Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 March 1898 — DIE IN THE FLAMES. [ARTICLE]

DIE IN THE FLAMES.

MANY LIVES LOST IN AN APPALLING CHICAGO FIRE. Avenues of Escape Cut Off and Victims Leap from Windows or Are Buried in the Kains of a Six-Story Structure on Wabash Avenue. • Terrible Scenes Witnessed. What was probably the most appalling Chicago fire since the cold storage holocaust at the World's Fair, broke out in the Conover piano building, 215 to 221 Wabash avenue, at 11 o'clock Wednesday forenoon. The death list may reach fifteen and the number of mangled and wounded is twice that. Within half an hour after the sheet of fire shot out from the top floor of the six-story building, the entire structure was wrapped in flames, and the crash of the huge walls as they tumbled down was heard for blocks around. The Conover Piano Company occupied three floors of the building, including the ground floor. The remaining tenants of the building were the National Music Company, the Presbyterian Board of Publication and Sweet, Wallach & Co., photographic supplies. The fire started on the floor occupied by the photographic supply company. The floor was stored with chemicals and the dry. tinder-like materials employed in manufacturing photographic supplies. It was among this inflammable stuff that the fire started. The flames quickly spread to the floor beneath, where the National Music Company bad tons of son?; fleets packed away upon counters and shelves. Elevators became unserviceable, stairways filled with stifling smoke and all exits save by the windows were cut off. There were nearly 400 persons in the building, and to the windows they rushed on every one of {he upper floors. They crawled out on the cornices and down the fire escapes like flies. They poured out of the exits over one another. Men and women leaped from the windows. Some were caught in the nrms of bystanders and in blankets, escaping with their lives. Others fell tb death. The street was packed with people. The flames reached a store of varnish and chemicals on the third floor. There was an explosion, and the front wall was blown out. Plate glass windows across the street were shattered. Scores were burned, and many more were struck by the flyjug debris. The throng in the street became seized with a panic. The people started to rush along the thoroughfare. Men and women fell. They were trampled upon. In a solid mass the crowd pushed on. Huge burning brands dropped on their heads. Teams from the cross streets plunged into the struggling mass. Neither horses nor people stopped. Some of the horses reared and struck out, wounding men and women. Ambulances were called out from all stations in the city to care for the dead and wounded. The financial loss will'exceed $1,000,000.