The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-08-06
A SWIFT AND FATAL FIRE.
DescrIb d by Eye Mitncssc. or tho Terrible
spectacle William Mhnicn'- Effort to
Rescue "a Girl with her HAIR In Flames.

"Thrice three times" from box A. at the
Fours" engine house. on Sycamore street.
near Eighth street. told the nremcn. vest 'riay
morning that human life was in danger. Pcs
trring's cigar box factory. nj Eighth and Broad
way was on fire. Saws rapa" Cooling. a vet
cran stokcr Of the Fours. who turned In the
alarm, was right opposite the eng n house
when heard the ding. ding. ding that wakes
the company. | ran over and found the torch
already applied. IA turned in the alarm the
engine pulled ont as quick MS sho eyer did in
my memory. You see we had hut stones
throw to 70. and yet as we reached the plug
had to nut ON my coat to keep from scorrhing.
The whole block was sea 81 flames. Theories
MS to how these poor girls might have ~ 'aped
are sheer nonsense. Whether or not they made
any effort Ia save their clothes. they would
probably have persisted IA they did. We had
not been working fifteen minutes before the
walls fell. 1t was bcyond comparison. the most
rapid IRE in my memory. and | have seen a
good many"
The struggle for life was brief. Fully eight per-
sons. five OF them young girls. az is now known.
were in the fourth story Of the fatal building
when it took fire. Henry Mag. who rushed up
and gave warning to the girls. who had Just re-
moved their street clothing and begun their
work tby the picrcl. now lies in the ruins. John
Plankani'rg the only mature life lost. Jumped
rom window. alter h'ing tr-ltuuy hurnt
aud WIS fHtAlIV IN urHd. dying soon after at the
hospital. Frank Studare. of who's hero su n
~ ri- Ia stvc tho kris there are un onilrned
reports. was tnken out a limh"s. tranf of
back and roasted Il sh and bon =. Mary Nurrn
Josoplln" Boy. and Minnie kuehhc's remains
y re- rescued IA similar condition. and Katie
Portkcr and Ann Iund - tped with severe
burns. on otth' IN tempo rarily h"r"it of reason
In loss than I've minutes after IA" first alarm
hat boon sounded "a se'9pd and third had been
sent ~. hut before hail thu r"lays Of engines
called for had arrived ou tn" -trnr the flames
had melted In" light tin roof of. and were tow
crinE To- the heavens. capped los d,ns volumes
Of smoke. II WAS terribly hot nrc too. aud the
ilrtmrn w"rr often So hndy srorched thut they
W re temporarily driven back from the flames
several times n hundred feet or morr. They
worked W." / tans. and though thu heat
away from tl" mr.. they kept throwing torrents
oi wat on th" burning mass and the buildings
+ Wlcail"v says: d" | got my place Of husi-
moss tins murnln.. about ton m nutDs past
"..n'h' Mn- "a, al my s.lNN' .nHs', hflng
alarm. AM ! ran ont IA front ON broUdway.
Barney Mr. liasg'itt cail' j ont to n,". II re-
Is the IRE. did unf go back until reached
Tia" front Th'rr ! saw two littl" s.rl- conn
rushing out Of the hiriIn . lluilliu- their hair
all IuthinE th'lr iu OPS = 'Orl.l'd ani 600 s. wer"
ou'uI them hui sister yet lniIe luI i.iln- .iul
sh" WIS burning. th,n runr ha.h 10 tho
I..nf whore 49, arr now stuntius 'Il.iffs, i.tl,
~ tls building. / -,W COLA. uun 100 Oh fl.aI-
story window Df fhr burning lIl. iInl. anl
| told him o. iunir o. s4u.' ?. h.,ls. tlr.u-I,
un" Ui the uHu.- ti ihr @l~h. We rotNrd
him tp Jump. Ii'rn WIS su.d go. at tNeiN.
feet uolow him hv Whi.l herou'd naVe roi .hod
and Barney went III then 90 rrt "a ~..tlruoi
ho~' ~ BRING n mere, tnd ! drl mot NOTICE t.i,
girls IA the window Barney saw tilsu. and
ean tell You al about them. saw tue bodies
taken uni. They were gu ia % haired ronii-
"ouii rwosnn" th'm. unless they had some
peculiar mars upon them 60 tell tuom hy. only
lr"m tne Ia ihat knew iu"i human beings
were IN ~" ir" could sty thhi what wrrr
brought out were human bodies. They did not