Omaha daily bee., 1912-01-10

CONTINUED from Page one)
mass OF flames ana the firemen working
from the tops OF skyscrapers and from the
streets below were trying to prevent the
flames from spreading to the buildings
on the opposite sides OF the street
The Equitable building occupies the
block between Broadway and Nassau
street and Pine and Cedar streets. The
fire was first discovered on the ground
floor in store room OF the cafe savarin
and, carried by a draught OF air. shot
upward through an elevator shaft. set
ting the flro to the upper floors.
A general alarm was turned In. and
when the fire department reached the
scene the flames were bursting from the
In the southeast corner Of the
Gale Causes FIre 20 spread.
A gale sweeping through the streets
drove the flames through the building
from end TO end. Flremen dragged their
hose to the tops OF the Chase Nptiona,
bank on Pine street and the Fourth
National bank on Nassau street. while
other lines OF hose were run up on u
sky scraper opposite the burning build
ing on Broadway. from which streams OF
water were directed on the flames.
Five alarms were turned in and fire
tugs from the North and East rivers
grouped themselves at a convenient dock
and pumped volumes OF water In the
building.
Three watchmen In the building here
ically remained TO fight the flames with
fire extingulshers, but they were driven
finally TO the roof Firemen made a
heroic attempt to save them and scaling
ladders were run up.
Rescuers got as far at the fourth floor
when tho wdtchmen, their forms outlined
against the glare Of the flames. were
seen 10 kneel and pray and then. as the
corner Of the building on which they
were standing fell. they jumped to the
street The flremen on the sealing
ladders had difficulty in making their
way to the streets.
Depaiy thief walsh Missing.
Deputy Fire Chief william Walsh and
five firemen were caught when a section
of the floor in an upper story gave way
The firemen managed TO reach a window
ledge, from which they were rescued by
means Of a lie line. but when they
looked back Chief Walsh had disappeared
in the smoking ruins. Efforts were made
to reach the spot where he Was buried,
but the flremen could not find him.
Two portera In the safe deposit com.
pany were rescued from the basement OF
the building when the sidewalk in front
Of the structure caved In. They were
injured aud removed TO hospital.
The fire was finally, confined to the
Equitable building. though for a time {,
seemed ns II the flames would sweep
across the street and set fire - the
American Exchange National bank al
Cedar street anda broadway. on which
the sparks were failing In shower. This
building was Kept wet down by stream,
VI water from the skyscrapers on al
sides.
Confined To Equitable Building.
The flames had the intensity or y bias
furnace The heavy floors II she build.
ing bucklcd under the whitn heat OF III,
fire aad fen IN while the walls crumhIsd
ard dropped picccmeal into the streets.
Business IN the financial section wa,
brought practically to 4 staBdstin Thou
sands OF clerks in banking and broke.
age houses. railroad and industrial CD,
paratlons were held back by police line
formed two. blocks north = the fire aii,
traffic OF every kind In ts,s streets nearbl
the burning building was forbidden b!
the police.
Three employees OF the building ieaps'
from the third floor to the street The
were taken to tho hospital seriously In
!ured.
4 After the fire had been checked an
/ the firemen We're able 10 set closer 4
the building II was discovered that Ia
Belmont building on Nassau street. whie
acjuins the burned quilting, had tee
/ saved, though the offices OF August Be
] lsont & Co had been flooded with waIei
Z pre.Iaent U.plin Wiii Recover.
] Afte- Presideat Gsbliu Vas rescued fr0i
.pe fire he was carried 10 the boiis
osm Of the Trinity building. Ambuian,
surgeons stripped off has clothing 81
Wrapped him IN heavy blankets. Stiins
ants we're ADMINISTERED After bgl,
interval OF rest Mf. Gibl.n said:
Il was sitt.ng up last night with N
wife, who had Teen very III. when an eu
ploye Of the hcsel Infurmed me that u
Equitable buIldhg was on tire. When
arrived at the busfutng there was 1
uames. but plenty Of smoke. hurri'
ln,o one of the vaults to get some valu
BILE papers, followed by one OF the mig
wateamen. The vault had a spring 10,
and ! left my papers outside.
when the man and l started 10 lea
the door swung shut and'we were DO
prisoners The smoke was awful v
screamed and shouted. but IL seemed '
we're doomed. The other Fnan was ali
up 70 half an hour ago, but Just befo