The San Francisco call., 1910-03-26
DEATH OF Z DUE
TO CIGAR LIGHTER
Benzine Expl0des While Being
Poured Into Device With
Electric Sparker
Girls Find Themselves Impris-
Oned in Flames and One
Jumps in Vain

CHICAGO, March 25.-An explosion
of benzine while it was being poured
into a cigar lighter caused a fire that
destroyed the Fish furniture company's
building in Wabash avenue today.
Twelve persons perished in the blaze
and their bodies have been recovered.
Two others who were employed in the
building are missing. The loss on the
building and stock is estimated at
$500, 900.
About 40 employees escaped from the
burning structure. Among them were
two cabinet makers, who were at work
in the repair room, and were slightly
burned. When great sheet of flame
shot across the floor they were Knocked
down, but managed to crawl to the
front stairway, whence they made their
way to the street. The fire, they said.
was preceded by an explosion which
shook the building.
One OF the victims perished in an en-
deavor to rush up the stairway to the
aid of those imprisoned above.
GIRL JUMPS TO DEATH
Ten women and girls were at work
on the sixth floor when the explosion
occurred. The spread of the flames
throughout the upper floors was al
most instantaneous. and when the girls
1
their escape cut off. They next turned
to the front of the building, smashing
the windows.
Then one of the girls stepped out on
the window ledge and screamed for
help. Then she leaped. She fell on
the awning over the front entrance
to the store, where she lay unconscious
until man, crawling out on the can
opy, lifted her up. She was taken to
e. IL
away. but died soon afterward.
The Fish furniture company occu-
pied two buildings separted by an al
ley, one building fronting on Wabash
avenue. where the fire occurred, and
the other in State street, which is
block west of Wabash avenue.
SCREAMS FOR ASSISTANCE
Those in the State street store look
ing across the alley could see girls
on the fifth and sixth stories of the
burning structures rushing back and
forth to the windows screaming for
AT times they clung to
each other. Then some of them disap-
peared with their hair and clothing
blazing.
Despite the number of persons who
rushed to telephones, police and firemen
agree that the alarm was slow in
reaching the firemen. After the fire
had broken out a girl ran two blocks
to an engine house. She fell among
The astonished fire fighters so exhausted
that she could scarcely murmur the
words Fire" She could only point in
the direction of the blaze. 1t was their
only intimation of the tragedy being
enacted only two blocks away.
BLAZE DEFIEs FIREMEN
Firemen poured water on the build
ing for two hours and a half before
the flames were sufficiently subdued
10 make a search for bodies.
Leo Stoeckel. clerk of the fish COM
oany, who is said to have started the
ire, told his story to Fire Attorney
Frank Hogan this afternoon. Although
who is but 90 years old, is
admittedly more unfortunate than
Attorney Hogan says he will
bring some charge against the young
man to insure his attendance at the
inquest.
Stoeckel was brought before the fire
attorney with his hand, which had
been burned, swathed in bandages He
appeared heartbroken and told his story
with difficulty.
ELECTRIC SPARK BLAMED
about S:45 o'clock this morning."
Stoeckei said. "Mr. Mitchell, who is a
member of the firm, gave me three
pocket cigar lighters and told me to
go TO the fourth floor and fill them
with benzine. / had filed two of the
lighters out of the five gallon can and
was working on the third when there
was an explosion.
"a sheet of flame almost blinded me.
did not fully regain my senses until
had reached the street. The light
srs contained a contrivance to make
spark, but whether I fgnited one of
hem l don't know. I either dropped
he can of benzine when the flame shot
Up In front of me, or it was blown
,ut of my hands"
Big Fire Follows Threats