Pittsburgh, PA Columbian Film Exchange Fire, Sept 1909

FIFTY PERSONS INJURED

POSSIBLY SOME KILLED

Explosion in Columbian Film Exchange in Pittsburg [sic].

MOST OF INJURED IN SERIOUS CONDITION

Walls Buldged Out and Every Office Damaged - Employees Rush to the Elevator and Break in Screens, The Operator Continued to Run the Elevator.

Pittsburg [sic], Sept. 27. - Fifty persons were injured and some are believed to have been killed, shortly before noon, when an explosion occurred in the Columbian Film Exchange, located in the Ferguson building, Fourth avenue this city. Hundreds of firemen are searching the ruins for victims. The structure was eight stories high and every office was wrecked.

Although it was at first believed several persons had been killed, the first two hours' search in the ruins failed to reveal any bodies. The explosion bulged [sic] in the building, which is eight stories high.

25 Stenographers Hurt.

[illegible] at the offices of the Smith-Premier Typewriter company were seriously cut when large plate glass windows were showered upon them by the explosion.

Most of the injured are in a serious condition. How many persons were employed in the offices of the Columbian Film company was not known.

mmediately after the explosion almost the entire building seemed to be enveloped in a sheet of flame. The many hundred occupants of the building rushed wildly for the exits. They jammed on the stairways and their screams could be heard in the streets, causing much excitementamong the thousands who quickly congregated in the vicinity.

Rush for Elevators.

Many others rushed to the doors of the elevators. Fighting like demons, they broke down the screenwork encasing the shaft and pleaded with the elevator boys to save them.

Roy Barclay, an elevator operator, describing the explosion, said:

"I was at the second floor when I heard a sizzling noise similar to the fuse in a firecracker burning. I knew something was wrong and dropped the car to the first floor to let the passengers off. Just as they were alighting the explosion came and the building was filled with flame. From all parts of the structure came shouts and I heard a lot of people on the fourth floor crying for the elevator.

Goes Back With Car.

"I ran my car up there and found a large crowd battering around the iron framework of the elevator shafts. Hundreds were running down the stairways through the blinding smoke and dust from falling plaster. I jammed the car full and started for the first floor. When the car reached there we carried most of the women out in an unconscious condition."

Barclay was seriously burned, but made ten trips through the flames and smoke before he would give up his car and have his injuries attended to.

John Miller, manager of the Columbian Film company, was out when the explosion occurred. He was at a loss to account for the disaster. He said there were seven persons employed in the offices. As yet none of them have been accounted for.

The Columbus Enquirer - Sun, Columbus, GA 28 Sept 1909
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Transcribed by Tim Taugher. Thanks, Tim!