The New York herald., 1876-03-08
Heartrending Scenes Of Terror
and Confusion.
TWO MEN DASHED TO DEATH.
Heroic Efforts Of the Neighbors to
Save Life.
Groans Of the Dying Amid Smoke
and Flame.

caused the death nineteen persons by sulfocaton
and fame, the building damaged being the 'Home for
the Aged In Charge OF the Little Sisters OF the Poor"
on Bushwick Boulevard, between Chestnut and Stock
holm streets, near the junction OF De Kalb avenue
and Broadway. The details of the terrible disaster
horrd in outline and the witnessed at tho
time ofthe fire heartrendng and appalling. Most
Of the persons who lost their lives In INDECENT
and helpless old men ranging from
sixty ninety years of age. Tho occurrence natu-
rally created great excitement in the neighborhood and
the institution being charitable one the appalling loss
of life will awaken a feeling OF sympathy among all
classes.
DISCOVERY
A few minutes after four O'Clock A. NJ. the neigh
borhood, which is thinly populated, aroused
by an alarm OF fire, and as the people rushed
from their doors they found the large three
story brick building occupied by the aged men
and women, ana fronting on Chestnut street,
flames The remote situation OF the educe
and the paucity of means for extinguishing
fire rendered the neighbors and the occupants
poweress to arrest the progress Of the flames at the
outset and few minutes the entire east wing,
pied by tho males, envelopedin flames In this part
OF the building were seventy three aged men, and as
the dre gained headway shrieks and cries arose and
terror regned supreme Acting with commendabe
presence OF mind the Little Sisters OF the Poor who
manage the institution aided by the police and few
cool headed citizens who had arrived the ground,
rapidly removed the female portion OF the inmates,
numbering us into the street At the time
every of the old who could be reached
told TO follow them. Despite the celerty OF this work
Of rescue the confusion which prevailed the upper
floors OF the east wing prevented nineteen men from
escaping One OF this number met his death byaterribe
leap from upper window and the remaining eighteen
suGocated and their bodies charred almost beyond
recognition
The Assistant Mother SUPERIOR Mary of the Apostles
who resides in the frame building apart from the
eddce noticed shortly before four O'Clock that there
was bright light In the basement on the southeast
corner Of the building, which she knew unusual
but which did not strike her being fire for a moment
two, until finding 1t Increase she threw wrapper
around her and made her way to the main building
and through the corridor to the east wing,
only TO find that the smoke had already
excited the fears OF the three sisters In charge
of the wing Quickly informing them of the fact that
the building nrc, she directed them to remove
the inmates quickly possible while she aroused
the Others in order to get them all out The old men,
however, being awakened from their sleep, seemed
dazd and evnced neither disposition to leave hurry
when the danger seemed imminent for almost coinc-
dent with the alarm the flames seemed TO burst out
and the heat engendered by it appeared TO give II tho
speed of the wind for in a moment by means of tho
staircase every floor seemed burst into flame
once
The cry OF FIRE that Immediately raised had the
Natural effect to bcwder the unfortunate inmates and
terrible scene of confusion and horror ensued The
women shriekng aud lamenting few seemed
stupened, and t with difficulty that the sisters
kept them In order The being the seat Of
the fire, confused, and being old in
nrm they made voluntary effort escape the dan
ger that threatened them The citizens who residing
n the neighborhood the FIRST to arrive gave will
ing and valuable help in restoring order. Under tho
direction OF Acting Police Captain Dunn and Sergeant
Buckhox the neighbors aided the Little Sisters in
moving all of the they could reach
into the west wing, where the were
kept in custody and comparative quiet II ter
rible scene and. though every heart appalled, by
the danger that threatened, the confusion soon
Yet there many OF the old still in the
burning part OF the building and amid the and
cracke OF the flames their pteous cries could be dis
tincty heard. The police and q few determined citi-
Eens then made renewed efforts to reach those who
still in danger, but he nre had already gained
such headway that 1t impossible to do than
wait In suspense and fear for the
ARRIVAL FIREMEM
Tho bright light caused alarm from the bell tower
In the Sixteenth ward IN Ten Eyck street. and in less
engines Is, 16, IL and truck responding. Before
they reached the ground, however, tho shreks and
cries of the inmates the cracking of the flames and
binding smoke had aroused the neighbors the
vicinity, and they hurried to give what assistance
they could to the old and decropt from the ter
ribls fate that awaited them, and many we're
brought in the arms of the willing assistants One
Sister carried bodily old blind from his TO
the female ward, distance of 100 feet, and many
similar instances OF superhuman exertion occurred,
but the became dense that further entry
The wing prevented man got out Of the third
story window the north side TO escape the flames
and attempted TO lower himself ladder which
reached TO the window below. But ~hen he dropped
be Tell outside Of ladder the area below aud
died almost instantly. The body taken up and re-
moved 10 the office the gate where he recog-
nIzed by one Of the sisters Michael Cummins
Another inmate of the named Jerry suii.
van leaped out OF the front window. alighung with
crash the balcony and rolling thence the ground
He Immediately picked up and conveyed to the
Office aud the arrival OF the ambulance removed
70 the hospital The neighbors all this dong
ali they could the sufferers aud by and tnrees
we're receiving them into their dwellings Tho few
between the sounding OF the are alarm the
arrival Of the engine seemed age those pres
enL bot when had arrived the others
in quick succession In few minutes after the Gre
came four streams OF water were throwr
the flames and the work OF extinguish.
ing the Gre was fairly commenced Chief Engineer
JOhn W. smith, OF the Eastern division
Fire Department arrived at quarter past four
o'clock and took charge OF the force on duty. His
nrst act to send out second alarm 10 which en-
gnez IL and II and truck responded; but tearing
this was not enough for The emergency, Mr. smith
also telsgraphed Tor engine No. and truck No. 2.
uhi nar fnlle
force Of mento bring The Gre under control by I've
O'Clock.
SAVING NxArxs
While giving the necessary orders 70 the hremen
ths Chisf Engineer directed that all the inmates who
gers gathered In the west wing be removed This was
precautionary measure. for when Mr. Smith arsi
arrived he did anticipate such successful Issue in