The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-12-29

| CnicaRO.-F1re ChleI James 1o-
ran, Battalion Chief Burroughs
and Captains Collins and Doyle
perished with 80 other firemen in
fire which destroyed the beef plant
of Morris G. Co. at the stock yards.
Scores of firemen were injured.
The property loss may reach more
than SO, 900 900.
Fire Chief Horan's body was re-
covered after repeated efforts to move
the smoldering debris under which he
was buried and removed to :ne home
of his brother, Daniel J. Horan, Sixty
first street and Prairie avenue.
Firemen Were PowGrIess.
The flames spread so rapidly that
the firemen were powerless to save
the plant. The entire stock yards dis
! trict was threatened.
Huge tanks of tallow stood direct
ly In the path of the flames and threat
ened to explode.
The fire was the most disastrous
that the department has had to con-
tend with since the Iroquois fire, and
/ the holocaust at the Seventy-tirst
street crib.
Buried In Debris.
All the victims were IN the base
ment of the new beef plant when an
explosion occurred that wrecked the
building and buried them beneath tons
Of debris The explosion came with
out warning. The men believed they
had the flames under control and were
preparing to back out of the build
ing when the explosion Of what Is be
lieved to have been ammonia took
place. A minute later companions
were making frantic battle to reach
the buried sufferers.
Wild excitement followed. Extra
calls for help were sent in. A major
Ity of the fire companies in the city
were rushed to the scene.
The flames, stirred by the strong
wind, spread rapidly, and soon were
beyond control.
Face Death From Explosions.
Explosion after explosion followed
and drove back the firemen. The hea
became so intense that the flames haC
to be fought from a distance. of half {
block
All the time great danger prevail
ed because of the tallow tanks bein&
close to the burning structure.
1t was hours after the discovery d
the fire before the firemen We're able
0 get near the structure. Then the
body of Morwerski was found.
News of the fate of the firemer
spread rapidly throughout the city
Soon hundreds of grief-stricken moth
ers, sons and daughters appeared oil
the scene. Their grief was pitiable
Policemen had great difficulty IL
keeping them from rushing into thu
flames.
Edward Morris, president of thu
company, was almost overcome whel
he realized that so many lives hat
Jeen lost.
Waterman Discovers Fire.
A watchman who was making hi
rounds through the structure discOv
cred the fire He saw flames in wha
is known as the hide storeroom in tn,
basement. He at once telephoned al
alarm and fed from the building. Th
flames spread rapidly and with th'
arrival of the first companies Of fire
men a general alarm was sounded
which brought over Is companies o
fremen to the scene
Fire broke out at 4 a. m. and
spectacular battle with the flames en-
sued until, at q. m, terrific eE
Dlosion of ammonia in the beef cold
storage section of the building sen
a heavy canopy crashing down on
squad of f1remen who were directin
heir operations from a loading pla
form.
Send Many Calls for Help.
The fatalities all occurred in on
place on the loading platform. Whe
the blaze first was discovered an
an alarm turned in the first of tn
fire department forces to arrive 0
the scene sent in Ali call for hell
Following this came special call afte
special call, until so streams of waite
. we're trained on the blaze.
A stubborn fight occurred betwee
the flames and the firemen. The fir
= spread to many parts of the buildin
y. despite the efforts of the men VIII
sought to check 1t.
70 The fight continued for an hot
when the crash came. Away up
the roof of the structure, near a poir
iirectly over the loading platform o
which stood Fire Chief Horan, Bu
= roughs, his second assistant, Lietel
mt Fitzgerald and, nearly score
= >thers, there was a sudden, shar
= 'oud report like the instantaneol
= rending of a highpressure boiler.
Portions of the masonry of Il
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