The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-24
MANY GIRLS CONE
DOWN FIRE ESCAPE
SPECTACULAR RESCUE OF TWO
MADE ny MEMBERS OFF FIRE
DEPARTMENT..
FIVE FIREMEN HURT
FLAMES BREAK OUT ON ALL OF
FLOORS OF ENVELOPE FACTORY
AT ONCE, DOING s-5,eoo
DAMAGE.

bursting eat GA all the aaers all
most destroyed the plant of the
Union Envelope company, 2i621s
South sixth street. and endangered the
lives OF thirty-five girls, employees OF
the company. and several men.
Spectacular rescue of two women
from the third door by Firemen ]. F.
Finnegan and T. O.. Johnston, of En-
g.ne company No, Z. brought forth
the cheers OF the surrounding crowd
Both women, half overcome by smoke.
were brought down the extension lad
aers by tho two tiTemen and We're
gently borne to places OF safety. The
other girls escaped by means of the
fire escape. which at certain junctures
was SO crowded that the young women
fell haift-faiGting into each Others.
arms. All managed to reach the
ground story. but here the last extern
sion OF the fire escape had not been
lowered, and the girls hudiled to-
gether until firemen and coiored con-
crete workers employed on an adj
Joining building came to their rescue
and lowered the last ladder.
Mons OF the employees of the firm
was hurt, but several firemen sus-
tatuNu tHIuFiES anu HAu dItct-
wards To be treated by physicians.
On All Floors at Once.
The fire originated in the boiler
room from a back draught. There WAS
Immediately an thrush Of flying par
ticles of burning papers into the pipes
which carry dry heat through the
building, and flames burst out on
every floor practically at the same
time. Large stacks OF paper and en-
relopes caught fire, and in almost an
instant the building was filled with
smoke and flame. On the third floor
the flames were first seen by Miss Ola
Jackson. who informed Miss Kate
O'Conners, foreman OF that floor. In
the meantime, Dennis Chambers. the
eoloTed Waterman, had turned in the
alarm.
There was an immediate rush for
the exits. No one took chance at
the elevator, for In that the flames
were being waited upward and
steady wall of fire was shooting to
the roof. The girls turned themselves
to the fire escape, to which there was
no bar. Clothes. wraps and money
were forgotten In the wild rush for
life. But the young women retained
their composure, and they came down
the fire escape ladder as II they had
had reached the last platform that
they were halted. But the ladder to
the ground was soon lowered by
firemen and other rescuers, and the
girls. frightened, but sttll brave. were
helped to the ground
General Alarm.
Behind them flames issued from
every window. and soon the whole
building was a ma i of fire. the in
Gamma BILE stock falling ready prey
to- the devoaring, element. x
Fire companies respondede to the
first alarm. and a second call was
turned In. Then, as the fire had be-
gun TO snread so rapidly as to threat
en- adjoining buildings. the three
SKIES" calling out practically every
company in the city, was turned In
and engine companies from all parts
ef the city gailoped to the scene.
Engine company No, (. the first OF
the automobile engine companies.
had answered the second alarm. The
Others followed without delay. The
three alarms We're turned in within