National Republican., 1877-08-04
FIVE PERSONS ROASTED IN CLNCLN-
MATT YESTERDAY,

And Others Badly Se0rched-A Mans Dcs-
pernte Leap for Iife-sccnes and Incidents
of the Firc-Recovery of the Bodies.
by Telegraph to The REPUBLICAN.
CINCINNATI, Aug. g.
George Pelstring's fve-story cigar-box fac
tory was totally destroyed by fire at 7 O'Clock
this morning. II Ia reported that from ten TO
twelve employees are buried In the ruins
William Whalen was badly burned about the
head, chest and back. Katie Paul, seriously
burned about the head. John Plackenburg
Of Covington, jumped out Of the window, and
was fearfplly cut and burned. A man named
Lorne was badly burned and taken to the
hospital. Six girls were seen in the third
story window with their dresses on fire, and
then fell back into the flames. The names of
the employees cannot be ascertaincd rs yet.
There are many missing, and the loss Of life
will probably be terrible.
SECOND DISPATCH
CINCINNATI, ONO, Aug. 3.-Engines have
he N pouring water upon the ruins of Pelst-
ri1g's ci sar-box factory all the morning. At
tais hour tone o'clock a large force of men are
engaged in clearing the debris. The bodies Of
three unfortunate girls have just been taken
out. They are burned beyond recognition,
and present horrible sight. Many more
bodies are believed 10 be still in the ruins, and
great distress and excitement PREVAIL large
crowds of people al the streets in the vicinity
Of tho fire. Eight buildings were destroyed.
THIRD DISPATCH.
CINCINNATI, ONO, Aug 3-It was about
o'clock before the fire was sufficiently ex-
hausted to enable the fremen to begin looking
for the bodies that were supposed to be in the
ruins. Then they discovered In the cellar
fronting on Broadway a smoking mass Of ma
terial among timbers, brick and mortar. 1t
was found to be q human body burned to q
crisp, the arms and legs gone and with only Q
fey shreds Of clothing aihering to the mass
II was gathered up and laid on q board and
carried into the Office Of the establishment,
Three other bodies were found in very much
the same condition-all black and shrivelled
up, like mummies. In gathering them up tho
arms and legs mostly fell apart, the heads and
trunks. however, being kept together. These
four bodies were all that could be found up to
12 o'clock, and were lying in the Office for the
recognition of their friends. As soon as II be-
came known that TIE bodies had been recov-
cred there was gret pressure upon the
policemen by persons looking for their friends
TO see the remains, but they were so dsfigured
that II was an hour before either of the bodies
was identified. On most of the bodies there
were hits Of clothing that had been protected
from the flames, and these alone led to their
Identification.
In some cases fathers or brothers would take
scraps of clothing home TO see il the mother
CDulu recognize tnem. In TINS way inc fOllOw-
ing were identified Mary Nurre, twenty years
o,d; Mena Kt nj, fourts en- years old and Frank
Studver, twenty years old. Two girls who
were seen running down the stairs while they
were in flames, and one Of them, becoming eI
haustcd, fell Just at the foot of the stairway,
but was rescued by fireman. They were
badly burned. Their names are Anna Pund
and Kate Pritkin. John Flankenbarr, in es-
Gaping from the Are, got shockingly burned in
the face, hands and chest, and Lucas Uenteil
also got somewhat scorched in getting out Of
| the cellar.
Among the employees who have not been
heard from, and who arc supposed to be dead
in the ruins, are Henry Hoag, q lad Of sixteen
years, He was seen in the building running
back toward the rear during the first of the
five, but has not reported to his friends
| Josephine Bey, sixteen years old, has not re-
ported herself at home, and It Is possible the
fourth body recovered Is hers, although hel
friends do not recognize it. John Flanken
burg, after suffering fearfully three or foul
hours expired.
1t was not until several efforts had beer
made to recognize anything about the body O
the third girl that the relations of Josephine Be,
decided II was hers. She was more consumet
than any of the others. 1t Is now though
that there may be no more bodies In the ruins
still there is the boy Henry Hoag, who has no
yet been found. The coroner began an inves
tigation this afternoon into the circumstance
attending the catastrophe. The loss on tn
stock and building Of Mr.. Pelstring is est
mated at $l25, 600. Insured for $4,000.