Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-12-23
Is DEAD At CHICAGO.

Chicago, Dec. 22.-Of the % killed il
the stock yards fire today by falling
walls, the bodies of 10, including tina
of Fire Chief James Koran, had beer
taken from the ruins at a late hour to.
night. The list of dead includes the
chief, the assistant chief two cap
tains, five lieutenants, 13 city firemen
two private firemen and railway EN-.
ploye.
Fifteen liremen We're seriously in
jured, Including two captains, who may
die.
Mayor Busse spent 10 hours person
ally directing the search for the body
Of Chief Koran, who had been life
long friend. A railroad wrecking train
with derricks and steam shovels was
used to clear away the burning ruins
The fire broke out afresh at s o'clock
tonight, after it had taxed the strength
of the fire department for 16 hours.
Acting Chief Seyferlich sent a gen
eral call to outlying stations for fresh
men. These, aided by police reserves
continued the fight 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
supposed, but to the expansion of cold
air in the beef warehouse, due to the
heat from the fire. This, it is said
forced the four-story wall to give way
and collapse. The force behind the
wall was as strong as though an ex-
plosion had occurred.
Apparently maddened by the death
OF their chief, who was popular in the
department, firemen threw themselves
recklessly into the work of clearing
away the fallen wall. More than Sc
men dropped from exhaustion and were
carried back from the intense heat OF
the burning warehouse.
Despite the work of many engine
crews, the fire continued to burn stub
bornly all day and night. Thousands
of people thronged into the stock yards
and the police kept spectators back
from the danger line with great diff
Guilty.
Not since the days of the IroQuois
theatre tragedy, which like the disaster
Of today, was a holiday time horror.
have such pathetic scenes attended a
fire in Chicago.
The bodies of victims We're taken to
undertaking rooms near the fire.
Widows and children of the dead men,
white faced and frantic, crowded into
the places. The bodies were so badly
mutilated in most cases that the i,olice
would not permit relatives to view
them. In several instances, women
struggled with policemen in attempts
to see their dead.
Mayor Busse, greatly affected by the
disaster. called special meeting of
the city council which convened late
in the afternoon.
A committee Of Is aldermen was Sc
lected to take charge of relief work for
the families of the dead and 70 make
funeral arrangements.
At the same time a meeting was held
at the Chicago Club, at which wealthy
business men started a relief fund
Theatre managers also prepared to
hold benefit performances.
The following is revised list of the
dead so far as bodies have been re-
covered:
James Koran, fire marshal.
ant fire marshal
Herman B. Randenberg, lieutenant.
Patrick E. Collins, captain.
Thomas Costello, pipeman.
Nicholas Crane, truckman.
Edward J. DAMS, lieutenant.
Nicholas Doyle. truckman.
Andrew Dymuran, fire Waterman.
Stephen Leen, clerk, Chicago juno
ton Railroad.
Charles Moore, truclkman.
Albert Meriarty, truckman.
George Maurauski, pipeman.
Edward Schonsette, truckman.
William F. Weber, pipeman.
George Enthof. pipeman.
w. G. Storm, lieutenant.
Two unidentified firemen.
Marshal Horan's body was pinned
to the ground beneath a heavy timber
and partly protected by several iron
Orders. The face was free from bruises
and was recognized as soon as uncov-
cred.
1t took half an hour after locating
the dead chief before 200 firemen, city
officials and friends Of Koran to ex-
tricete the body. 1t was taken to the
undertaking rooms of Daniel Koran,
brother of the chief.
Chicago, Dec. 22.-Fire Marshal
James Koran and between rs and 80 of
his firemen were killed and 40 others
injured today in fire which up to
noon had caused s1,50O,O00 damage and
still threatened the whole Stock Yards
district
An overhanging wooden canopy fell
from the beef house Of Morris & Co.,
where the fire started, carrying with
it tons Of red hot bricks and debris