The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-12
TWO CHILDREN SUFFOCATED.
Narrow Escape of Twelve Others from
Horrible Death.
A TERRIBLE sc e N +.
How the Fremen Prevented a Fright
full Catastrophe.

Shortly after O'Clock last evening tho inmates
OF largo i've story tenement house at No ~ Ludlow
street alarmed by the CRIES OF woman IN the
hallway, who was crying Tor assistance Inc neigh
bors, who hurried out OF their rooms, saw Mrs Mum
son, who occupied the second floor, leaning the
stairs, wringing her hands and uttcrng shrek upon
shrek. At the same time pun Of smoke ssuingfrom
her told them what she IN her excitement was
unable to ommunicatc--,hat tho house
FRO This intelligence, dreadful at any time and
place. but doubly terrible where the house
literally crammed with human beings as tins hugo
tenement was, n. created scene OF confusion
and dismay, in which all presence oil mind lost
and where tho predominant thought OF sc-
preservation suggested TO all wild rush TO The street.
TERRIBLE schNE.
From every apartment. OF tho human hive strcamed
crowd OF fust,ves OF all ages Who when they got
Of DOORS seeiued quite loss how TO act, and who
stood s,upcfcd and idly staring tho windows Of
lhe second story, from which the smoke ISSUING
in clouds The ncighbornooI has largo pop
ulation composed principally of the lower class OF
Polish Jews and although the streets swarmcd with
people II some time before any effort was made to
impede he flames, even TO send an alarm TO the
engine company whose house is only few blocks
away Al length some notified tho police.
Tho rattle OF approaching engine soon came ringing
through the streets The lire by this time had burst
through tho windows, and the red glare was
thrown out upon tho street. illuminating
the front OF the burning house, which tho
smoke had hitherto obscured II then
that the crowd below first noticed sight that
thrill of horror through every lookcr-on In window
Of the third story, in tEe room just above The
lire, two little children standing. with
their faces turned IN wondorinent and fear
u tho crowd below and as they stared
the flames stretched upward and curled the
Anu lie yhtnh thnu kLnrn 4 4 nnen
bubbuh beneath. people uttered frantic cries OF
warning and by motions urged The little ones to hurry
from the Men haliooed and women screamed,
but still they stood there bcwildcred and frightened TIL
She engine came gathering along Then as tho remen
hurried into the building they disappeared IRON sight,
but "a volume OF snok. bursting from The room IA mo.
mcnt after told sad tale OF the poor chdrcn's late
All tnis tme MIS-. Auhsoh, tue woman ~ whose
room the fire had begun, was rushing shriekin2
through the hallway and striving 10 carry in safety
the street seven little ones, who, blinded by the smoke
and frightened by The clamor, were utterly unable TO
A FATHERS STRUGGLE
At tho breath of the fire the light. inlammabe wals
OF her had kindied and the flames were stream
ing from the door and wreathing around
half sunocaied woman was hurried away and
the bcwldered children were snached up aud
carried of BY ire iremen who appeared just IN the
nick of time. While u stream o water was turned
upon the windows Chief Miller and two OF his men
made their way through the irc and smoke to tho
third story, where the children had appeared and
they reached II just time 10 hold back from
the destruction into which he was madiy rushing, u
scars tho nrc upon his arms and face. This
Israel Lavene. whose family was in the room above
nrst alarmed the house. In the con.
fusion that ensucd he had been prevented
IRON joining them, and when nc reached ms room
The fire had entered IT, amt his wife stood halt faining
by the door with Ler chidrcn about her. Taking
each and calling her TO follow him. he sprang
up stairs 10 the roof In moment he had reached tho
top OF the stairs and lac turned to assist his wife
dense volume OF smoke swooped upward and
almost suGocatcd them both Then he CROPPED
the only way safety the MY bar between him and
the air he was dying to breathe and-ound IL locked.
The horror OF such suati in admits OF dcscrp-
ton. Wit: his vile iantng at his feet, two
lnt!c ones beside him, his other children suno-
eating IN room below ana the deadly va
por filing his lungs and hlinding MIN.
the man IN his desperation became suddenly endowed
against the doo-, no burst II from It's hinges. A
gust OF pure AR revived the woman; who
rushed down the stairs again to the room
where his two children perishing. and IN spite OF
the flames that filled 1t no would have sought them
there had not the bremen arrived ana prevented him
from making the rash attempt
fIREMES AT WORK.
The hose had been brought TO bear upon
the burning house, and and stairways
were moment dclugcd with water. Blu. human
lie known to be n.pcril, ami to 1t the ire
men, and especially Chief Miller, devoted their best
Efforts From the burning rooms one child after an
burned somewhat by tho flames but all alive, until an
entrance was madc INTO the room OF Israel Lavene.
SAD DISCOVERY.
Tho window where the chdron had stood was
empty; the smoking floor was encountered only with
the charred furniture, but IN the bedroom, lying be-
smoke away, two little bodies were found, IN
Of which lie extinct, but tho
little an imation Lott The dead child was Abram La.
we've, eight years oil age The other was named David,
and was two years younger nc was brought to tho
Tenth precinct station house. where Hattie Munson.
who Is ten years OF age, hnd been carried. The girl
recovered sufficiently 10 be taken home but the itle
boy sent to Bellevue Hospital where nc was yng
suffering, however more from shock and fright than
from the burns ho had received In very short time
flames were extuguishcd by tho ircmen, damage
OF 81, 600 being done the building.
FORGOTTEN gATE.
search among the charrcd furniture and woodwork
WAS then begun Tor II was found that baby OF Mrs.
Munson's was not to be found. For time the child
the search was given over; but iatcr IN the night
Il was begun anew by Acting Captain Kas. and
bis officers No trace OF the infant could be found
among the embers and debris. but 10 the surprise OF
tvery ono II was finally discovered IN a bed Oh tho
Nunson baby of ten months, got there seems to 10
amystcry.
THE LAMP AGAis.
The cause Of the lire attributed by Mrs Munson
20 the capszing OF a kerosene oil lamp by of her
children. Tho chd's dress caught Ere and communl-
Gated II TO clothing IN the room, and, u
ment the whole apartment was ablaac
There Is u deep feeling OF Indignation among the
Dorski Tor having the the locked, aud he
Is also accused oil using some preparation IN which
Kerosene oil was mixed uron The walls 10 Keep vcrmn
OF, ana this " 10 SAID, gave Roadway TO the iamcs.
The gallant members OF Hook anu Ladder Company
No. q, located Clinton street, whose activity aud
daring saved SO many lives describe the excite
u,ent among the residents OF the tenement
~ very great They were in TACT pauic
stricken. md for "a lew minutes their shricKs
were blocks away AT one oi the upper windows
heads prorudng. but 1t WAS not until tho
nremon swung their ladders 10 the fourth story win
VOWS, and rom that floor forced an entrance 10 the
upper floor that the cries for hcp ceased Assistant
Foreman Thomas Lally. OF Hook and Ladder No. d.
makcv tho following statement, which rs confirmed by
members Of his command:-
Bv direction OF Chief OF the Battalion Miller we
threw ladders to tho fourth floor We mad tho lad
ders munucd within five minutes OF the sounding of
tho alarm. ON rcnching this floor divided my CON-
n,and Que dstacnfcnt mounting to Tho ROOT oil the
.d,ncrnt ~ botIdng The south and tho
bsisnce followed me into the fourth door.
With axes we quickly cut our way INTO
the ball and from thence e, we oS boro