Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-11-27
FIRST RUSH OF FLAMES
CUTS OFF ALL STAIRWAYS
Dazed With Terror, Some Unfortun-
ates Stay In Building To Die Hor-
rible Deaths, While others Throw
Themselves From High Windows.
Deputy Fire Chief Injured.
By Associated fress.,


minutes twenty-four girls were burned
alive this morning, or crushed to
death on the pavement in leaping
from windows and fire escapes of the
four-story brick factory at the corner
OF Orange and High streets The
latest count tonight shows that six
teen of the tweniy-four bodies recov-
cred have been identified and That
six girls are SIN missing. They may
be among the unidentified dead or
they nay be in the ruins. The col
lapse OF wall tonight interrupted
further search.
Fifty We're taken to hospitals. OF
whom two may die. Among the in
jured is Joseph E. Sloan. deputy fire
chief, who was overtaken by the fall
ing wall and buried in bricks and
rubbish. He is badly hurt. but may
recover.
Petrified With Fright.
The rush of the flames WAS so swift
and threw such IHreaSoning terror
into the working girls on the top
story that the body of one was found
still seated on a charred stool besioc
the machine at which she had been
busy when the first cry of fire" petri-
fed her with fright.
Horrible as must have been what
went on in the smoke of that crowded
upper room. what befell outside in
the bright sunlight was more horrible
yet.
Gu. Off From Stairway.
The building was furiously infiam-
mable and the first flush of flames had
Ill L i
stairways. The eleva ors made one
trip, bet took doEn no passengers and
never came hack.
The only exit was by two narrow
fire escapes. the loves: platform of
which was twenty-five feet from the
street Into these overcrowded and
steep lanes. searching hot by the jets
from lower windows, pressed forward
a mob of women, blind with panic.
driven by the fire and others behind
them
Girls Jump Wildly.
A net had been spread beneath the
windows, and the girls began TO jump.
Like rats out of p burning build
ing" was the way fireman described
the pell nell descent They boiled
out Of the windows like thick ire
acle. rolled upon the heads of those
below them and cascsded of the fire
escape to the pavement fifty feet be-
low Some stood in the windows and
jumped clear: others from the land
iDss: still others from the steps where
they stood. The air was full Of them
ami thew fell into the net. on the
necks of firemen. and fifteen CT them
on the hard stone slabs When the
awful rain ceased there were eight
dead in the streets, and the cutters
ran red. Seven mere were so badly
crushed fiiat thew died in hospitals.
Fifty are still under surgeons care.
Clouds Of smoke and showers Of
burning embers spread over the city
and Tained DOWN en- neighboring roofs.
As the news few-and IL lost nothing
in the telling-p1nic spread to other
fsc'ories. whore many Of the girls in
peril had friends and relatives. and
several firms had to shut down for
the day
Thousands Flock to Scene.
Thousands hccked to The scene and
made the work o. the fremen and
police more difficult. Etalifn siik
workers fell in the street and prayed
and lamented pifiahly. Priests and
clergymen worked their wav through
the press 20 give the las; consultations
10 those e their different faiths.
Ambulances and automobiles. com
mandcercd for emergency service
were hurrying in opposite streams 20
tho HOSPITALS and back again
Before any scfnbIance % order
could be restored every police reserve
in b city had been called ont and i
was net until late that the estimate
81 property lcSS coul even he ven
tnred. Fire department nov gs@ssce
Siss 900. hut no s37tement from the
owners and tenants Is vet available.
Oii-ccvcrcd Floors.
The building was fcur-sforv brick
structure. occupied on the lower fools
~ the Newark Paper BOX Comnany
and The 4. 4. Drake PIPER Tx Com
many. On the third floor. where the
arc stared by he Anchor Lamp
Company and me Aetna Electric
Company. and On the TOP fer. whore
ne deash iisf ran heaviest. BY the
Woold Manufacturing Company.
makers Of gndergear. The wcodcn
aoors we're soaked with oi! drippings
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