The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-11
TERRIBLE DISASTER IN NEW YORK.
Fire in . Tenement Housc-Nlne Per-
sons SuffOcated-Three Families Found
Dead In their N oOms, Etc.

Fire In q Tenement HOusc-Ntne Fer
sons SuffOcated-Three Families Found
Dead In their OOms, Etc.
A fire involving terrible loss of life occurred
last night. Four adults and five children we're
suilocated in their respective rooms IN the tene-
ment-house premises, Nos. 2l5 and 2l53 Division
street.
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
The FIRE originated in the cellar of the four
story dwelling-place, which was tenanted by
three families. Tue first floor is divided into
two stores, one occupied BY NJ, Deegan, as a
milk store by Patrick Kelley These places
we're numbered respectively 215 and 215I, the
basement of No. 2l5 being occupied as dwell
ing by James E. Mclaughlin, and the basement
of No. 216b being inhabited by Mr.. Deegan, who
kept on the premises a small quantity of kero-
sene oil and a number OF empty barrels. The
cellar under the basement Is fitted up with
wooden sheds for the use OF the tenants.
That the ire originated in this cellar there is
but little doubt it being understood from the
statement of Assistant Fire Marshal II. o. Baker,
that the leakage Of oil from the barrels had
penetrated the flooring and trickled into the
cellar, and the gas rising from the fluid had pro-
badly been ignted by the flame Of a lamp which
tenants, while from the lower portions of the
edifce the smoke ascended to the upper part OF
the building and filled the rooms, whose occu-
pants lay wrapped in slumber
THE FIRST ALARM
was sounded at forty-fve minutes past 10 o'clock,
bells the Fire Department was on the spot. The
smoke was already extremely dense, and filed
the hallway and corridor entries of the house,
effectually preventing egress to such of the
tenants as had not been fortunate enough to
make their escape. The families of Mrs. Allen
and Mrs. Cash, who dwelt on the second floor,
and those of Mr.. Burns, on the third, and Mr..
Valentine on the fifth floor, reached the side
walk in safety, but the other occupants of the
house we're far less fortunate. Ladders were
placed against the windows of the upper stories,
and the tiremen ascended in haste hoping IN
this manner to rescue such of the wIetched
tenants as were known TO have remained in their
apartments.
THE VICTIMS
of the fire were then discovered to be as fol-
lows:-On the third floor of the house No. 2l5
resided Daniel Phalln, his wife, and Maggie,
Nellie, and Thomas, his three children. On the
fourth floor of No. 2l59 dwelt Mrs Mary Schil-
ling widowed female, and an only child Ida,
with h r sister, Mrs. Euphemia Galpin, and her
daughter IL was ascertained beyond doubt
that all these unfortunates were in the tene-
ment house when the fire broke out, an the
iremen, forcing open the windows, leaped into
the rooms, and cropping through the darkness
and smoke, sought to rescue the missing ones.
One by one the members of the department
reappeared, each bea1ing in bis arms the mani
mate form OF q child q woman, or a man. Nine
persons were then taken from the house. and
carried to drug store in the vicinity, where
Police SURGEON Bliven aud Drs. Snodgrass and
Birdsall endeavored in vain to restore life to
the pulseless clay. Only two of the untortu-
nate beings showed any signs of existence but
the beating of their heart, family perceptble
a few seconds after they had been carried ihto
the street, was soon hushed.
THE BODIES
of the deceased tenants we're removed to the
Seventh Precinct Station House, whence Cap
tain Jameson despatched notice to the
Coroner, who will hold an inquiry on the
remains to-day. The names of the poor beings
who have met such an untimely fate are as fol-
loWs:-
Daniel Phaln, his wife, and three children,
aged respectively ten, seven, and two years,
Maggie, Nellie, and Thomas by name Phalin
was u native OF ireland, and thirty.two years of
age. He was formerly an active member OF
the Volunteer Fire Department and had been
Assistant Foreman of Hook and Ladder Com
paDy No. 81.
Mrs. Mary Schilling and her infant child, the
latter aged seventeen months.
Mrs. Euphemia Galpln and her daughter Ida,
aged eleven years.
THE SCENE AT THE STATION HOUSE
was heartrending. In one of the rooms in the
rear of the man BUILDING, dimly lighted by a
single jet OF gas, lay stiff upon boarded plat.
form the bodies of the deceased persons. All
were habited in their nightclothes, the poor
little ones swaddled IN long gowns, the male
adults with their shirts half covering their
shrivelled limbs, the females with bare legs and
scanty garments thrown upon their shoulders.
The faces were not much discOlored, and from
the fact that death was the result of sutfocaton,
| the flames not having extended beyond the first
floor, no burns were discernible on their persons
| The nostrils were some what dstenGed, and
| the eyes half opened, looked out upon the living
! world with stony gaze. Pieces of black oilcloth
and scraps of old calico encircled their heads,
! and kept the lower jaw pressed against the
upper one. The limbs were stiff, the bands
slightly shrivelled, the hair dishevelled. There
| they lay, side by side, old and young, male and
female, all having laid down to rest but a few
hours previous, having, doubtless, been par.
tally awakened by the noise in the street below,
but having, after brief struggle for life, re.
lapsed into that slumber which knows no
waking.
! THE LOSSES BY FIRE AND WATER
are slight. The damage to the building will no;
! exceed $500. Damage to the stock of kerosene
! lamps, ETC., on the first floor, $500; such loss
| being covered by insurance for 500 in the State
| Insurance Company of Jersey City. j. r.
| Mclaughlin also occupied one Of the basemen Is
property, which is insured for $4OO in the Rut-
! gers Insurance Company. Patrick Kelley loses
| 800 by damage to stock in his milk store; his
! loss is not covered by insurance.
ANOTHER LESSON
| can be learned by the terrible results of this
fire. The destruction OF life again directs ouI
attention to the reckless disregard for the safety
| of tenants manifested by landlords in general
| The laws at present enacted are inadequate to
! the protection OF the occupants OF tenement
houses, and it is to be hoped that the Fire Con
| missiOneTe will give their attention TO this mat
ter, and have such enactments made by the next
| Legislature as will regulate not only the keep
ing of all such eombustible articles as kerosene
| oil, but Also see TO the provision OF proper
means of egress by the window for all tenants
OF rooms in large and crowded dTelling places
-Neso York Herald today.
An Acfreas Etahhad-An attAmnt at murder