People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 April 1894 — DEATH ’MID FLAMES. [ARTICLE]

DEATH ’MID FLAMES.

Brave Milwaukee Firemen Plunged Into a Seething Furnace. They Fall with the Blazing Roof of the Davidson Theater, and Nine of Them Are Taken Out Dead A Thrilling Rescue. BRAVE MEN PERISH. Milwaukee, April 1 1. —Nine firemen met a horrible death in a fire which destroyed the Davidson theater on Third street between 4 and sa. m. Monday. The big stone building, which contained the finest playhouse in the city and the Davidson hotel, was burned to the ground in the midst of a blinding storm of rain and sleet, and in the final crash of falling roof and walls several companies of the fire brigade were thrown from the top story into the pit of the flaming furnace. The disaster is one of the most frightful that has befallen the city since the Newhall house burned down, when scores of lives were lost. The Davidson block was one of the most imposing in Milwaukee and the pecuniary loss of the fire is estimated at between 8300,000 and 1350,000. The following is a list of the dead: Third Assistant Chief August Janssen, 265 Eighth street; Frank McGurk, lieutenant truck company No. 4 and acting captain No. 14, 397 Park street; Fred Kroesschmuer, pipeman chemical company No. 2; Capt Archie Campbell, of the fireboat Foley, 71 Twenty-seventh street; Allie Ries, company No. 3, killed by a falling ladder; James C. Freeman, lieutenant company Na 4; Frank Winne, chemical No. 4, found in balcony of theater; Thomas Morgan, engine company No. 1; John Farrell, chemical No 2. Seven of the injured firemen were taken to the Emergency hospital and a number of others were removed to their homes. Shortly after 5 o’clock, when the fire was seemingly under control, the theater roof, on which a score or more firemen stood as they fought the flames, went down, and the brave men were carried with it to the floor of the auditorium below. Some were extricated from the furnace of flames, in which the whole interior was now enveloped, by their brave and more fortunate comrades, who risked their lives to drag out the prostrate forms of the dead and injured men. Six or eight men were soon brought out, and those who were able to speak said there were ten or more in the ruins, where living death awaited them. For these poor fellows there was no chance. The burning roof had fallen on them, and they were roasted to death, if they had not been killed outright in that terrible plunge from the roof. The most thrilling experience of all was that of John Crowley. For several hours he was pinned beneath the ruins, suffering bodily torture, but brave and self-possessed all the while. From 9:30 o’clock until 13:15 his comrades worked to liberate him. It was known that he had been buried, but the firemen thought he must be dead or unconscious until one of the men heard a faint sound Putting his ear down he listened and then shouted: “Who’s down there?” “This is John Crowley,” came the faint reply. “I’m alive, but for God’s sake don’t drown me. There are two men dead beside me, and Tom Morgan of No. lis one of them.” i

| A cloud of hot smoke drove the men back, and, flames bursting forth, it was | necessary to pour in more water. The I faint cries of Crowley could be heard. “For God’s sake kill me in some other way than by drowning. I can’t stand ; all that water. I’m lying on my back.” But the fire was soon put out and fifty men, a special detail ordered by Chief Foley, set to work to rescue the brave fellow. Crowley grew weaker and the men heard him say he could not last much longer. Then came i a most dramatic incident. William Crowley, a brother, appeared with Father Haven, a Catholic • priest. The father bent down and spoke to the imprisoned man. In re- ■ ply Crowley said that the water was ■ nearly over his head and fast rising, ' and asked that the last sacrament of the church be given him, and there, ! amid the steaming ruins, the dense smoke and the charred timbers, the ; priest administered the last sacrament, and fifty men stood around with their ■ helmets off, all brothers, all comrades. Catholic and non-Catholic. I The work of rescue was Bushed by ■ details of ten men working in five-min- ■ ute shifts, and they fought the stub- ! born timbers and beams like mad men. I At 11:30 o’clock Crowley’s head was i free, and a shout went up that shook I the tottering side walls. Shortly after ! his right leg was freed, but it "looked j as if nothing could save the other limb. But the firemen kept at work and in-

side of an hour the man was pulled out. He was perfectly limp and his face wore a distorted look, showing plainly the terrible agony he had gone through. As he was placed on the stretcher he opened hiseyes and endeavored to smile to his companions, but the effort was too much and his head sank back. He was conscious, but he was unable to utter a sound. He was placed in the ambulance and taken directly to the Emergency hospital. When Crowley was carried into the Emercency hospital his pulse had almost ceased beating. Dr. Fox, assisted by Miss Jackson, the matron of the hospital, worked over him an hour before he returned to consciousness. His pulse gradually quickened and at 3 o’clock was quite strong. Dr. Fox say Crowley is suffering from the shock to his nervous system, but with good care will recover.