Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-12-29

squad Of nremen VINO were directing
their operations from loading plat
form.
Send Many Calls for Help.
The fatalities all occurred IN one
place on the loading platform. When
the blaze first was discovered and
an alarm turned in the first of the
fire department forces to arrive on
the scene sent in All call for help.
Following this came special call after
special call, until so streams of water
were trained on the blaze.
A stubborn fight occurred between
the flames and the fremen. The fire
spread to many parts of the building
despite the efforts Of the men who
sought to check It,
Sharp Blast, Then Death.
The fight had continued for an hour
when the crash came. Away up in
the roof Of the structure, near a point
directly over the loading platform on
which stood Fire Chief Koran, Bur
roughs, his second assistant, Leuten-
ant Fitzgerald and nearly a score OF
others, there was sudden, sharp.
loud report like the instantaneous
rending of high-pressure boiler.
Portions Of the masonry of the
building fell away like a child's house
of toy building blocks A large part
Of this fell on the canopy over the
loading platform, tearing the latter
away and bearing 1t to the platform
Itself, which was crushed like an egg
shell, with its human freight of fire.
fighting men.
Falling Brick Injure Many.
There were scores of fremen stand
ing on the outskirts Of where the
bricks fell. Many of these were IN
jured, some OF them painfully. They
were taken to ST. Bernard's hospital
and to their homes in ambulances
and police patrols, which were rush
ed to the scene by the score when the
explosion came and it was known
that there would be a list of dead and
injured.
Fumes of ammonia filed the build
ing with rapidity. 1t was seen at
once that ammonia pipes forming a
part of the refrtgerating machinery
that keeps the south end Of the build
ing chilled for the storage Of beef
carcasses had exploded
At once fear became widespread
that many fremen and their officers
were in the building at the time and
that the ammonia fumes would
strike them to the floor, leaving them
easy prey for flames and smoke OF
killing them outright
Firemen Work in Danger.
The rescuers worked under thu
greatest danger to their own lives and
ignoring burns and hazard of falling
walls. Despite the f. ct that they were
aware Of the fatality and knew that
the bodies of the victims were buried
under the brick pile, fremen worked
about the pile, directing streams of
water into the burning building. Many
Of them went about with tears stream
ing down their cheeks, overcome with
grief over the fate of the chief and
his subordinates.
Begin Rescue Immediately.
Almost as soon as the wall fell
those of the fighters who had escaped
the fate of their companions rushed
at the ruins to bring to safety those
who might still be alive. Amid the
blazing timbers, the red-hot bricks and
the sizzling steel, the fremen worked
unmindful of the terrible burns they
were suffering.
The work Of rescue was extremely
difficult. The terrific heat Of the fire,
combined with that of the fallen ma
terial, made it almost impossible for
the rescuers to work without being
overcome. Even around the edges,
the injured could hardly be found,
because the dust and CRIME with which
they were covered made them almost
indistinguishable from the ruins.
Walls Continue to Fall.
The peril of the brave fire fighters
did not cease after the explosion and
the falling of the wall on the score Of
men on the loading platform.
Other and smaller sections of the
wall continued to fall and warning
calls from commanding officers to
men who were imperiled from time to
time by these were heard continually.
Finally an order was issued for no
man to venture near enough to the
building to be caught under any col
lapsing masonry.
News of the fire and explosion
spread rapidly through the stock yards
district and friends and relatives of
the firemen gathered around the build
ing, imploring the fire fighters for
news of their friends. Policemen from
a number of neighboring stations were
taxed to keep them from running into
the burning building.
Main Beefhouse of Plant.
The building that was destroyed, for
its loss was practically total one,
was the principal beefhouse of the
Morris plant 1t adjoined on the
south the building in which are the
main Offices of the company, and was
the largest Of the Morris group of
structures. It was six stories high.
The structure consisted of a group
of four buildings, although they ap-
peared to be one, being built close to-
gether and the walls joined so as to
make them four units joined into one.
They were Nos. 4, 5, 6 and of the
Morris & Co. group.
Founder of Open-Air School.
Miss Gardner of Indianapolis is said