The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-23

Chicago, ILL.,. December 22.-F-ire
Chief James Koran, Assistant Chief
William j. Burroughs and twenty
three men were killed under falling
walls in million-d dollar fire at the
stock yards plant of Norris e Co. early
to-day. Fifteen fremen were serious
ly injured including two captains, who
may die.
Mayor Busse spent ten hours per-
sonally directing the search for the
body of Chief Horan, who had been
a life-long friend But the chiefs
body was not recovered until late to-
night although railroad wrecking
train with derricks and steam shovels
was used to clear away the burning
ruins. The bodies of nineteen men
have been found, including that OF
Fire Chief James Koran, who had been
taken from the ruins at late hour
tonight. The list of dead includes the
chief assistant chief, two captains, five
lieutenants. thirteen city hrenen. two
private iiremen and u railroad employe
The fire broke out afresh at s O'clock
tonight, after IL hadtaxed the strength
of the fire department for sixteen
hours. Acting Chief Seyferlich SEM
general call to outlying stations foLa
fresh men. These, aided by polics
reserves, continued the fight on the fir
and search for bodies of the deaSdsch
Cause of Collapse. @ .noer
Insurance men said that the Ia oft
of the chief and his men was nire n
to an ammonia tank explosion aFra<5 !
supposed, but to the expansion q "a g
air in the beef warehouse, due t6 the
heating of the fire. This, 1T is said,
forced the four-story wall to give way
and collapse. The force behind the
wall was as strong as though an eN-
plosion had occurred
Apparently maddened by the death
of their chief, who was popular In the
department. the firemen threw them
selves reckessly into the work Of
clearing away the fall of the wall
More than fifty men dropped from eX-
hauStion and We're carried back from
the intense heat of the burning ware
honse
Despite the work of many engine
crews, the fire continued TO burn stub
bornly all day and night. Thousands
of people thronged the stock yards
and the police kept spectators back
from the danger line with great diff
Guilty.
Not since the days following the
Iroquois Theatre tragedy, which, like
the disaster of to-day, was q holiday
time horror, have such pathetic scenes
attended q fire in Chicago.
The bodies OF victims were taken to
undertaking rooms on West F6,ty-
third street, near the fire, Widows
and children of the dead mon, white
faced and frantic. crowded into the
place. The bodies were so badly mutt
lated in most cases that the police
would not permit relatives to view
them. III several instances women
struggled with policemen in attempts
to see their dead,
Caring for the Living.
Mayor Busse, greatly affected by
the death of Chief Horan, called a
special meeting of the City Council,
which convened late in the afternoon,
a committee OF fifteen Aldermen was
selected to take charge of relief work
for the families OF the dead and TO
make funeral arrangements.
At the same time meeting was
held at the Chicago Club, ut which
wealthy business men started a re-
lief fund, Theatre managers also pre-
pared to hold beneht performances,
An overhangins wooden canopy fell
from the beef house of Norris &; Co.,
aWNeTe llIt HIt SittltS'i' Atti > 10 " iNAt y
it tons of red shot bricks and debris
upon two companies of iiremen and
the chief. crushing them 10 death and
encasing their bodies in veritahle
furGace, into which their comrades
were unable TO dig for several hours.
Nearly all those who We're not killed
outright when the falls fell Were
roasted to death before help could
reach them.
On top of the canopy another group
of hremen still played streams OF Wa
ter, suddenly Lieutenant Joseph
Muckey, leader Of the brave band there,
felt the wall going, and shouted a
warning TO those beneath He inmned
with his crew and escaped death, bu'
the men below the canopy were walled
in BY the collapsing brick. Meanwhile
nfemen who knew nothing of this, aug-
mented by constantly arriving aids
were standing in. the path az the ad
Yancing flames. They took thein stand
at building after building, only 10 be
driven back each time. hlistered ami
soalded and with lungs eongested BY
steam and smoke.
Make Final stand,
Assistant Marshal Seyferllch. On
whom now lay the command realizing
the futiltp OF saving property then
ablase, drew all the men 70 one sigis
and shouted: We've got TO let tho