The New York herald., 1876-02-20
PANIC AT A FIRE.
EXCITED INMATES oR A BURNING TENEMENT
JUMP TO THE eRouND-sEvERAL PERSONS

EXCITED INMATES oF A BURNING TkNkMhNI
JUMP TO THE GRouND-sEvERAL PERSONS
INJURED.
disastrous nre occurred at early hour yesterday
morning in a tenement house at No SO East Broadway
The inmates awakened by the flames lOsi their self
control and jumped from the windows into the yard
Six persons injured four severely and danger
ously. The particulars OF the accident are as fol-
lows
Shortly before one O'Clock ofcer Nugent OF the Sew
enth precinct noticed smoke issuing from the hallway
Of No. SO, three story brick front frame house He
found the hall door open and flames enveloping the
stairway leading to the second floor. He raped for
assistance, and the alarm teegraphed. Meantime
the police set about extnguishing the flames and arous
ing the inmates Within few minutes all in the build
ing were awakened.
Men, women and children rushed to the stairway
but a volume OF binding smoke drove them back The
flames had by this time gained considerable headway
Residents Of tho adjoining house, awakened by the
noise hurried to the rescue and Joined the officers in
placing ladders in the OF the house. None, how
ever, of sufficient length could be readily found to
reach the second story window but those at hand
used by being held the shoulders OF men, thus max
ing them reach within few feet of the windows In
this manner one or two children were got In safety TO
the ground.
The excited cries OF the women at the windows as
the suocating smoke nlled the rooms heartrend-
ing The front Of the house burning and the
flames were driving all to the The men, we'll
n the women inside and outside the house. seemed
paralyzed. Those in the yard rushed about wildly
calling for ladders but doing little toward real practical
work. At last feather bed thrown from the third
story window and Immediately afIerward Frank Coyle
jumped from the second story window to the ground
panic now ensued among those hudded at the win
dows, Of whom there i've and three women,
and although the fremen had arrived and play
ing upon the burning building and getting ready the
ladders, they began
JUMPING TO THE YARD
The distance from the second floor the ground was
not more than twenty feet but treacherous areaway
four feet wide leading to the cellar made the distance
greater and the fall more dangerous
Nearly all who jumped fell into the trap and received
injuries. Much delay experienced by the
remen and policemen in getting the ladders to the
OF the house. the only entrance through a long
alley not than two feet wide separating
the burning house from the building immediately north
Of it. Before the ladders could be gotn readiness all
had jumped to the ground
While portion of the firemen devoted their atten-
tion to extingushng the flames, which were by no
means dangerous the remainder and the police took
charge OF the unfortunate people, who lay moaning
with pain. Boards and shutters were procured, and
the victims by one, removed The station
house Of Engine No. o. at East Broadway, only short
distance from the fire. the most convenient place.
people thronged the streets and exaggerated reports OF
the sad accident were circulated The call for ambu-
lances brought three TO the scene, with Surgeons
Cochran, Almy and Warden 0'Rourke. The surgeons
found that with exception, the most serious nu-
ries consisted of either broken leg After
preliminary dressing four Of the number placed in
the ambuances and conveyed TO Bellevue Hospital
The remaining two, having suffered seriously
than being considerably bruised, were taken charge
of by friends
The flames yielded within reasonably short time to
the streams Of the engines having caused damage of
not exceeding 81 200.
THE INJURED
The person most dangerously injured is Edward Con-
way, aged twenty-six years unmarried, who boarded
In the family of Patrick Murphy the third floor. He
aroused at the same time as the others and was
OF the last TO jump. Instead OF alightng in tho
areaway yard proper he unfortunately struck a
miserable stoop leading 10 the rear door The rotten
boards yielded to his weight and plunged him into the
When picked up he was unconscious, and on ex-
animation his skull found fractured He also suf
ered severe internal injuries but the surgeons predict
his recovery.
The second unfortunate in point OF injuries is Frank
Coyle, aged thirty-thTee. whose left is broken
His body is also badly bruised
Frank Cuew, aged fifty six years, had his arm cut
and leg broken.
Catharine Murphy aged forty-fve years. occupant OF
the third floor mad her spine severely injured
Catharine Nolan, residing on the second hoor had
Roundsmau buckley, OF the Seventh precinct was
slightly injured by falling into the areaway.
although Fire Marshal Sheldon made investigation
satisfactory solution has yet been obtained. The
suspicion or ncendiarsm is mooted by people in the
neghborhood, but they can point to the
criminal AS all the inmates soundly sleeping
the time the fire broke out, and there
bustible materials under the stairway where 1t orgi-
mated, the suspicion of incendlarism not
founded. The house occupied as ioows:-
Basement-Second hand furniture store, kept by
floor grocery kept by Charles Flynn; loss 5000; un-
insured. Second floor, front, apartments Of Charles
Beale and family furniture TO the extent Of $500 de-
stroyed. Second foor, rear, apartments OF William
Nolan and family; furniture valued at $l00 destroyed
The third floor occupied by the family Of Patrick Mur
ply, damaged to the extent OF $l00 The building
was damaged TO the extent Of $500 II is owned by
Patrick Gidney and insured for S., 00e
The police and remen present at the time OF the
saved without injury had not the inmates become panic
stricken.