Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 November 1879 — BURNED TO DEATH. [ARTICLE]

BURNED TO DEATH.

By Uie Burning*>l a Candy Factory at Kansas City, About Twenty Boys and Girls Are Boasted. Shortly after 1 o’clock p. m., on the 7th inst., the roof and walls of Cories’ cracker aud caudy factory, Nos. 202 to 208 Main Btrtet, Kansas City,“tell iu with a tremendous crash, and in a few seconds flames sprung from the mass of debris. An alarm was at once turned in, summoning tho lire department to the scene. In the building about 80 persons were omployed, mainly young girls aud boys. As the news of the disaster spread great excitement prevailed. Fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters of those at work in the factory \ ushod to flic scene of the calamity, and soon a packed mass of human beings tilted the streets and sidewalks iu the vicinity of the factory. The city was wild with excitement, and thousands from the adjoining Muffs watched the blazing building. From tho huge wreck issued screams, shrieks, and the crash of falling timbers and masses of brick. The f urnacos wore in full blast at- ihe time of the accident, and the building was dry as tinder. A-dense black smoke, through which tho flames shot up, canopied the scene. The fire department was promptly on hand, and, with citizens, worked like heroes, but for a loug time were powerless to arrest the flames. The site was finally subdued, and then followed the search for the dead and wounded. The bodies of the following were taken out, one after another, from the smoldering ruins, all of whom had been either burned or crushed to death: Annie Becker, John Shuttys, Emma Kemper, Mary Goepper, Eddie McConnell, Louise Hummed, and ten boys, names at present unknown. The walls crumbled and tho roof tell in because of the overloading of the building with machinery and stock. Tons of machinery were in tho building, which was a very old and weak one. Ihe scene at the terrible catastrophe when the nows had spread over the city was heart-rending in the extreme. Mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers were there in terrible suspense over the fate of Eoaio loved ones. Anxious and tearful inouiries were made of those who escaped from tho building, but in tho excitement of the moment no definite information could be learned, and all the poor distracted relations could do was to hope against liopo. The news of the i oi rihle disaster when fully known settled over the city like a pall. The number lost will finally prove about twenty, probably, as the smallest number that could" havo bee'n in the budding is stated at seventy one, aud there probably were ninety at tlio works. Mr. Cories’ loss on stock, machinery, and building is some $60,000; insured for #15,000. He is half crazy at the thought of the horrible loss of life that attended tlio disaster. A number of he roic incidents are told of the scones at ahe foarfnl scene, among which may be noted tlio following: When the flames were first seen issuing from the confused mass of bricks, machinery and goods, Andy Scanlon, formerly foreman on No. 2, was on tho opposite side of the street, aud almost in front of the fallen building. His first thought upon seeing the spiteful flames was of the rescue of those iu the burning mass. He knew that a large number of children and gills were employed in the establishment, and in the confusion that would necessarily ensue many lives would be needlessly lest if prompt measures were not taken to assist them. Accordingly he rushed into the building and brought forth tlireo pereons in rapid succession, and returned for another, aud, grasping tho body of a boy named Andy McConnell, attempted to extricate him from the prostrate timbers that encaged him. llis efforts were unavailing, no one being on hand to cut away the cruel fetters that held the boy aH in a vise. Scanlon was compelled to forego his exertions and leave the boy to his fate. It was discovered almost immediately after tho dreadful crash that a young lady was lying near the front of tho building, head downward and feot exposed. Her piteous calls for assistance and terrible shrieks of agony brought tears to the eyes of strong firemen, and bravery sublime they fought fire and flame arid smoke, daring the danger of falling avails, to rescue the crushed victim. Thfl fire enveloped the bravo meu, and, begrimed with smoke and ashes, they were driven b&ek but to return. Through the doors of the building, amid the burning and broken bearers, could bo seen the daring men tearing off the splintered timbers from where the poor girl was imprisoned. The firemen were too eager, aud, turning the nozzle direct upon the rescuers, came near drowning them. Blinded by he water and nearly stifled by smoke, these meu still struggled on. A shout of horror went up from the crowd as the toppling wall suddenly pitched forward and appeared to c irry down into the ruins the bravo men who were so boldly striving to rescue a fellow-being from a horrible fate. For a moment the heart of every person was in his mouth, and a deathlike stillness reigned supreme. The wind veered a little and carried away the clouds of smoke, showing that death had spared the rescuers. There they stood, undaunted, resolute, determined to save the girl. Her voice had been hipthod, and she was supposed dead. After a daring and brilliant attempt to loosen her from ihe crushing timbers, which was like facing hell itself, they were successful, aud amid the rejoicings of the crowd Nettie Curtis was borne away. —Later accounts represent the horror as not so destructive of life as at first reported, tho dead numbering six, and the severely wounded seven. The evidence at the Coroner’s icquest went to show that the accident was caused by an explosion of starch-dust in the factory.