davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening journal., 1912-01-09
SEVEN MEN DEAD, MILLIONS LOST
IN FIRE THAT LICKS UP EQUITABLE
BUILDING IN HEART OF NEW YORK
5000 Ice Coated Fremen Fight Living Inferno That Beches
Flames From Hundreds of Windows, Threatening Desuc
lion of Worlds Financial Cenfer---Fire Chief Missing
Wonderful ReScues 90 on While Falling Granite
Blocks Endanger Fighting Army

through the heart of New York like
a thing possessed. And though they
suffered they won. They fought fire
and water and cold and pain, and
never gave back foot.
A high wind, that approximated a
gale, came sweeping through from the
west. Sucked into the narrow fues
caused by the great, towering build
ings above the narrow streets, high
firebrands were carried blocks away.
Some flew nearly to the East River
and landed on buildings. Telephone
girls, hastily apprised, notified night
watchmen i'm all the downtown and
Brooklyn districts, instructing them 20
stand by with fire hose ready, on the
roofs of their own buildings, to ex-
tinguish any blaze started by a flying
spark.
Rescue of William Giblln.
The rescue of William Giblin,
president of the Mercantile Safe De-
post Company with Offices in the
reimbursement at the northwest cor
ner o. the building. WIS startlingly
spectacular. Notified at his home Of
the fire. Giblin rushed TO the scene to
superintend the removal of valuable
securities worth many millions of
dollars. Three times he was driven
from the building by firemen. but each
time he returned to save the papers
of his customers. The fourth time he
failed to reappear. and for an hour
was given up for dead.
The firemen. lodging through the
fallen debris along Broadway saw
Giblin's face pressed against the
barred window Of the vaults. which
rises two feet above the level of ths
sidewalk. William Sheehan. a special
policeman, was with him as was John
CamDeon. Captain" Of the night
watchmen. WIN had entered with Glib
lin TO assist in salvaging the securi-
ties. Falling floors had cut OFF their
egress from the rear and they were
/ penned In the vault steel bars be-
1 tween them and the sidewalk.
There was only one way the mer
might be saved--through the greai
steel bars that Kept burglars ava,
from the basement windows which
/ lighted the vaults.
The building was a pyramid q
flames. Fire Commissioner JOsenl
Johnson jumred forward. Regardless
( OF personal danger he bent over the
grated window and saw the agonizet
face NJ Gibiin between the bars
"We1l get you out" he shouted and
I then turned to order a steel cutinf
saw. Fireman James Dunn rushed
up with the impliment Before hs
+ could begin work In the inferno
Father Mclean. chaplain of the dc.
nartment went 70 the window. A feg
minutes later Giblin was saved.
Evening journal., 1912-01-09
FEARS DEAD MAN
IS HER HUSBAND

Chief Of Police Black today received
a letter from Delmar. Del, written by
a woman signing her name Mrs. 10. l..
Jones. asking for information COLI
cerning tho unidentified man who was
killed ON the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road. at East Junction, on Sunday.
From the tener Of her communication
il is evident that her husband is miss
ing from home, and she feels that per-
haps the man who was killed on tho
railroad might have been he. Tho
police turned the letter over 20 Cor
oner Chandler. but the description
contained therein did not tally with
that of the victim az the morgue. The
latter is a foreigner
Coroner Chandler will answer the
letter.
Evening journal., 1912-01-09
By The United Press.

By The United Press.
NEW YORK, Jan. 9.--It is now be-
lieyed that seVen-pOssibly ten-men
lost their lives today in the most
spectacular fire New York ever wit
nessed-a fire which totally destroy
ed the home of the Equitable Life AS
surance Society, at No. 100 Broadway,
paraIyzed the greatest financial CEN
ter of the world, and entailed prop
erty loss YariOusly estimated at from
S15,OO0,0O0 to $3O,000O00.
Fire Battalion Chief William X.
Walsh is missing and believed to
have been killed; four men are re-
ported killed by jumping from upper
windows, while two others died in the
first floor OF the building. How many
others died, il is impossible TO learn
at this time.
The reported dead;
Battalion Fire Chief William h.
Walsh; Conrad Siebert, special po-
liceman; Guiseppi Cont, porter;
John Sayzi, porter; John CampeOn,
captain of vaults; unidentified pOr-
Ter; unidentified citizen.
The real property loss may not be
known for weeks, or until the debris
has sufficiently cooled to permit an
extended examination of the great
vaults of the Equitable Life Assurance
Society, tha mercantile branch of the
Bankers Trust Company, the offices Of
the Union and Southern Pacific Rail
ways and other great financial institu-
tions in the burned area. II is believed
that all the valuables were saved from
the vaults Of the Equitable Trust Com
pany
The fire was accompanied by Won
derful rescues and heroic work on
the part of firemen, who worked in a
temperature below freezing with cakes
of ice forming on their clothing. So
dangerous did the blaze become that
"fFe borough alarm, moving every
piece of fire apparatus in New York
city, was sounded at o'clock by Fire
Chief Kenlon, the first time such an
alarm ever was rung in New York
Sky Scraper COnilagrati0n Checked.
For a time il was feared the fire
would extend across the narrow can
yons and start a sky scraper confia-
grafton that would have been the
worst in history.
The suffering of the firemen, ac-
: cording to Chief Kenlon, was the
greatest he had ever seen. Men came
from the blazing building literally
caked in ice which formed on their
clothing as the mist from the stream
poured about them Dozens were
overcome, their faces cut by falling
ice
The building, one of the first Sky
scrapers" built in America was eight
stories tall in portions and twelve
stories in others Il was erected at a
tstal cost OF $4,000 600 and has beer
a show place of the financial district
for many years.
The six known dead are four por.
ters, three of whom jumped from tht
fifth story window within twenty
, minutes after the fire was discovered
each being crushed to death as h'
landed in Broadway. Their bodies
. We're recovered aud sent to ths
morgue A fourth man who prepared
to jump with them, fell direct int
the flames and perished The body o
Evening journal., 1912-01-09

Conrad Siebert a special policeman,
was found on the first floor, frightful-
ly crushed Fire Chief William Walsh,
Of the second battalion has been given
up for dead.
According TO President Day, of the
Equitable Life, many of the records
of that company had been removed re-
Gently to the Hazen Building and
therefore are saved. Only the execu-
tive and financial offices of the COM
pany remained in the home office
building.
Fire Gets Early Start.
The fire was discovered at $40
o'clock this morning and spread with
such frightful rapidity through the
labyrinths of the immense structure
that by 8 o'clock the entire building
was doomed and had been practically
destroyed
At $50 O'Clock only the bare walls
of the Equitable Building stood, and
police reserves were driving back
firemen and thousands OF spectators
for the tons of water that had
seeped through cracks in the build
ing were freezing shaking and throw
ing down the walls as though by high
explosives.
The fire was discovered in the base
ment. near the engine rooms of the
building. at the corner Of Nassau and
Pine streets. Sucked up through huge
air shafts, the flames spread like
lightning and before the first firemer
arrived from six blocks away. the
building was burning fercely. every
floor being on fire with flames shoot.
ing from hundreds of windows on al
four sides of the mammoth struc.
ture.
Most Spectacular Fire.
Then began the task Of fighting the
most spectacular and destructive fire
New York has ever witnessed. Three
sides of the building were bounded by
streets that elsewhere would be calico
alleys. Rising on all sides we're i'm
mense skyscrapers, forming grra
canyons, with walls of granite am
marble Even if they stood with thei
backs against the buildings on the op
posite sides OF these streets. the FIRE
men had to approach within thirt
feet of the inferno that ragged abou
them. Alarm followed alarm, unit
three thousand fremen were fghtini
and suffering. A sudden drop il
the temperature caused the water q
freeze as IL left the hose. The so
mile an hour gale caused the mis-
to fall upon firemen and freeze. Grea
blocks of marble and granite dislodg
ed by heat and the force of the "higl
pressure" water. fell about them in tn
narrow streets. Flames rose and bill
lowed hundreds Of feet IN tn
air, outlining surrounding sky
scrapers I'm a frame of red. II seemei
living inferno-the bursting of
volcano in the depths of some grea
chasm that was made by man insteal
of by nature.
/ iFremen suffered from heat and cold
& heat from the blazing structure an
cold from the bitter water that froz
about them But it is TO the credi
of the smoke eaters that they neve
wavered. They stood to their task
and suffered. fighting back tn
maelstrom of flames that. once out o
their power, would have swep
Evening journal., 1912-01-09
COUNTY FINANCEs.

County Treasurer Robert NJ. Burns
reported to the Levy Court today the
following county balances: Credit Of
Levy Court. S1O6, 6,3O1.SS; special bond
issue, No. 2. S14,55S.03; highway inn
provement bonds, s66.656.14: Christi
ana, $3,29342; Mill Greek. S1,69141;
White Clay Creek. $2,254.1S; Pencader.
81, 1885; New Castle, $3.76752; Red
Lion, s1,52S.71; st. Georges, $6,93S.7S: /:
Appoquinimink, S1,191.7S; Blackbird,
$2,014.02; Brandywine, $2,631.37.
Evening journal., 1912-01-09
BARN BURNING
' CASE GOES OVER

In County Court this morning
Deputy Attorney General wolcott got
a postponement Of the case OF the
State VS.. Fred Chambers. indicted on
a charge Of burning the Irving J. Hol-
lingsworth barn, until the next term
of court. Mr.. Wolcott said that 4
colored man, named Cosden, who is an
important witness in the case, is now
out of the state. It is alleged that
Chambers last spring set fire to the
barn Of Mr.. Hollingsworth, who has
the farm near the Ferris Industrial
school.
Evening journal., 1912-01-09
ANOTHER SLEEPS
In BURNING HOUSE

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.
MIDDLETOWN, Del. Jan. 9-There
was much excitement here early this
morning when an alarm OF fire was
sounded. The fire was in the second
story Of the double house occupied
by Isaac T. and Harry r. Wilson.
Harry r. Wilson was found asleep in
the burning house and had to be car
ried from his room by members Of
the Volunteer Fire Company.
Evening journal., 1912-01-09

Final action will be taken on the
proposed new traffic regulations by
the Street and Sewer directors on
Tuesday next Several weeks ago
when first proposed. the rules were
published, but several important
changes have been made. The street
directors invite those interested TO
attend the next meeting to voice
their opinions.
The proposed regulations put into
effect the rule of the road, keep to
the right and keep moving" They
provide that vehicles shall keep. as
near to the right-hand curb as prac-
ticable. A vehicle meeting another
shall pass to the right. A vehicle
Overtaking another shall pass 10 the
left. "A vehicle turning into another
street to the right shall turn the
corner as near the right-hand curve
as practicable. A vehicle turning
into a street to the left shall turn
around the center of the intersection
Of the two streets. No vehicle shall
stop with its left side to the
curb. No vehicle except I'm case of
emergency or to allow a vehicle
or pedestrian to pass, shtall stop
except at near the right-hand
curb Crossings must be kept clear.
No vehicle shall turn I'm any street il
it shall obstruct traffic. but shall go
around the block to a street sufiici-
entity wide TO turn in.
The driver of vehicle intending tc
I stop or slow down shall give sig
nal 10 those behind by raising his
hand or whip. One rule is:
90 horn. bell or other signal de
vice attached to any vehicle ant
sounded as required by law shall b'
OF such a character as TO be startling
| or offensive when sounded. Th'
sounds from siren whistles and Clax
on horns shall be deemed as often
sive and startling, but sounds from
a reed horn with rubber bulb shall b'
considered as meeting with the termi
of this resolution"
Police, fire, ambulance, emergency
traffic fair and mail vehicles shall
have the right of way. Street car
passing north and south shall hav'
preference over those going east an,
west AZ crossings. Street cars shal
have the right of way over other We
Evening journal., 1912-01-09
SENTENCE
OF DEATH ON
RICHESON
Slayer Of Avis LinneII to Die
in Chair During Week
Of May l9
UNLESS EXECUTIVE
CLEMENCY IS GRANTED
By The United Press.

BY The United Press.
BOSTON, Jan 9.-The shadow OF
the electric chair hangs this evening
over the Rev. C. V. t. Richeson.
murderer Of pretty Avis LinnelI. the
girlish sweetheart he wronged under
promise of marriage. His only hops
of escape from ignominous death lies
in the hands OF the nine men compos~
ing the Governors Council the court
Of last resort for the condemned in
this state.
While they are expected eventually
to save this individual who betrayed
the calling TO which he had sworn to
devote his life. there will be for soma
time TO como an element Of uncer-
tainty which will be hard for the COM
demned man to bear.
Richeson acknowledged his guilt IN
open court today. Standing with an Of
fort, he listened unmoved to the read
ing OF the Indictment and when Dis
trict Attorney Pelletier demanded, 40
its conclusion. If he desired to with
draw his former plea Of not guilty b
wilful and prcmeditated murder. aud
substitute therefor one Of guilty, he
nodded his head and his attorney. an
swering for him. said:
I'VE plead guilty to murder IN the
first degree
A nod from the black robed figure
on the bench and the clerk for the
second time In the history of the
commonwealth OF Massachusetts en-
tered on tho records Of the court a
plea OF guilty to murder in the first
degree.
Sentence of Death.
Richeson'H pedigree was quickly
taken and then Judge Sanderson inn
posed sentence. in the language Of
the code. directing that tho murderer
be taken to the state prison at
Charlesiown and confined there until
the week beginning Sunday May 10,
when the warden will put you to
death IA tho manner prescribed by
law" -.l,....
The minister had not cnanBeu n1ucs
since his arraignment: was clear
shaven and although very pale ant
worn as the result of his experiences
vet seemed to be in the full possession
of all OF his mental faculties, That he
had lost weight since his Incarceration
was shown by the looseness Of his
clothing. He wore the black coat and
vest he had on when arraigned and
low turned-down collar.
Attorneys for RichesOn will az ouc'
begin a petition TO the Governor fol
commutation OF the sentence i'm
posed, TO one OF life imprisonment
They will base tho request on the
mental state of Rioheson and also the
= fact that by pleading guilty he hat
been Of great benefit TO the Common
wealth.
Evening journal., 1912-01-09
NEW RULES OF THE
ROAD ON CITY VEHICLES

hicles. Vehicles and street cars must
stand still when fire apparatus ap-
proaches.
A vehicle overtaking a street car
loading or unloading passengers shall
come to a full stop or may pass to the
left of the car if traffic will permit
Cut-out or muffiers on motor vehi-
cles shall be kept closed. and excess
sive smoke from autos is put under
the ban.
Regulations for traffic policemen's
signals also are provided, and driv-
ers are required to exercise diligence
to protect pedestrians crossing
streets.
Penalties of fines from one to twen-
ty dollars. to be imposed in the City
Court, are provided for violations of
the regulations.
The proposed new regulations will
be printed in full in these columns
this week.
Evening journal., 1912-01-09
AMERICAN
TROOPS WILL
GO TO CHINA
By The United Press.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 9.--Five hum
dred American troops we're today or
dered to Chin Wang Tao from sNss
nila.
The battalion win be transported
on board the transport Thomas. now
at Manila. and will be used TO guard
the American concession Of the rail-
way between Pekin and the coast
The battalion, which will be made
up Of the Fifteenth Infantry now at
Manila. viii probably sail tonight,
arriving in China In about six days.
Minister Calhoun, at Penn, re-
ported today that the situation along
the railroad between Chin Wang Tao
and Pelzin was quiet and train SER
vice had been resumed.
Evening journal., 1912-01-09
RETuRNING LIRRARY ROoKs.

Warrants worn out yesterday by
Constable Jones for eight persons.
who have library books and have re-
tanned them longer than tho period
permitted. under the rules Of the Free
Library, has already received five Of
the books. II the books are returned
there will be no prosecution.
Evening journal., 1912-01-09
LEyIJARRELL DIES IN BROOKLYN

Levi farrell, of No. 211 East Second
street. received telegram today from
Brooklyn, ~ Y. informing him of the
death Of his son, William. Mr.. Jar
rell died at his boarding place, No.
1924 Third avenue, in that city last
evening The body is expected in
Wilmington some time today. The
funeral will take place on Thursday
afternoon from the East Second street
address
Evening journal., 1912-01-09
BRYAN PROMISES SUPPORT
TO PARTY STANDARD BEARER

paign. But l would not have any OF
you believe that that has been the OBJ
iect Of my life. ] will do more ef-
fective work for he who is selected
ss our standard-bearer in the next
campaign than I could possibly do for
myself"
The utterance was made at the jack
son Day banquet Bryan did not
speak until nearly 4 o'clock.
Evening journal., 1912-01-09
SHOCKED TO DEATH
ON TOP OF PHONE POLE

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL
DOVER, Del, Jan. 9.--Nicholas
wilkins, aged %. of Wizards, Md,
employed as lineman by the Diamond
State Telephone Company. was cleo
trocuted while working on top OF a
pole at Division street and Govern
or's avenue shortly before noon today
in the presence Of many people.
Evening journal., 1912-01-09
SCHOOL CHILDREN
CALM DURING FIRE

The Reliance Fire Company an
swered a call to a basement recitation
room in st. Mary's Parochial school at
$50 this morning. A small Christmas
tree caught fire and filled the room
with smoke The firemen beat out the
flames, not finding it necessary to use
water.
The children were assembled in the
room at the time, but the Sister in
charge kept them in perfect control
and all danger of a panic was thereby
averted.
Evening journal., 1912-01-09
no SELL FARMS AM MILL.

Mary e. Eastburn, John Leslie East
burn and Clinton B Eastburn. admin
istrators of william NJ Eastburn, to-
morrow afternoon at go o'clock will
sell at the Court House, two farms
situated in Mill Creek hundred near
Corner Ketch, and the mill, known as
Red Mills partly in Mill Creek, and
partly in White Clay Creek hundreds
Evening journal., 1912-01-09

Other linemen saw wilkins fall
backwards from his lofty perch and
realized he had been shocked. He
fell backward into a nest of wires,
and was removed with r block and
fall hastily rigged. He was taken to
the Office OF Dr. J. w. James. who
said Wilkins had been killed almost
instantly.
Evening journal., 1912-01-09
UsHERS UNION ANNIvERsARY.

Tho Uushers' Union Of Delaware
Avenue Baptist Church met last night
and made preliminary arrangements
for their anniversary celebration ON
February 20. They also started and
organized Mems Bible Glass. TO meet
in the Ushers' Union room IN the
church each Tuesday evening.
Evening journal., 1912-01-09
CUTTING ICE FROM CANAL.

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL
DELAWARE CITY. Del. Jan. g.
Farmers in this section are filling
their ice houses with-six-inch ice har-
vested off the Chesapeake and Della
ware canal. The canal is open to
traffic.
Evening journal., 1912-01-09
AsHLFv SYNDICATE FLFCTS

The annual meeting Of the Ashley
Syndicate was held on January 4,
when the following directors were
chosen: S. G. Cleaver William
Johnson, S l. Mckee, James Wilson.
L. Scott Townsend. Edward w. Pyle
and George L. Medill. The directors
elected these officers: President. l..
Scott Townsend; vice-president,
William Johnson; secretary and
treasurer, S. G. Cleaver.
Evening journal., 1912-01-09
BY Ms United Presn.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9--In the fol-
lowing language. William Jennings
Bryan today declared himself. regard
ing the Presidential nomination:
Il have been accused OF an over
weening ambition. l have been a
candidate three times, and some peo-
pie have come to believe that / am
indispensable TO a Democratic cam
Evening journal., 1912-01-09
HOME COOKED MEALS

A good bome-cooked meal.
neatly served-there's always
demand for just such a palata-
bic meal with the home flavor.
If keeping boarders is a part
Of the income of the home
go about il in a business way.
Secure the better grade of
boarders; you can, reach them
through tho Want Columns.
Every day the Wants are read
by many who will be inter-
ested in the announcements of
boarding houses and family
hotels that make a specially Of
providing meals of the home
kind. Such readers are quick
i'm responding for they are in
search Of the home environment
that adds SO much to meals.
Guard against empty chairs
at the table-use the Wants.
Evening journal., 1912-01-09
DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
WILL MEET ON JUNE Is

Louis. Baltimore. Denver. Chicago
and New York
Il was decided to permit reports of
these cities one-half hour each for
arguments as to the desirability of
their municipalities for the big con-
vention.
Charles w Franklin opened the
arguments, speaking in behalf of
Denver.
Evening journal., 1912-01-09
RIVER FRONT COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the river front COM
mittee, of the Board of Trade, will be
held in the Office of John D. Thomp-
son this afternoon, at o'clock.
Evening journal., 1912-01-09
MARRIED FIFTY YEARS.

Former Judge and Mrs. Daniel o.
Hastings went TO Salisbury, Md, to-
day to attend the golden wedding an
niyersary of Mr. Hastings parents, Mr..
and Mrs. Daniel Hastings.
Evening journal., 1912-01-09
PARDON FOR
BARR STIRS
UP THESTATE
Report Is Current That Anti
Bribery People May ChaI-
Ienle his Citizenship
GOVERNOR NAMES NO
STATEMENT ON ACTION

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.
DOVER, Del. Jan. 9.-Governor
Pennewills action yesterday after
noon in signing the pardon for John
Barr. Of Georgetown. as told in THE
EVENING JOURNAL yesterday is
causing much talk in State circles and
the rumor is renewed with vigor that
the anti-brlbery people will attack and
challenge up to the highest court any
attempt to exercise privileges of citi-
zenship by Barr before 1920
There are those, however, who be-
lieve that this talk will amount TO
nothing and that Barr has been made
what his counsel contended. "a new
man." by the Governors pardon.
Governor Pennewill made no state
ment here yesterday afternoon con-
corning the granting of the pardon
but his friends who saw him assert
that had he ignored the recommended
tion of a majority of the Board OF
Pardons (which is the board. accord
ing to the constitution) he would
have been the first Governor to do so
since the constitution was adopted in
1897.
Barrs friends swarmed the Board
of Pardons with letters and petitions.
Barr, contractor. contended that his
business was entirely disappearing by
reason of his disfranchisement and
soon would be added to him the dis
ability Of supporting his family He
could not prove a will, sue a debtor,
bear testimony, make an affidavit. wit
ness a contract, and claimed he was as
much stripped Of his power to en-
gage in the worlds work as an in
sane person. Two years of this, he
pleaded, had been punishment enough,
Among the signers were Democrats
and several who had been identified al
some time with the Delaware Anti
bribery movement.
Governor Pennewills action in sign
ing the pardon for John Barr. who ha,
been fined 5000 and deprived Of hi
citizenship for attempted bribery, hal
j caused much comment in Wilmington
The effect Of the pardon is 10 restore
citizenship to Barr The Governorl
action seems to be far from pleasin.
to many
It is pointed out that Chancellor
! Charles NJ. Curtis and Lieutenant
I Governor John NJ Mendinhall, botl
prominent Republicans of New Castle
! county opposed the pardon applica
1 tion I'm the Board of Pardons Of which
they are members. while the applica
tion for the pardon was favored by
two members from Barr's own countl
-Sussex-and by one from Ken
county