Springfield, Massachusetts Evening Union
Office Fire
March 1915
THE PRINTING OFFICE FIRE.
It is Not as Bad ad First Reported--Six Dead and
Several Injured.
Springfield, Mass., March 19--A More
thorough investigation of facts in regard to the
number of casualties at the burning of the
Evening Union office reduces the death list
considerably. Six employees net death, five from
jumping and one from the flames; three others
were badly injured.
The fire originated on the ground floor, and
sped up the elevator shaft, cutting off all
escape by the stairway. The building was a death
trap. About forty editors and compositors were
imprisoned in the fifth story, but many escaped
by way of the roof and on a ladder raised by the
fire department.
As some of the frenzied victims leaped wildly
into the air, shrieks of horror arose from the
great crowd below, followed by groans as the
unfortunates struck the pavements. Attempts to
check the fall of some of the jumpers with
canvas and blankets were successful.
The following is a correct list of the
casualties.
Burned to death, H.
J. GOULDING, aged thirty-two,
married; foreman of composing room.
Killed by falling,
MISS GERTIE THOMPSON, aged eighteen,
proof reader.
MRS HATTIE FARLEY, aged twenty-three,
society editor.
C. L. BROWN, aged twenty-two,
compositor.
W. E. HOVEY, Aged twenty-five
compositor.
J. LANZON, aged thirty-five
compositor, native of Quebec.
Injured: F. G.
Ensworth, aged eighteen, clerk in
counting room, compound fracture of leg, hand
and wrist burned, probably fatal.
Thomas Donahue, aged thirty-two,
compositor, left thigh fractured, face severely
burned; probably fatal.
H. H. Myrick, employe Smith’s rubber
stamp works, jumped; badly injured.
The Ohio Democrat, New Philadelphia, OH 15
Mar 1888
The Seventh Victim.
Springfield, Mass., March 12.--THOMAS
DONOHUE has died at the city hospital
making the seventh victim of the printing office
fire.
The Ohio Democrat, New Philadelphia, OH 15
Mar 1888
Articles transcribed by Audrey. Thank you,
Audrey!
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