The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-01-22

Death Of Two Children by Snaacntfon-Arrcst
Of Parties ON Suspicion--C oroner's Inaaesi.
AT about half-past one O'Clock yesterday morning
en- explosion took place in the cellar Of the grocery
store OF John s. Eden, on the corner OF North
Fourth ana Third streets. Then a tremendous
volume OF smoke burst from the premises The
explosion could be heard great distance Oh.
Officers Ray and Brown were quickly on Inc scene.
and discovered that the building, which is a
three story frame house. was already fire.
The upper part OF the building let in tenemens,
the first door being occupied by Van Eden and wife,
only married within few days; the second moor by
the families OF Mr.. Robinson and Mrs. Rael; the
third floor by two families also, Mr.. owen Daily oc-
cupying the rear and Mr.. Frederick Thorn with his
wife and tive children, the rons All except the
family of Mr. Thorn got out OF the burning building
safely. most OF them, however, III tner nignt
clothes. How they contrived to escape is a
miracle considering the densily OF the fumes
which rolled up and involved them. Thorn aud
his wife aroused however, in time 10 save
three OF their children, and they returning
for the two remaining children they were over
powered 10y the fumes ami obliged 10 dessi. lnneed
the unfortunate mother no doubt would have
perile her life ana died to her infants but for
officer Edmund Brown, of the Forty-nith precinct,
who rushed after her and ued her rom cerla,n
destruction Her agony was heartrendiug The doom
or O. g TWO children-one boy only six wears Old.
and the other little girl aged two yeals-was now
o terrible certainty. No human being could breathe
the tunes by which they were surrounded. fhe
Ire Department did all that was possible and
succeeded in suhdning the danes before thew had
extended much farther than the cellar though the
absence OF a hook and ladder regretted, as had
they been there the children might have been res
cued. The loss on tue building Is estimated ut $4,000.
The premises are owned by Henry Meyers, corner
North First and Eighth streets. The sgnt preeented
at the Fourth street station was sad in the eAtrene.
Extended table IN tine back aide by
side the little brother and sister their features wear
Ing that placid expression which Is peculiar 10 those
who de Or suilQcatiQn.
The origin 81 the IRE is rot vet positively known
but that il has been the work OF an incendlary there
can be little doubt
Eden. The grocer has been arrested on suspicion,
and Is held for examination Eden, II appear.
asserts that his loss amounts TO SleOO, and that he
is insnred In the Niagara insurance Company OF
New York for 1000. An examination OF tue prem
Uses, however hardly jusites 50 high figure. The
INSURANCE it appears. was effected only a lew days
ago. The Gre, it appears, communicated 10
barrel Of kerosene In the cellar John II. Gutzgen,
clerk of Eden. is detained as witness In the case
C0RoNER's iNQuiSlTioN.
| Coroner WhitehuI and jury last eveninl CON-
an inquest ~ me ease o. h 1ae TWO e r
! attendance OF excited spectators.
THE TESTIMONY.
Officer Edward Brown, OF the Forty-nfth precinct,
/ sworn, derOsed-I heard an explosion and CRASH OF
glass previous to the ire and Immediately gave an
| alarm; when ! reached the place saw fire under
the counter; ran up stairs the inmates; The
smoke was very dense In the hallway. but there was
very little IA the store: helped the inmates ont;
carried down three persons In my arms and assisted
several others in reaching the street: all the inmates
appeared to be bewdered; was exhausted myself
when the excitement OF the occasion subsidized;
we sieye nrs of sne Shuts oq the store
was blown or by the force OF the explosion; after
heard The explosion noticed two fires IN the store;
there was a strong odor OF keroscne think the
plosion occurred IN the store: there was one fire
| under lhe counter and another near the window
| when | reached the place; when examining
| the premises to-day found some cans
| in the store behind the counter where
| first saw the ire; the cans had evidently
contained kerosene benZue from the odor they
emitted; there was hole In the moor OF the store,
| but whether IL was burned through or cut could
/ not determined did not observe any light IN the
store previous to the explosion; passed The store
az eleven O'Clock, but did not observe any light In ii
at that time; think It was closed at that hour.
Frank Dougherty, sworn. deposei-I reside at 81
North Fourth street; al about twenty minutes past
one O'Clock, while In bed heard the cry OF lire:
mann naes Marx TX Reardca there with pail Of
water In his hand; he was endeavoring TO
extinguish tho names; ] then noticed onicer Ed
mund Brown leaving the premises with an old lady
| and child; assisted him; he asked to return
and help out the remaining occupants; made
| left the place the officer ,persevered
and became almost senseless with suroca-
ton; ! assisted him into the fresh mir /;
noticed two holes In the floor OF the store one OF
the holes there was q barrel OF vegetables don't
know whether the holes were caused BY fire or
whether they were cut; have had considerable ex-
perience IN lres and this the worst ever saw:
| alter u was extinguished found q smell OF kero-
sene: know that Kerosene was sold there: believe
tnat the nre originatel IN the cellar.
Edward NcCafiray, sworn, deposed-At ten or Of
teen minutes past one O'Clock, while passing the
scene OF the fire with three or four friends the odor
| OF "a kerosene was experienced and while we
| were speaking OF n an explosion was heard
BY us, and immediately afterwards flames
burst from the store: ! then gave an alarm
Of tire and the bells runv: when nrst went 10
| the store q distracted woman with child in her
| arms was LEAVING the hal: vaye her what assist
ance could; the smoke yer, dense at the time.
| there was strong smell Of kerosene or benzIne.
flre and smoke Immediately succeeded the expo'
| sion or crash.
Mark Reardon, sworn. deposed-I reside Al II
North Fourth street; on my way home ami while
passing the store experienced smell OF pa. or
kerosene, and 80 remarked 10 the friends who were
| with me, but reached home before the IRE occur
red: when returned one o. the shutters was OF and
there was q tre 10 the store: ! got pail
nient 10 the hydrant, and after getting water
attempted TO exnguish the IRE but soon found that
that was impossibie then turned my attention 10
1 rescuing the inmates saw officer Brown IN peri
lous position while he was bringing the occ,i.
| pants; | warned him To be careful; he fell ex.
hansted and helped him; when went 10 the rear
OF the building saw a fire raging In the cellar;
saw tue proprietor Of the place looking on and spoke
10 him: he SAID he thought II was rough analr:
did not ace the clerk there's did not hear any expo-
slon met the proprietor Of the store about twenty
minutes after the IRE occurred; he said lie resided
| clerk
Chief Engineer ]. w. smith, sworn deposed-l
was In the Fourth street station house when the
| alarm was gwen; Immediately ran down To the
| burning building when about six feet OF 1ame wa
| issuing and the smoke was very dense the fire
seemed 10 come from the cellar an Oihcer told m,
| there we're children In the burning building, and
when attempted to enter the hall was driven bach
by the smoke: Afterwards reached the third stor,
and found child IN cradle; | brought Q
| down and gave II to officer Brown: n,
took II 10 the station house: when FIRST smeIt tn,
fire thought II was Kerosene, but when got cios'
TO the building Thought u was burning straw; tn
holes In tue store were cut by my direction; when
reached the store II appeared 70 he on IRE In ever
| part.
| Frederick Thorn sworn, deposed--I resided IN tn
| burnt house, my wife awakened me and said Their
| was fire In the house. got up and tried TO &c
out my childfen; took one OF them down stairs u
my arms when tried to get back for the others TIN
! smoke drove Inc back, And was told by some
body that they all safe, but two Of then
were sufocated. Che witness here wept.l Their
was smell or kerosene during the fire; often toIs
the proprietor that his oil was bad; kept wood II
the cellar. aud often found that II was covered will
| oil which leaked from the cans Kept In ne stor
auOye.