The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-23
Fire Chief and TWenty-Four Other Men Are Crushed
 By Wr9ckage
WALL AND CANOPY FALL
 AND BURY THE F|REMEN
Morris 6 Company's Stock Yards Plant Is Scene of Fire Which Takes Such Heavy Toll of Life
 and Property

Chicago. December 22.-Fire Chief James Horan, Assistant Chief William J. Burrows and 2S men were killed under falling walls in a. mllion-dollar fire at the stock yards plant of Morris & Co.,, early today. Fifteen ffremen were seriously in- jured, including two captains, who may die.
 Mayor Busse spent ten hours personally directing the search for the body of Chief Horan. who had been a lifelong friend. But the chiefs body was not recovered until late tonight although a railroad wreckfng train with derricks and steam shovels was used to clear away the burn ing ruins The bodies of 19 have been found.
 The fire broke out afresh at 8 o'clock to- night after 1t had taxed the strength of the fire department for Is hours.
 Acting Chief Seiferlich sent a general call to outlying stations for fresh men. These, aided by police reserves continued the fight on the fire and. the. search. for bodies of the dead.
 Insurance men said that the killing of the chief and his men was not due to an ammonia tank explosion as first sup
 
 the beef warehouse, due to the heat from the fire. This, 1t is said forced the four story wall to give way and fall
 Clearing Away the Wall Apparently maddened by the death of their chief, who was popular in the de- partment, firemen threw themselves reek- iessly into the work of clearing away the fallen wall.
 More than 50 dropped from exhaustion,
 hon nlx frnn heat of the burning warehouse.
 Despite the work of many engine crews the fire continued to burn stubbornly all day and night. Thousands of people thronged into the stock yards and the po- lice kept spectators back from the danger line with great difficulty.
 Not since the days following the 1ro- ouois fire. which, like the disaster of to- day, was holiday time horror. have such pathetic scenes attended a fire in Chi cago. l.. undertaking rooms on West Forty third street near the fire. Widows and children of the dead men, white-faced and frantic. crowded into the place The bodies were so badily mutilated In most cases that the police would not hermit the relatives to view them.
 Mayor Busse, greatly affected by the death of Chief Horan, called a spe- cial meeting of the city council Which convened late In the afternoon.
 committee of 15 aldermen was se- lected to take charge of relief work for the families of the dead and to make funeral arrangements.
 At the same time meeting was held at the Chicago club at which wealthy business men started 8 relief fund. Theatre managers also prepared to hold benefit performances.
 Revised List of Dead
 The following is a revised list of the recovered dead:
 James Horan, fire marshal.
 William J. Burroughs, second as- sistant fire marshal.
 Herman Brandenberg, lieutenant.
 Patrick E. Collins, captailn.
 Thomas Costello, pipeman.
 Nicholas Crane, truckman.
 Edward J. Danis, lieutenant.
 Nicholas Doyle, truckman.
 Andrew Dymuran, fire watchman. stephen Leen, clerk, Chicago Junctiop railroad
 Charles Morre, truckman.
 Albert Moriarity. truckman. George Mauraunki, pipeman.
 Edward Schoonsett, truckman.
 William D. Weber pipeman.
 George Enthof, pipeman
 W. G. Storm, lieutenant
 Two unidentified firemen.
 Marshal Horan was married abOLt Oix years ago. He was the father of four children, the youngest of whom is [ years old.
 Word of the death of the chief was kept from Mrs. Horan by firemen. who notified her by telephone that he had met with an accident. Later it became evident that the chief was surely dead and that 1t would be better to let her know the truth. Mrs. Horan swooned In her Ashland boulevard home and was un- able further to continue the conversa- tion.
 Marshal Horan assumed command of the fire department after the death of Marshal Musham, successor to Mar shal Campion. who took up the reins laid down by the veteran, Dennis Sweeney.
 Fire First Discovered
 The fire was first discovered in the basement in what is known the hide room. A watchman making his rounds heard an explosion and immediately turned an alarm by telephone and then fled from the building.
 The long wooden canopy which played its part in forming the death trap for the hremen ran along the entire east side of the building Railroad tracks hindereo the work of the men and made it neces- eary for the fire fighters to climb upon the platform beneath the covering. The canopy itself formed platform for other nremen 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 men to death be- meath the wood covering, is told by Lieut.. Joseph Mackey, who was leading com pany of firemen from the top of the canopy.
 Nackey said as he looked up he saw the walls bulge and he immediately shouted a warning. At the same time he jumped from the platform himself and was fol- lowed immediately by 10 or 12 of his men. None of these lost their lives, but their escapes were miraculous.
 Lieutenant MacIxey Story
 'I knew that Marshal Horan and Bur roughs were beneath me with at least two companies of men, said Macley, sand I shouted to them that the walls were coming down. I heard someone be- low shout a warning and I got my own men and myself out of the way.
 Immediately after I jumped I heard
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