The Detroit times., 1914-03-20


low. and. badly cut by glass. made
his way down the IRE escape 10
nj Suehy were
only ones TO follow. Munger thought
the Todd brothers were trapped Win
the others. not knowing tia, ihey
had fed down the staircase.
Lidecker tried the stairway, with
the rest, and was driven back. In
the middle OF the fifth floor, he stood
dazed. in the midst of pail OF i'm
penetrable smoke. He heard the
crash of glass that marked the escape
of Munger and Cook. but when he
headed toward the window, he found
his path blocked by flame. Then he
remembered ladder to the roof.
and made his way through sky
light. though he was badly burned
about the arms and head. He made
his way across to the roof Of William
Inglis Wire & Iron Co. building. ad-
joining the burning structure on the
east. got through the skylight, and
made his way to the street.
Then he first noticed his burns.
and after being given treatment in q
drug store, was taken to st. Mary's
hospital.
One fortunate circumstance that
probably prevented greater loss OF
life In the fire, was the fact that
about 40 girls employed by the Crav-
enette Glove Mfg. Co., were laid
OF" on Wednesday, and though 1t was
reported that they were at work
when the fire broke out, only q few
men were In that plant, and all es.
capped safely.
Libbey's body was identified by q
Detroit 4 Windsor Ferry Co. book in
his pockets.
Law carried letter tina. he had
written to his wife and children in
Elizabeth, N. j., telling them that he
was nearly through with his special
work here. and was planning 10 re-
turn to them. either Saturday, o.
early next week. Scehy came here with
him. Feb. 8, to set up wrapping ma.
chine for the Percy Chewing Gum
Co. Both men were employed BY
the Newark Wrapping Machine Co.,
OF Newark. N. j.. as travelling repre-
sentatives, and they were using the
Inflated Detroit shop only as tenn
porary assembling plant, when Law
lost his life.
Suehy, who viewed his chum's body
in the county morgue, broke down
and cried as he made the identified
tion positive. He declared that he
would take care Of funeral arrange
ments, and see that the body was
shipped to Laws wife and children.
Although the interior Of the build
ing was cleaned out by the IRE, the
floors, with the exception Of the fifth,
stood the strain fairly well, and 1t
will be possible to salvage some OF
the machinery, II II thought. EST
mates by the various tenants Of the
building. indicated that the loss
would not be more than $4,000.
The st. Clair Heights Syndicate,
owners Of the building, place the loss
at about $4,000.
Coroner Burgess, whose deputy,
William De Laurier, took charge OF
the removal OF the bodies. Thursday
afternoon, is making q thorough IN
vestigation.
The source Of the blaze has not yet
been determined, the fire enveloping
the whole top OF the structure within
. few minutes after the frst few wisps
Of smoke aroused the occupants.
This IL the first factory IRE In sew
eral years that has resulted In loss
OF life.
Chief Building Inspector Harry Du-
pOnt declares that the loss Of life
would have been impossible had the
building been erected under the pro
visions Of the new building code. Du-
pont inspected the building while the
nremen were still working ON the
ruins, He found that the safety pro-
visions as they existed were In strict
accordance with the ordinance that
applied to the building 1t the time Of
its construction. There was q good
IRE escape In the rear Of the building,
but the interior stairways. winding
from one floor to the other, were not
protected a. they would have been
under the new code.
As q result of his Investigation, In
spectof Dupont will recommend two
ordinances to the council, one rUQufr.
ing drip cans under all machines, and
another to require factory buildings
over three stories in height to be OF
ireproof construction. The present
OIuluauCc oppiSSo only W Uuluiu8U
more than four stories high.
There was lot Of machinery ON the
fourth floor OF the Woodbridgest.
building occupied by the Cravenette
Glove Mfg. Co. The door under the
machines was saturated with lubricat.
ing OIL II was this OIL, according to
the building inspector. that caused
the flames to spread 90 rapidly.
Conorer Burgess received Z tele-
gram. Friday morning. ordering that
the body Of Law be shipped to Dlixa.
beth, N. j.. and 1t will be sent during
the day.
A brother of Walter Lbbey called
at the coroners Office. Friday morn
ing. and made arrangements to have
Libbey's body shipped to Peterbor.
ough, Ont. the family home.
81 e&9B Sra e@E1