Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-12-29
ia CHICAGO FIRE
KILLS g FIREMEN
Two Spectators Also Dead And 81
Injured.
PACKING HOUSE WALLS FELL
Lew Water pressure Prevented the
= IL. -
PACKING HOUSE WALLS FELL
Lew Water pressure Prevented the
Men Securing Early Control
Of Elaze-Loss
$75o,O0o.

Chicago, Dec. 20. - Twenty-three
Aremen, among whom were Fire Chief
James Koran, Assistant Chief Will
liam Burrougs, Capts Dennis Doyle
and Patrick J. Collins, and two spec
4ators, were killed, 81 firemen were
injured, and a property loss OF $780,
900 was the result Of fire that broke
ont in the packing plant Of Morris &
Co. at the Union Stock yards.
The fire started at 4:0S In the huge
@eef arehouse-known as No. on
the edge Of the packing district. The
sweep Of the flames was directly to.
wards the vast storehouse containing
millions Of dollars worth OF finished
packlng house products. A general
alarm was sent In by the first com
.pany arriving on the scene and this
was followed at intervals of only a
few minutes by successive alarms
which brought As engines 20 hose
trucks and finally reserve force Of
200 fremen to take the place of ex.
.hausted fire fighters.
The great loss OF life, while prlmar-
fly due to the falling OF the east wall
Of the Norris warehouse, is said to
DO due to insufficient water pressure.
Flremen first on the scene say that
q few well directed streams would
nave conquered the flames early, but
the water only trickled through the
hose. Coroner Hoffman has sworn In
. Jury to determine whether any per
son was to blame for the lack OF
,proper pressure.
When Fire Chief big Jim" Moran
arrived In his automobile, fate brought
Alan nearest the east or Lo0nnis street
side OF the burning warehouse, In
5Bey he had donned his rubber coat
and helmet and was among the fire.
lighters who under Assistant Chief
william Burroughs had attacked the
eastern wall.
run your lines over those re-
2Eigerators cars" cried the chief, as
40 took in the situation at a glace
well fight her from under the
canopy"
He led the way clambering up the
.Acy ladder Of one of the cars that
stood on the siding and down the side
Heading platform protected by heavy
wooden canopy, perhaps 25 feet high.
II seemed position Of comparative
safety. The cars and the canopy shut
out most Of the sitting yellow smoke
which was billowing about the ware
house. The canopy promised ,protec-
aior from the heat and from stray
failing bricks.
Capt. Patrick J. Collins, Of Engine
80: Capt Dennis Doyle engine 80;
Laeuts. Mike Fitzgerald and William
Btnrn were on the heels Of their chief.
They were backed up by an assort-
ment Of firemen, and pipemen from
So, 80, 40 and 80 and truckmen from
IS. all eager to follow Koran any,
where.
They tackled one Of the wide doors
OF the warehouse with their axes and
shade an opening through which sew.
eral streams OF water were played
They went to work on another door
nt the middle, of the warehouse.
"See how she looks up above" was
iaKoran's last order to any one that
Gives
A ouple Of pipemen and Lieut.. 10.
neph Mackey, chauffeau for the chief,
climbed to the canopy They saw the
need Of hose, on the canopy roof and
eiackey started back to the chief to
report the fact.
Then came the roar Of an explo-
sion from somewhere inside the fur.
mace. The east wall pulled out like
. swollen cheek. tottered as II shaken
by d, earthquake and crumbled up
Alike q house Of cards.
Tons Of red hot bricks, mighty
goeams and girders tumbled down on
the canopy that moment before had
promised protection. The place that
seemed so comparatively safe mo-
ment before had turned into a trap Of
death.
In much less time than II takes to
tell Il the canopy above and the floor
- the loading platform we're TEN.
porary tomb Of Koran. Burroghs. Col.
sins, Dolye, Fitzgerald. sturn and no
one yet knows Just how many
Aslmeted members OF the rank and
ne