The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-11-26

Screams could he heard for blocks. Thd
entire police reserves OF the city wek&
required to drive back the crowds. ~
that the fircmen could WORK.
The building formerly the main
plant Of the Domestic Sewing Ma
chine Company was occupied on tho
first and second floors by the Newark
Paper Box Manufacturing COmpanys
on the third floor by the Aetna Lamp,
Manufacturing Company and on the.
fourth floor by the Wolf CompAny-
The intense hsat caused the girls ~
jump from the windows A. fast - th45e
reached them without waiting for to
arrival or the firemen and In TIN
manner many were killed and terribly
injured Men rushed from neighb2Gw
ing factories and spread imrrcvteQd
life nets Of wagon covers and c0etn
and a number of girls were sawed hy
this means.
Within few minutes after to
flames were discovered the Ec5ue b.
came one Of horror, early spect44et4
stricken dumb by the sight Of gl1le
leaptng biindiy from the third AAA
fourth story windows Qf the biaMlqX
building. i WI
An alarm brought every psssss r.
fire lighting apparatus to the ,sosne
hut for 4 long time no progreeg wn4
made againat the flames.
Acts OF extraordinary heroism were
performed by the score. Threo
priests from st. Patricks Cathedral
Fathers herman. Dillon and Bfons
nan fought their way into the bla1e
ing structure against the protesto ~
persons who saw them, and gavo
conditional absoiution to the dytnA
All three narrowly escaped the fAt9
Of those they sought to succo.
Fircmen Unable TO Enter.
Firemen fought with each othe4
10 be allowed to enter the blaginGD
structure. go fierce were the flames
however. that LADDERS placed agatnHo
the building burned like Matches
and the work OF rendering aid TO tho
trapped employees was disastrousay
hinged.
In the meantime every window ~
the building was filed with hysterfs
cal men and women. The life nete
were spread. and many were sAveA
by leaptng into them. n
Several Of those who ieaped towar6q
the nets misjudgsd the distance -
missed striking them. falling 10 ~
pavement. 1t IL estimated that ut ieAae
half dozen were killed In this fnan~
ner. Several were burned while n
the building. but far more met thee1
death In leaps from windows. Some
Of the firemen were injured. perhap4
mortally, by being struck by fall1nI
bodies. Nearly all Of the victims wGr0
girls, employed in the box factory ID
Thro0gh Telegraph WfrcA
In jumping from the fourth 6oo4
to their death several girls plunne4
through telegraph wires In sevs1ae
cases the skirts OF the victims becaM4
q N q n ufa ~ In hA ~
were left blowing In tho wind. onlH
to be consumed Q moment later NJ
tongues OF flames. Il
One girl In her leap 70 the groum4
struck telephone pole. For =
moment she hung suspended *
air on the arm OF the pole havtr 4
paled her. Then she dropped lslolWnD
10 the pavement. Portions OF her gnsl1
ments left behind were soon devousG1
| by the IRE. 4
High Street. in front OF the buiidfn9
was Gruesome sight. bodies Of GiFs&
| some dead and others enduring moysa2
agony. being strewn about haphasaf1
There were about one hundred ftS
fifty persons employed by the t't&S
ferent concerns IN the building. ~
| from inquiries made by the policA ~
foremen, 1t became apparent that tAG<
| were a large number not accounted 811
an hour after the fire was diocovor11
Caused BY Explosion. ~
From stories told by girls who NG
capped from the fire. II was mado IT
, appear that the flre had its bfiGlMG
the third floor and was caused ~ VI
explosion or gasoline lamp.
Ore OF the spectators said tfokQ
least fifteen girls had jumped froul
fourth floor Of tho burning strne4
They stayed at the windows until m w
xied by the names behind them ~
nearly suffocated by the smo1na.
leaped to the street. s5S(
Twenty Of the injured wero talEo1k
the city hospital In the AnsNu
The salvaW auto took four mceG
these, two died after reaching ~
pital. aa a$
It was impossible 10 ob1o11
names Of the victims In tho araot
fusion that prevailed. sSS|
These Identified. u III
Up to i:%6 this afternoon 0aly
OF the victims have bean t44
The list Of the known dAA0 r.
lows: M ss3
Mrs. Frances Krathja. 81 y1a1
Livingston Street.
Miss Abbie washins ton. 81
address not known.
| Miss Alice Mslssn. - ysagx
Warren Street 3|Ss3
Mrs. Bessie Resln. addr11 r.
Nss LaptssTte, ~