San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-20
FALL CRUSHES HIM
Capt. 7. F. Martin Is
Burned Before He Steps
Into Space.
FIRED BY MISTAKE
Men Trapped in Top Of
Tower Have no Time to
Free Themselves.

Trapped By flames in the exhibition
tower in the pageant grounds, two
firemen leaped from the blazing
structure at 1910 Friday afternoon,
and both may die of injuries.
Fireman A. G. FURY, Company IS,
is dying.
Capt. t. F. Martin No. Hook and
Ladder Company, is badly injured.
The firemen were taken to the
Santa Rosa hospital where 1t was
said Friday afternoon that FURY
would probably die and that but little
hope is held out for Captain Martin.
Fireman f'lury, it was said, may live
several hours, but death seems certain.
Firemen practicing for demonstra
ton Friday night set fire TO the
structure unaware that their fellow
firemen were. in. the structure.
FURY leaped from the top of the
structure as the flames licked the
framework about his feet. Hundreds
saw the doomed man step into space
as the fire ragged toward him.
Captain Martin jumped from the
third story. His body was burned Sc
vcrely before he jumped TO the ground.
The tower, 81 feet high. was 10
have been the scene of a spectacular
fire scene Friday night.
Leap From Tower.
Captain Martin, menaced by flames.
leaped from the tower at a point 80
feet above the ground. Fireman FURY,
trapped while at the extreme top VI
the tower leaped, to what firemen say
is practically certain death.
Both were rushed TO the Santa
Rosa hospital in the police ambulance.
Fire Chief Goetz announced there WAS
little or no hope for Fireman FURY.
Captain Martins though seriously in-
jured, may survive. He was still un-
conscious. Fireman Flury's death. V
was reported, was probably matter
of only few hours.
The spectacular leaps made by the
trapped firemen were made in full
view of Fire Chief Goetz and a score
or more of firemen.
The escape of Captain Martin and
Fireman FURY was made impossible
by the rapidity with which the flames
spread. The mishap occurred during
a practice drill, preparatory to the
exhibition tonight. The fire tower.
representative of a five-story struc-
ture. was made in the form Of a flus.
the draft shooting the flames skyward
within a few seconds after the torch
had been applied at the bottom OF the
mass of hay that had been crammed
into the structure.
Could Not Render Aid.
h.. f1or,,aS knrnf
upward, the two firemen were dis
covered. The fires rapid ascent made
i. impossible for firemen TO offer
helping hand.
Captain Martin succeeded in reach
ing point about so feet before he
was forced TO leap. He was render
cd unconscious by the fall. HIS
body. too, was burned where flames
had started TO envelop him.
Fireman FURY, trapped on the top
Of the structure, leaped when flames
shot upward TO envelop him. he
struck the ground violently and. il Is
said. was badly crushed.
r. Fire Chief Goetz in statement is
sued shortly after the incident, said
the torch was not applied until il was
believed all firemen had left the
tower.
Fireman FURY resides with his
mother, whose home is situated adj
joining No. Is firehouse on South
Prcsa street.
Captain Martin also resides with
his parents. His father is said to be
an employee Of the city's part DEPART
ment.
The fire exhibition drill. scheduled
to have been given Friday night. i
was announced. has been postponed.
Flames badly damaged the structure.
1t was probable. il was said. the En-
hihition would be staged next week.
Everything had been in readiness 70
stage the spectacular fire display Fri
day night, according 10 announcement
made Thursday b. Fire Chief A. ].
t;oetz. who was in charge OF the az
fair.
The unique fire display was for the
,ewr