Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-01-09
ANOTHER NEW YORK FIRE,
RESCUE OF SIXTY GIRLS FROM THE FLAMES

The fire ON Centre Street, New York,
on Tuesday evening, which destroyed
the six-story brick building coupled
by the New York Newspaper Printing
Company and others, it is stated, o1igi-
mated by the accidental ignition of
benzine can in the third floor, used for
lob and newspaper printing. The
flames spread so rapidly that the en-
iloyees OF the establishment were una
Died to save their personal property, and
it is asserted that several persons lost
their lives.
The fifth and sixth floors are occu-
pied by Anderson, Archer 6 Co., as
bookbindery. On these floors there
were at work some sixty girls, who
were ignorant of the existence of fire
until they were almost surrounded by
the flames. Two young men from one
OF the lower floors, who were aware of
the perilous position Of the girls, ven
tlred, at the risk Of their own lives, to
rush up the stairs and give the alarm
Almost simultaneously with their alarm
the fire appeared through the cracks of
the fourth story floor, and in an instant
everything and everybody was thrown
,nto the greatest excitement Women
and girls rushed through the buildings
screaming fearfully, while others be
came unconscious and swooned away.
The first impulse Of the terror stricken
W men was to push down the stairway,
but scarcely had they descended dozen
steps before they were forced back by
volumes of thick smoke. Those who
were down on the lower steps attempted
| to turn back, but behind them was al
army Of employees, who in their haste
to escape, threw themselves bodily
down the stairs, and thus compelled
those beneath to rush
HEADLoNG THROUGH THE SMOKE
or remain in their perilious position to
be roasted alive Some who were more
daring risked the only chance placed
before them, and covering smoking
passage way and finally reached the
stairway almost suffocated. As they
arrived at the third floor the flames
could be seen Kissing through the GREY
ices Of the doors and walls. The girls
who haze thus FAR in their eagerness to
escape from the flames, threw them
selves down the stairway, alighting all
in a heap at the bottom. AT this place
men were stationed, who, as soon as
the afrighted girls landed on the sec
ond floor, picked them almost bodily
in their arms and rushed down the
stairway to the street, Many of them
had tainted away. The flames had by
this time enveloped the third way,
which was believed to be the only
means Of escape, was sheet of fire,
and the remaining twenty-five girls
who were known to be inside the
building, were given up for lost.
While some of the girls escaped in the
manner already mentioned, the remain
ing portion who were compelled to
turn back, rnshed to the fifth and sixths
floors and attempted to reach the roof.
This was found to be impossible, and
many of them gave up in despair and
sat down upon their stools awaiting
their terrible doom; others rushing
from window to window frantically cry
ing for help, while the rest past the
short time left them in prayer. Every
moment added to their d.nger, and
inch by inch the fire approached near
er to them, Just as the flames were
within a few feet of them John Brandt,
who was on the same floor.
CRIED IN LOUD vofCE.
"Girls, save yourselves; l have fixed
the fire, escape. The sentence gave
hope to the poor victims, ana
simultaneously with the utterance o.
his last word rush was made, and in
few seconds three girls were alread,
clambering down the iron ladder. MANY
Of them were afraid to risk their live
on the rickety concern, and seemed
disinclined to make any EFFORT. but as
they cast backward look at the flames
they took courage and followed the
others Those who were most afraid
Johu Brandt assisted down as best h
could and when they were. safe h
ascende FIR the others. When. he last
went up six We're on the floor, three
of whom came down with him. liz