New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-03-08
TERRIBLE CALAMITY IN THE TWEEN
TYETH WARD.
SEVEN PERSONS BURNED TO DEATH.
PROBABLE INCENDnRIsM-DTsGRACE FIGHT
BETWEEN PIREMFN.

| PROBABLE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FIGHT
BETWEEN PIREMES.
At o'clock yesterday morning, q fire occurred in
the tw o-story and attic franc house. No Lowest For
tetb street near Broadway which resulted in the de-
struction of the building, and frighnul loss Of life
an entire family perishing the flames The first floor
WAS divided into two stores with hall and stairway
in the center leading the upper part of the premises
One Of the stores bad for time past been occupied
bv a Mrs. Hovey, who kept small groggery; the
other being occupied by Henry Schwartz, barber
shop. The second door was occupied by Henry s.
Oakley and family and the remainder Of the building
by Henry }. Wood and family, numbering seven per-
sons About the hour above mentioned one Of the
occupants started down stairs on errand but upon
reaching the rs foor he encountered dense body Of
smoke and 70 his dismay, acertained that the
building was on tire. An alarm was instantly raised
bu. before the persons up stairs could be aroused
the flames burst forth from o small closet on
the first floor, under the stairway. James Oak
lev, a young man about 25 years Of age son
of the occupant, was awakened from sound
sleep. Springng up, he seized such OF
his clothes rs were at hand and rushed into the hall
way, where he found his mother cropping about and
nearly overpoweres by the smoke. Not q moment
was to be lost. Grssping her by the arm, be
dragged her to the stairway and was about descending
with her. when the stairway, which had by this time
become q mere cindeF, gave way and the old woman
was precipiated beadlOpg into the flames james
barely saved himself by grasping the banisters and
cropping his way by the rear windows, he leaped out
upon low shed, and thence escaped 70 the yard mr.
Marks, q young man living on the opposite side OF
the street. happening be about when the alarm was
given hasteIed the way TO render what assistance
be could. Seeing the perlous condition OF Ms OAK
lev he dashed through the fire and smoke into the
hallway and seizing her by the arms dragged her TO
the street Both the rescuer and the rescued were
badly burned about the face and hsndA Mr. Marks
also rescued daughter Of Mr.. Oakley from the burn-
inc building At he first alarm Mr.. Wood and ser
want came down stas 10 learn the cause A his fam
y were still sleeping above, unconscious OF danger
he shed up ,tairs their The flames seemed
10 follow him up the stairway, and be was soon los,
Eight Of in the dense smoke II was al this moment
that Young Oakley appeared with his mother upon the
teacheruus stairs. The hremen, learning that there
were persons stiIl in the building, rodoubled their
exeIons 10 subdus the fire and 70 effect rescue, but
the fame. made such rapid progress IN the fra build
ing as 10 preclnde the possibility Of any person enter
Ing the premises with safety TO life or limb. Mr.. Wood
and bis family must have been almost Immediately SUI
located, ~ nothing was seen heard Of them ahve
after Mr.. w. ran up the stairway. The flames were
eventually .ubdued when the shared remains Of the
unfortunate family were carefully gathered up and
removed 10 the Twentieth Ward S,aton-House. Their
names were as follows:
HEKRY j. WooD, 10 years OF age.
IslBELLA, his wife, IS years Of ago.
HEERI WOOD, years
WALTER woop, years.
JULIA WooD, 3years.
JENNIE and IsABILLA, twins, only months Of age.
The bodies were more OF less chaIred the extreui-
ties Of all being burned to crisp. The remains Of
this unfortunate family who but few bours before
were in the full enjoyment Of health, presented most
distressing spectacle. While the removal wss taking
place. disgraeeful scene was enacted in the street
almost Immediately in front Of the injured build
ing Engine Companies Nos and 10 engaged in
fight in the cousss of which pistols and knives we're
drawn, stones thrown, and heavy wrenches and cubs
Aourished about. The police Of the Twentieth Ward,
under command Of Capt. Walling and Sergeant Van
Hagen, aided by platoons from other Wards, dashed
into tho midst Of the beligerents and soon drove them
from tho ground. Several knives, pistols, and other
weapons were taken away from the fremen BY the
police.
The loss Of Mr. Oakley Ia estimated at $780, insured
Tor SUO n the Cre0nWIch lubufSulce To- MY Scn"aIL
lost SO and the loss Of Ms Hoyoy 10 said TO be $780,
no insurance. Damage the building 500; insured.
Fire Marshal Baker s investigating the origin and
particulars Of the fire. Strong suspicious were enter
tanned about the vicinity yesterday that was the work
OF some desigring person.
ooRoNER's INQUEST
Coroner Jsckman held IN inquest at the Station
HOUSE on the bodies of the unfortunate victims when
the evidence Of Mr.. Oakley was taken, n follows:
Henry s. Oakley, being duly sworn, says; resided
al No. i02 West fOrty-Fourth street, i leased the
honse Ast May, and rented apartments 10 Mr.. Wood
THE deceased Oh account o. thoapartmen,e not being
vacated told Mr.. Wood that be night live in the two
back attic rooms; the house IL brick and stone house,
with wood roof and is two and quarter stones
high this morning about ten minutes 20 O'Clock,
got up and lighted my trsi resided on the second
hoor went down 10 the back area 10 get water; OPP
posdte 20 the back stairs Is hsh door which
leads to back basement used for the purpose Of rtor
ing washing tubs; have coal bin there also; when
went for the water, my dog came out OF this p,acol
went up stairs with TIE water, aud returned down
and went up stairs and into my kitcben In about I'VE
minutes after my wife came out Of her room; she
smelt smoke in the entry she aud tod me o. w
i went down to the head Of the Basement stairs,
where found there wac heat and dense efnoke COM
ing up the stairs; called for pail, and Went |
into the back area; looked into the back basement
and il was Ike an oven; saw that could not put the
fire oct. 40 up stairs 10 alarm tho inmates OF rne
house; saw dsesGsed, but am not posuvei ineaIuhn
voice. part Of my family had TO escape by the rooi my
wife was considerably burned, and my daughter ana