The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-09
LOSS Of $35O,OOO.

LUSS VI 333U,UUU.
Continued from Page One.)
The roof had cs4ved in carrying several
floors with 1t and side walls had col
lapsed from the roof to the ground
floor, which is occupied by the bank.
scene a few minutes after the blaze
was discovered, the flames were shoot
ing out Of the roof and all the windows
above the second floor. Men were
jumping from windows. others were
climbing down ropes made of the bed
en- jumped several stories to the roofs
Of adjoining buildings and escaped
with broken legs or less serious in
juries. Those who did escape ran about
the streets in bathrobes or night
clothes. apparently wild. until they
were forcibly carried into neighboring
hotels.
Acts Of Heroism. 81
Heroism was shown by f1remen and
guests at the club.
The fire fighters, time and again
lodged one falling wall only to find
themselves under another tottering
mass of granite and brick.
Theodore Levy of Louisville, KY,
chung to window sill until both his
hands were scorched almost black.
man grasped him about the waist and
carried him down. ladder. At the
city hospital Levy later declared two
Of the men who had been killed jumped
from the window to which he chung
until rescued.
Robert c. Magill. manager of the
club, and his wife were reused by the
smoke. They discovered the fire in the
dining room on the third floor and be-
fore seeking their own safety rushed
ovps1 th0 hov lie I'm ~
doors and waking guests. Both were
| badly burned about the face. hands
and feet.
All the municipal ambulances and
police patrol wagons and automobiles
| were pressed into service to carry the
| wounded to the hospital.
Among those who were in the club
at the time OF the fire. hut escaped. was
Walter Fritsch. financial agent of the
st. Louis Federal League baseball
club.
-Mordecai Brown. manager of the
club. who arrived here from New York
last night, remained at the club until
few hours before the fire was dis
covered
Showers of Burning Embers.
AS the walls and floors caved in
they sent showers Of burning embers
| onto the roofs of neighboring build
ings and for a time theatened to cause
general cOnflagration in the retail
district. To prevent this all the fire
fighting apparatus Of the city was
brought up. The telephone operator,
a young boy. remained at his post on
the ground floor. even after the fire
men began pouring water into the
building. Many of the guests credited
their escape to him.
At six o'clock this morning. four
hours after the fire had been discover
ed, the blaze was believed under con-
troll. Half an hour later, however,
boilers in the basement of the build
ing began to explode and for the first
time the f;remen' under orders of their
| chief. withdrew from the street i'm
mediately in front of the building. It
| was feared the last two remaining
| walls would collapse and bury them.
Thousands of curious f1ocked about
the fire hamperfng the work of the
firemen until driven back by the po-
lice. Hundreds of automobiles belong
ing to members who had been appris-
ed of the fire. lined the downtown
streets. Men and women. relatives
and friends Of members, who were
known to have lived at the club. rush.
ed madly from hotel to hotel. then to
the hospitals and morgue, seeking
some word of their loved ones.
| Down the Fire Escape.
Judge c. Orrick Bishop, assistant
circuit attorney. roomed on the sixth
floor.
The roar of the flames cracking
like giant fire crackers awoke me-"
said Judge Bishop shortly after his
escape from the burning structure.
fortunately, thank God, there was
| I ran down the six flights. 1 saw sew
eral men jump and bounce off the
sidewalk like rubber balls. 1 was
slightly bruised coming down the
escape"
| Three are known to be dead and
officials of the club had the names of
fifteen unaccounted for. These are
practically given up as lost.
I The known dead follow:
| The Dead.
L. A. RUFF, st. Louis, buyer for a
wholesale hardware company.
A. ]. ODEGAARD, St. Louis, sales
agent, railway supply company.
EDWIN KESSLER. St. Louis. CASH
Ter Wire company. killed in leap from
JOHN n. RICKEY, Chicago, treas
urer and auditor Ford Manufacturing
| Co.. St. Paul.
JAMES D. REILLY. contractor. of
ST. Louis. Body identified by door
man of Missouri Athletic club.
One unidentified.
The man listed as unidentified may
be William E. Erd of East st. Louis.
Letters in the clothing on the body
were addressed to Mr.. Erd. The body
also was identified as that of Allen
Hancock Of st. Louis.
The Missing.
Allen Hancock. typewriter sales
man.
William E. Decker. president OF
paint company.
John Retz, president Of plumbing
company.
william j. Kfnser. president con-
struction company.
Thomas Shyne. man. ger typewriter
Exchange.
| william Shields. president lye com.