
when It was seen that further EFFORT
would probably precipitate the Other
floors on the debris and thus repdei
rescue utterly impossible.
Battle TO Halt Spread.
A terrific battle was waged by fire
men to prevent the flames spreading
10 Armour g. Co and other packing
| establishments across Loomis street
Constant streams were kept playing
on the front OF these structures, while
the flames, blown in ali directions by
the wind, aided by the draft created
by their own heat, licked the very
| Ndlih ne uIlppluB WAFER liONo W.
I'll an ice sheeting more than an inch
thick was formed. The flames. how
ever. melted this every time a pun Of
wind blew them against the buildings.
Flremen Rapidly Overcome.
Every available fire-nghting, appar
atus was on the scene, and every FIRE
plug within reaching distance Of the
flames was In use.
Men were overcome so rapidly by
smoke and the heavy vapors from the
hide room that ambulances from all
hospitals In the neighborhood we're
called into requisltion and physicians
from nearby aided the hospital doc
tors in tending the half-suffocated fire
men.
More than $500 men were employed
in the three buildings. All of these
appeared when the fire started and
aided in checking the spread of the
flames to other buildings by mounting