Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-05-16
USE ALL FIRE APPARATUS.

USE ALL FIRE APPARATUS.
Every piece Of fire apparatus in the
city was at the scene. A brisk south
wind only aggravated the leaping
flames and they spread quickly 10
thickly congested houses in adjoining
blocks. Within one hour the lumber
and wrecking yards were totally dew
astated. Six small residences 81,
the north side of Paul street, between
Twenty-second and Twenty.third.
were in the direct path of escaping
flames and met destruction BY iire
within short time. Several people.
living in the immediate neiehbor-
hood, became panic-stricken. Several
houses near Twenty.third and Charles
streets, three blocks away, caught FIRE
from burning fagots from the wreck
ing company. Telephone and elec.
trio light wires within radius Of four
blocks were down.
BRANDS BLOWN FAR.
The home Of Mrs. M. ]. Kane, 202o
North Twentieth street, six blocks
north of the wrecking company,
caught FIRE BY aflaming brand which
had been carried by the strong wind.
Two frenlen, who were ovcrcome
by smoke, were taken into the home
of Mrs. George Giskey, laos North
Twenty-frst street and given medi-
cal attention by police surgeons.
Fireman Falls OF Ladder.
Samuel Taylor, fireman, believed to
be the most seriously injured, was the
victim of fall from lofty perch on
ladder. His back was sprained and
he received other serious injuries.
He was carrying a hose to a second
story window of burning house and
slipped from the top of the ladder. He
was taken to the police station in the
patrol and given medical attention by
Police Surgeon Nigro.
Arthur Winninghoff, fireman, was
injured by falling timber from resi-
dence on North Twenty-second
street. The extent of his injuries was
not learned.
Wage Fierce Fight.
Dennis O'Connor, John Hayduk and
Frank O'Connor, fremen, were burned
severely about the face and hands
while fighting flames in the middle
section of the wrecking lumber yards.
All were compelled to abandon their
stand to escape the enveloping sheets
of fire. y.s
The neighborhood was forlorn
place after the flames had been
quenched. with the many lots of fur-
niture and household furnishings.
which were saved by the owners, scat
tered here and there in front of par
TALLY burned houses.
Thirty Streams OF Water. s,
While fire engines pounded furious
ly to increase water pressure, more
than 80 streams Of water were poured
on houses newly afre. So high was
the gale that for a time it was feared
the firemen could not gain control.
Thousands of people on their way
home from work were attracted to the
scene by the dense smoke covering
almost the whole of North Omaha. "a
special detail Of policemen kept back
the crowds.
Salter Directs Work.
The Gross Wrecking and Lumber
company yards were packed with cop
per, lumber and remains of wrecked
buildings. which were totally de-
stroyed.
Chief Salter was on the scene im-
mediately following the first FIRE
alarm, which was sent in from Eigh-
teenth and Nicholas streets, at 4:l0
o'clock, and directed the work of the
hremen. The second alarm was
turned in 20 minutes later. A third
alarm was sent in from Twenty.
fourth and Seward streets.
Fire,nen from Benson and SoutA
Omaha were detailed to fire barns is
the loop in order to be in readiness
for emergency work.
Gross and Clerk at Yards.
H. Gross and an Office clerk, besides
several workers in the lumber yards,
were the only persons about the place
when the fire broke out. Th. Office,
which is situated in the northeast
corner of the block. was totally de-
stroyed before the records and books
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