Milwaukee, WI Saddlery Factory Fire, Mar 1914

15 FIREMEN OVERCOME FROM SMOKE.

MILWAUKEE IS VISITED BY ANOTHER BAD FIRE LAST NIGHT.

Milwaukee, March 26. -- (Special). -- Thirteen firemen were overcome by smoke at a fire last night which totally destroyed the $40,000 stock of the BENJAMIN YOUNG company, 300-304 Milwaukee street, manufacturers of saddlery.
The fire started in the cellar of the building owned by DAHINDEN & DOLSCH and occupied by the YOUNG company.
Upon the arrival of the department Chief CLANCY sent in a second and third alarm, and finally a special, bringing all available pieces of apparatus in the downtown section.
Firemen fought the blaze from the cellar windows. Great volumes of smoke from the rye straw stock overcame the firemen in rapid succession.
After two hours of stubborn fighting in which the unseen blaze refused to yield, the firemen were driven back to the sidewalk, then to the gutter and finally clear across to the west side of Milwaukee street.
Those overcome and taken to Emergency hospital are:
Firemen Overcome:
JOHN BOSDICK, 24, 1912 Chestnut street, Engine 4.
OSCAR BROOKS, 36, 901 Sixth street, Engine 2.
JOSEPH ROMADKA, 28, 425 Fourteenth street, Engine 4.
Lieut. JACK SCANLAN, 32, 949 Twelfth street, Engine 2.
FRANK McCABE, 27, 583 Seventh avenue, Flying Squadron.
JOHN DOSS, 40, 1218 Wright street, Engine 2.
JOHN KOLUKOSKI, 36, 712 Grove street, Engine 19.
HENRY HILGENBERG, 37, 316 First avenue.
EMIL ZIELMAN, 25, 653 Twenty-ninth street, Engine 2.
JACK PETERSON, 45, 556 Ninth avenue, Engine 3.
WALTER DIX, 31, 2121 Violet street, Truck 2.
FRANK STROZEWSKI, 30, 767 Third avenue, Engine 3.

Smoke and water did considerable damage to the stock and bulding occupied by the Rose Casing and Supply company at 298 Milwaukee.
A two story building to the north, occupied by the SCHNEIDER & BLOEDEL Co., rag and paper dealers, resulted in a small loss to the stock by water.
After three hours fighting, during which thousands of gallons of water were poured into the building from the street and from the buildings in the rea, the flames shot up through the center of the place to the roof.
Sparks flew over frame dwellings in the neighborhood and only by shooting constant streams upon the roofs were other blazes prevented.
Hosemen stationed in the cellar windows in the rear of the building staggered to their feet and then fell unconscious. They were rescued and taken in police patrols to Emergency hospital.
Other firemen inside the bulding, becoming suffocated, were brought to the outside air, where they collapsed.

Sheboygan Journal Wisconsin 1914-03-26
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!