Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-01-11

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 a All call for help.
Following this came special call after
special call, until so streams OF water
we're trained on the blaze
A stubborn fight occurred between
the flames and the flremen. The fire
spread to many parts Of the building
despite the efforts Of the men who
sought to check e.
Sharp Blast, Then Death.
The fight had continued for an hour
when the crash came. Away up In
the roof Of the structure, near point
directly over the loading platform on
which stood Fire Chief Koran, Bur
roughs, his second assistant, Leuten-
ant Fitzgerald and nearly score OF
others, there was a sudden, sharp.
loud report like the instantaneous
rending of a 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 It to the platform
itself, which was crushed like an egg
shell, with its human freight OF fro
fighting men.
Falling Brick inIure 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
we're taken to St. Bernard's hospital
and to their homes in apbulances
and police patrols, which were rush
ed to the scene by the score when the
explosion came and 1t was known
that there would be a list of dead and
injured.
Fumes of ammonia filled the build
ing with rapidity. IT was seen at
once that ammonia pipes forming a
part of the refrigerating 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 firemen 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 or
killing them outright
Fireman Work in Danger
The rescuers worked under the
greatest danger to their own lives and
ignoring burns and hazard Of falling
walls. Despite the fact 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.
AiuiOst az bOOu us the wall 1911
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 firemen 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 mn
terial. made It almost impossible for
the resclers to work without being
overcome. Even around the edges,
the injured could hardly be found.
because the dust and CRIME with whics
they were covered made therl almost
indistiSsaishable 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 tbs
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
number of neighboripg stations were
taxed 10 keep them from running int
the burning building.
Main eeefhouse Of Plant.
The building that was destroyed, for
its loss was practically a 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 or
structures 1t was six stories high.
The structure consisted, of a group
of four buildings, although they APP
peared to be one. being built close to-
gether and the walls Joined so as 10
make them four units Joined into one.
They were Nos. =, 5, 6 and OF the
Morris & Co. group.