Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 February 1902 — MANY FIREMEN KILLED. [ARTICLE]

MANY FIREMEN KILLED.

Crushed by the Falling Walls of a Burning Building in St. Louis. By the collapse of a building in St. Louis during a tire Tuesday night six firemen are dead and many are injured. The walls of the structure fell without warning, for it was believed the fire fighters'had the blaze under control. Men were at work on all five floors of the building when the accident occurred. The fire broke out in the upper floors of the five-story building at 314 Chestnut street. A general alarm was sent in and the department hurried to the scene, as the district is considered a dangerous one, being just opposite the Merchants’ Exchange. The flames seemed to be pretty well under control when suddenly the entire building collapsed, crumbling away from the first story. The roof, floors and walls fell inward, carrying down with them the fire fighters who were on the different floors. Chief Swingley, who was in front of the building directing his men, had a miraculous escape from death. As the front wall fell outward he scurried across the street and fell under the aerial truck. The truck was covered with debris and partially wrecked, and it was owing to its sheltering protection the chief owes his life. The building was one of the oldest business houses in the city, having been occupied by the McLean Medical Company twenty years ago, but of late has been occupied by the American Tent and Awning Company. Two years ago it was badly damaged by a fire which broke out in the fifth story. The loss will not exceed SIOO,OOO. The laboratory and office building of the Leslie E. Keeley Company at Dwight. 111., together with the Livingstone Hotel, owned by the same corporation, were destroyed by fire Tuesday morning. The estimated loss is $175,000 on the laboratory and $25,000 on the hotel, both of which are partially covered by $50,000 insurance. The Keeley buildings were commenced in the winter of 1891 and were completed in 1893. In these buildings all of the supplies were manufactured. There was no loss of life, and only two persons were injured—a woman and a colored porter.