The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-12-23
Many Firernen Lose
Their Lives in
Two Great Fires


lection, led by Koran, Burroughs anu
Fitzgerald.
On top of the canopy another group
Of firemen with their backs to the
roasting inferno, still played streams
of water into the heart Of the fire.
Suddenly Lieutenant Joseph Mackey,
leader of the brave band above, felt
the wall going and shouted a warning
to those below, but beneath them the
cavernous NAV of the canopy found
it's victims and the fire-1shters were
engulfed with roar.
Meanwhile firemen who knew moth
ing of this and augmented by con-
stantly arriving aids, were standing in
the path of the raging flames They
stood their ground at building after
building, only to be driven back at
last, bIfstered and scalded by the
steam from their own hose and with
lungs scarcely able to breathe fresh
air.
ASSISTANT IN CHARGE.
Assistant Marshal Se1 ,er1ich, on
whom now lay the command, realizing
the futility Of saving property then
ablaze, drew all the men back to
firm stand in the lee of the flames
We've got to let the rest of it go.
men," he shouted to those who still
were reluctant to quit the fight at
close range.
Get back here and Well make a
final stand"
Maybe We can save this part
pleaded some Of the blistered men
close in by the heat and unable to re-
allze their danger.
''All hell could not stop that fire in
that building. boys was Seyferlich's
answer, and the men fell back.
The assistant marshal acknowledged
at 1915 that the whole stock yards
district was in danger. We've got no
water power, and we can do nothing
effectively" he said. THE thing real
ly is beyond our control right now.
But we've got to stick out and head
her off If it takes every man we have
got in the department"
Patrol wagons and ambulances from
all South Side police stations were
rushed to the scene and while the
firemen battled with the flames the
police took up the work Of searching
the ruins for the dead.
Alarm was spread late In the morn
ing when the fire spread to a three
story building three hundred feet
square in which there are ammonia
pipes. Soaked to the skin with water
and almost worn out, Assistant Sey-
ferlich, who was by this time sure
from place to place directing his men
and endeavoring to check the destruc-
ton of the building in which were the
deadly amonia pipes. Three members
Of engine company No. SO, all who re-
NAMED of the entire crew which went
to the fire early this morning, were
ordered back to their quarters at $50
o'clock as unfit for duty. All had
been burned or otherwise injured in
trying to rescue their companions.
Marshal Koran was married about
six years ago. He is the father of
four children, the youngest of whom
is two years old.
Word OF the death of the chief was
kept i ON Mrs. Koran by firemen, who
pofiHed her by TELEPHONE that he had
net with an accident. Later it be-
came evident that the chef was sure
ly dead and that it would be better
to let her know the truth. Mrs. Koran
swooned in her Ashland boulevard
home and was unoble further to con-
tinue the conversation.
Marshal Koran assumed command
OF the HTe department AFTER the death
of Marshal Musham, successor to
Marshal Campion, who took up the
reins laid down by the veteran Dennis
Swenie.
GRAPHIC STORY OF FIRE.
A graphic story Of the collapse OF
the east wall which carried the men
to death beneath the wood covering
is told by Lieutenant Joseph MackeF,
who was leading a company of fire.
men from the top of the canopy.
a1ackey said as he looked up he saw