The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-05-28
An Overcome in Union Depot
Blaze, Except Chief McGraw,
Have Recovered
VETERANS CONDITION
REPORTED SERIOUS
Property Loss is Only $4,000
Fen Immigrants Rescued
by Police


the inspection room in the basement
ofaihe union. depot, al Fort and Third.
SITS, were rescued by police from al
most certain death. when ire broke
out III the oil room under the Dig
waiting reom IN the depot. at
o'clock Wednesday night, and burned
al night long, defying tons OF water
poured on II by every available ilre
company Eighteen companies with
their apparatus Were still az work
early Thursday morning.
From the start OF the blaze unul
long after midnight the dense, pun
gent smoke from burning records
stored in the basement caused hre-
men TO topple over by tWos ana
threes, 10 be dragged TO safety Dy
their comrades and treated with the
Edison Co. pulmotors, after which
those in the most serious condltioh
were removed 10 St Nary hospital
br 10 Ladder Co, No. 2, which was
transformed into a temporary hospl-
tai TO receive the continual stream OF
kmoke-blackened, unconscious men.
Fire Commissioner William j. chit
tenden, who had donned boots, ruD'
Der coat and helmet and was working
beside the firemen, was one OF those
overcome, but he was soon revived
Fire Chief William McGraw is lying
In bed In fire department headquar-
ters. temporarily blind, and in SO
Weakened a condition that alarm 10
kelt by department officials.
The big waiting room OF the depot
Is unscathed by flames, but the I'M
mense tile floor has collapsed III
many places, and the whole hoor Is
warped and must be replaced Inc
Restaurant at the south end Is rum
the flames having crept through the
tioor and scared the big room. while
The floor there is also ruin.
The basement, where the lighting
plant and boilers escaped destruction,
though badly damaged by the Hood
bf water, was swept almost clean Dy
The flames, and the records FOR seven
hears back, held according to the raw
Tor that period, are almost totally de-
stroyed. None OF the financial or MS
forical records we're destroyed, It's
said.
Chief Engineer A. l.. Grandy de
tlared, Thursday morning. that IN
kpite of the long, stubborn fire that
WAS controlled so we'll by the heroic
fire fighters, the loss will not amount
10 more than $4,000, approximately
ks to real property damage. though
he declares that the loss of the rec
BIRDS is inestimable.
| Patrolmen Sam Burroughs and VIII
liam Mortified. OF the central pre-
kinct, distinguished themselves by
lighting their way through the sur
locating smoke, shortly after the fire
kas discovered, and rescuing 10 immi-
krants who had arrived on a train
bnly a short time before, and were
huddled in the detention room, await. |
Ing Inspection by the immigration OIL
ticials. They drove the terrified I'M
migrants out 10 the street, carrying
home who were too frightened and
weakened by the smoke to help them
fefves.
Louis Lloyd, elevator boy. in the
building, living at No. 1870 Lafayette
blvd. was one OF the heroes OF the
hire. He stuck 10 his post while
kmoke poured into the main building
from the basement, much OF IL finding
I'm outlet, at the elevator shaft He
Started 10 take group OF firemen TO
the upper floors TO open windows and
let the smoke out, but trouble with
fhe mechanism. caused the elevator
10 drop 10 the basement. Lloyd
erawled out, assisted by firemen and
called other fre-6ghters, who helped
10 rescue their comrades caught In
Ahe elevator.
Young Lloyd was overcome by
kmoke four times. but when revived
Ia the open air insisted on returning
10 the building. He was finally sent
10 st. Mary's hospital.
All of those sent to the hospital
during the night left, early Thursday
morning, Patrolman George Smith,
who was overcome while rescung
fireman, being one OF the last TO leave.
Edison pulmotors were rushed to
khe are as seon as the reports OF men
being overcome, started 10 pour into
HEADQUARTERS. The machines did
valiant service i'm the depot. in the
aadder house where many Of the nn-
CONSCIOUS men were sent, and VA ST.
kiary's hospital
Edward Craig. in charge OF the
ticket office. gathered up all OF the
kalnables that he could. aud placed
khem In the safe, before he fled from
hhe smoke-hlled building. but he re.
ported that he had left 81 500 in the
rash TIL The money was found in
act. early Thursday morning
Thursday passengers were not al.
Bowed 10 enter the waiting room
pf the depot. which is roped on. and
guarded by police Entrance D. the
train sheds is being made through the
f6Rkage room adjoining the main
waiting room
Pere Marquette, Wabash and e. y.
Dr. trains are being dispatched as
usual. ticket windows being set up ON
abe Fort-st. side OF the depot.
Among the fremen overcome and
kgho required attention ares
d FIRE CHIEF WILLIAM McGRAW
nearly blinded when overcome by
smoke: confined TO his bed i'm FIRE
department headquarters. in seri.
ous condition.
F, tAPT THOMAS MOVES. Engine
company No l.
kAPT- OTTO ~ sIEBERT. Engine
company No. 3.
f'APT JOHN W. HOPKINS, Ladder
company No. IA
f.IEuT. CONRAD HESS. Engine com
plny Nd 3. -
tIFUT L. BROWN. Ladder compan,
boHN MITCHELL ladder compan,
IRVING COOK Engine compan,