The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-17

AS the visitor mounted the dingy stairway
he had fearful evidence of the destructive
nature of the death-dealing heat and smoke
that had asceEded from the burning basement.
The yellow or greenlsn PANT on Inc walls as was
it's color had been blistered to differenG hue.
How so much heat could accompany the ALL
penetrating smoke is one of the m 1sb remarka-
BILE IL not mysterious features of the disaster.
The interior of the house, from what was appa-
the furnace Of foundry. In the front room,
on the third story, evidences were plainly
SO suddenly visited its inmates. The apart
ment was the comfortable home of a working
man and his family, who had retired calmly to
a little boys sled was in the corner, while
jaunty jockey hat. with q red flower, and the
coil ana comb of cnignon, laid aside from
female toilet, told bow unlooked-f for at the time
OF retiring was the terrible visitor death. Even
the mornings meal, ready for cooking, was set
apart on a tray. The fearful fright and confu-
sion whioh ensued when the danger was dis;
garments and general disorder of the room.
Into this cut de sac, when the alarmed inmates
OF smoke, sitting in an instant those who In
hailed it, and biistering and discoloriug the
on the furniture. Everything was impreguated
with it's pungent, creosote-Iike odor, aud the
smell haunted the nostrils of the visitor long
after he emerged into the open air.
FINDING THE BODIES
Immediately upon the arrival Of the police
and tiremen an effort was made TO give succor
to the unfortunate people who 1t was known
were inside of the building Captain AIlaire,
of the Twenty-first Precinct. who was early on
the ground, and Deputy Engineer w. W.
Rhodes, essayed to mount the stairs, but were
forced back by the volume of smoke which
sistence, however, they finally succeeded and
having reached the third floor, q sad spectacle
was presented to their view. The three girls,
Eliza, Mary Jane, and Catharine o. Meara, were
on the floor in the last agonies of dissolution,
their mother being quite dead. while their
fearful muscular effort against suhocation. In
this connection very touching circumstance
The girls were, of course in their night
clothing, but one of them still bore in the ar
rangement of her hair evidence OF the feminine
instinct. which had probably on the previous
day induced her to "frizz'' or curl It, or other
wise dress it in anticipation OF a visit from
some admirer, in no expectation OF It's being
her last toilet. Having removed those bodies,
and sent Them to the hospital, in hopeful desire
police and firemen penetrated TO the fourth
floor, where, in the back room, they found
Murphy. The mother OF these (Mrs. Rosanna
Murphy was removed in an insensible condi-
tion being almost sutfocated, and is still in an
extremely critical state, while theiv father,
building by jumping from the window, was
likewise seriously injured.
THE ESCAPE OF THE SURVIVORS.
The circumstances under which some of the
inmates of the building escaped are truly re-
fourth floor rear, out of the simple instinct of
self preservation, jumped from the window, but
The Cunningham family-the parents and four
chiidren-who occupied the fourth floor 'front.'
Carroll, who. passing a rope TO them, hauled
them through one of the windows on to the
roof. Officer Clarkson was instrumental in
rescuing the girl Ellen Duffy. The third floor
rear was occupied by Mr.. and Mrs. Kelly and
injured by jumping out OF the window. The
others escaped uninjured.
A FORTUNATE ACROBAT.
But by far the most remarkable escape was
that of Jeremiah Murphy, aged thirteen years,
whose acrobatic display IN endeavoring to
sionai. Finding his retreat cut off by the door,
and being entirely opposed to perlshing from
suffocatton, this little fellow, with courage
dow, and catching hold of the gutter running
along the edge eff the roof above, by sheer ex-
ercise OF muscle or Will drew nlmselI up TO q
place of safety.
THE CONDITION OF THE SURVIVORS.
Apart from the spectacle of the seven corpses,
which formed such sad attraction at the
Morgue nothing has more calculated to give
an Impression o. the intense horror of this
disaster than a visit TO the bedsldes Of the
various injured parties in the hospital. Num-
bers OF the philanthropc of both sexes per-
formed this work OF mercy yesterday. while the
friends and relatives OF the hurt hunted the
wards and passages In uncontrollable anxiety
respecting their condition. In ward No. %
Julia Kelly and Honora Murphy hovered on
the confines of that unknown world from which
no messenger returneth, SO afflicted that but
little aid to determine their status could be
gained even from the best medical skill. Mrs.
Kelly showed most signs OF Improvement in
her condition, being, although much reduced
state of convalescence.
Her companion in misfortune was, however,
in most critical state, and exhibited but scant
signs of possible recovery, In ward No. Cor
nelius O'Meara struggled in almost death
throes. II was painful to watch the agony of a
man struck down in his strength, gasptng for
breath painting and wrlthing with convulsive
energy TO overcome the influence that had
prostrated him. IL is extremely doubtful
whether he survives or not. The others injured,
Patrick Murphy and Mary Ann CORY, are
doing well, and are In fair way OF recovery.
THE ARRESTED PARTY,
The baker. Macmillan Miller, in whose pre-
mises the fire originated, was seen, 10 is al
legged, on the street, fully dressed. about the
time Of the first alarm. The appearance of the
fire and other circumstances induced the Fire
Marshal to cause his arrest, and he was appre.
| hended by Captain Allaire and lodged in the
| station-house. His wife, who rushed out into
| the street in time to escape the dangers OF the
| smoke, was also arrested, but was subsequently
| discharged by the Corouers Miller, however Is
still held to await the result of the Coroners
investigation. Mrs Miller, who speaks Eng
| lish impeIfectly, says she was awakened by the
| smoke, and called out to her husband several
| times, but received no answer, and rushed out
| into the street.
| September last, and has since carried on the
| business, with the aid OF journeym uAtll
last Saturday, when he latter left his situation.
| The bakehouse was not in operation on the
| morning OF the fire, which fact heghtens the
| mystery OF Its origin. Miller was married about
| four months ago, and, as stated above entered
| into business in September. On being taken TO
| the Station house he was searched, when two
| silver watches, about q hundred dollars in
| greenbacks, some letters, and O memorandum
book were found upon his person.
BY direction of the Fire Marshal he was pre-
! vented from communicating with anybody, so
| that the public are for the present deprived OF
his statement of what he may know concern
| of $1,000 upon his stock and furniture ia the
! Baltic Insurance Company, and his loss will