The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-07-23
FIFTY KILLED
(coattaasd IRON Pirs. Pars.)

NAION III OF n ClkdIttNt
butt or match.
In the tragedy of this afternoon the
killing burst OF flames followed quick
~ upon the heels Cf the alarm. There
was small opportunity for any one &c
use the ordinary or even the emery
ency means OF escape. Fire drills had
been carried regularly. so frequently
In fact that the employees a found
them m~onotonous.
The building was equipped with fire
escapes and an automatic alarm sys-
TEN. The alarm tinkled at ESQ O'Clock
Mrs. Reed b. Freeman. wife of the
proprietor. telephoned to the Central
Fire station. The usual apparatus for
a first still alarm responded. Some
excited person at Warren and Chenan-
go streets. four blocks away. saw u
burst OF flame and pulled the box
there. The rest Of the companies ans
wered this alarm.
A Mass Of Flames.
That meant ten minutes OF delay
Tor part OF the iremen. but even those
who arrived first were unable to do
anything. The first pur of flame was
hardly discerned before the fire belch-
ed along the stair cases and walls. up
the elevator shaft. along the floors
and ceiling. There was a roar. front
m rear. and the flames belched
forth clear across Wall Street, on
which the building fronted. whitening
the shade trees on the river bank and
scorching the building across an alley
at the rear.
After this fierce blast the fire SEEM
ed TO burst from every part OF the
building at once. Upon the fire es-
capes girls. women and men were
clustered and inside others were wait
ing To get on 10 the iron ladders. nut
the flames were too quick for them.
The slow starting Of the FIRE dr,l
may have contributed to the Disaster
the delay in getting all the bremen
to the scenes may have been reypcn-
sible for part OF the loss az life. But
persons who were early on the scene
said that these things did not ma
terially affect the result.
When the firemen arrived. in re.
Spouse TO the telephone alarm. they
were unable TO get within 200 feet OF
the burning building and the ends of
me streams from their hose we're
turned into steam. without effect upon
The fire. The life nets and extension
ladders OF the firemen were equally
useless. There was no chance for
those caught on the upper floors. cX.
cept the last resort. TO jump. and this
many took. while others fell.
Shri'elled and crumpled with the
heat.
tainted by Dozens.
scarcely one Of the survivors was
able TO give "A connected account of
What took place on the y floors
or the factory when the employees
there. mostly women and girls. real.
lied that the fire call was no false
alarm and that death was sweeping
upon them. The coolest among them
recalled that women tainted by doz.
y and that the scenes was Of indie.
scrlbable confusion. Some OF the men
employees apparently kept their heads
II did their best TO rescue the i'm.
pcrlllcd women
IN" fire escapes were not large
enough To hold all who rushed madlv
TO the exits and there was q dash for
the windows. the trapped victims
screaming with pain as the flames
swept upon them from behind and
scared their bodies.
AH'u llOIl NlIuONS ana me or.
capes bodies began dropping. They
fell thick and fast. The building was
but four stories high and many who
jumped. even from the top most floor.
escaped with their lives. although
most of them were badly manned 10
was on the fourth floor that most Of
the women operators we're working.
and II was among these that tine loss
OF life and injury was greatest.
As soon as IN" first e. the fire vic
Tins were brought 10 the hospital con.
vale-cents among the regular n
tents we're set TO work tearing up
bandaces. ply stcians sawed up every
available board for splints To bind up
DE broken limbs and Fathers Ellis.
Walsh u Mclaughlin. together Wit,
the Rev. Francis. came 10 offer spirit
ual consolation 10 the desperately IN
-ur"d
Did Good Work.
Never before in the history OF Biuc
Gamton has such q scene been enact.
ed in the local hospital. and dcspit.
fhc Tact that thc injured and dying
Jag an about. Do" doctors and nurses
worked With amazing rapidity and
L ...Hr.- L..-H .- "