The Detroit times., 1911-04-05
MANY HAVE CLOSE
CALL IN FIERCE
STATE-sT.F|RE
More Than Score of Men Fight Way
Down Smoke Filled Stairways in
Burning Plant of Johnston
Optical Co.
Others Leap Through Windows To
Roofs of Adjoining Buildings and
Are Rescued; Loss 100000.

More than a score of men had mar
row escapes from death in fire that
broke out in the building occupied and
owned by the Johnston Optical Co.,
Nos, 66-6S State-st., shortly before !
o'clock, Wednesday afternoon. The
building is four-story brick structure
and il burned furiously for more than
an hour. Famed by a brisk breeze
that came from the west, great tongues
OF flames shot from every window and
threatened TO engulf buildings adjoin-
ing the east side and facing Washing
ton-blvd
Bishop Foley's residence was threat
ened and a slight fire did find It's
way into the basement OF his home.
The bishop and members OF his house
hold were ready to leave the place, IL
the fire assumed more threatening
proportions.
Officials of the Johnston Optical Co.
place their loss at about 100000, and
with the losses sustained by other
firms affected, the total damage will
run over $4,000. The Johnston peo-
pie have an insurance OF $4,000.
Thrilling escapes from the doomed
building provided features In the ear
ly part of the fire. About 25 men
came down the smoke-fi filled stairway
of the building and found their way
TO the street. Three men broke
through windows OF the third floor
and scrambled onto the roof adjoin-
ing over the Catholic book store.
Firemen promptly hoisted a ladder
to them and they came down just In
time to escape being scorched by hun
cry flames. The men who escaped
through the windows are Henry Amr-
helm, John Schaefer and Louis Slew
ers.
None of us knows how the fire
started" said Amrhein. I'VE had just
got back from dinner and had started
to work again, when | heard some
body yell Fire | looked around and
the whole place was In flames. All
OF us got out all right"
There are no fire escapes on the
building and the employees were
...rced TO depend on the stairways and
the windows.
the first to discofer the fire, which
originated on the third floor. He turned
in an alarm and when Chief Brod-
erick arrived he promptly turned in a
second and a third alarm.
The gale that blew in from the west
made 1t most stubborn blaze to fight.
The great streams Of water that
played upon the building were picked
up by the wind and cast aside.
The Federal Sign Co., which occu-
pies the ground floor OF the building,
suffered the complete loss OF its
stock The j. II. WINNER Supply Co..
also suffered heavily. The Arm deals
In auto parts.
An immense press Of people was at
tracted by the fire and the police had
some difficulty in keeping tho crowd
In check. The flying squadron brought
detachment of men from the central
police station and the streets were
roped of and the spectators forced
back
Police Commissioner Croul was
present and directed the movements
OF his men. Mayor Thompson was
among the spectators. The windows
and doorways Of neighborlng stores
and manufacturing establishments
were crammed with humanity.
At 2 o'clock the fire department had
the blaze pretty well under control.
Some fear is expressed that the front
wall CT the building will fall and pre-
cautions will Le taken against such
a disaster