The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-08-04
THE BROADWAY FIRE.
Pelstring's Building a Death Trap.
HENRY MAAG,S BODY FOUND.


intense, and the blackened ruins are
visited by crowds of people anxious to
view the place where so many victims
were sacrificed. The police are still on
duty, and the streets surrounding the
burned buildings are still blocked.
Workmen engaged in removing the
rubbish where the four bodies were re-
covered yesterday came across that OF
the missin young man, Henry Mag.
Henry was sixteen years OF age, and
was employed by Mr.. Pels tring in the
lumber yard. He has been in their en-
ploy about two years; and was a
nephew OF the proprietor. 1t seems that
| before reporting tor duty in the yard, he
went i'll tue building as usual, to change
part of his clothing, when the fire broke
out. With self-forgettulness that rem
ders him hero, he rushed up to the
fourth floor 10 warn the 6 rls of their
danger-was cut off by the flames and
smoke and perished.
The story as told by his father to
reporter is as follows:
~ was in the lower story when the
| fire started; | heard the engineer in the
cellar Call out something, aud | went
down to see what was the matter: when
l got there l saw the fire in one of the
| rooms next to the shaving room. As
soon as 1 saw this, 1. saw that the
| building was doomed to destruction.
and ran back up stairs to tell the rest OF
| the employees. When l got TO the sec
ond floor policeman stopped me; l
| went back anu ran round to- the outside
OF the building and saw person whom
l thought was my boy; told him to
jump; he did so; Uut 1t was not Henry,
my son; it was John Plankenburg, who
was so BADLY burned tnat he died soon
after"
Maag's body was found in the same
locality as were the others, Yesterday
but several feet lower down. He seems
20 have been screened by large beam
directly above MIN, as he was not
charred like the rest; the body had more
the appearance of being parboiled. He
was i'll sitting posture, his legs crossed
and his hands joined in front of his
breast as II IN prayer. His clothes were
entirely gone. The body was already in
"a state OF decomposition and smelled
terribly. 1t was removed to Habig,s
morgue about O'clock this morning.
THE INQUEST.
At 10 O'clock this morning Coroner
Stlch and a jury commenced an investI-
gation OF the cases. Inc mos: important
part OF the testimony is given below:
DR.. q. A. HOugD, of the City Hospital,
testified that Jonu Plankenburg died at
1880 yesterday morning from burns
ana The suuck caused by jumping from
the bulldl"g. lie was conscious up to
within two minutes OF his death.
Officer j. }. HensAaw-''Wneu [ got
to Cne fire the building was. ALI
abIaZ9. L saw men and women in
the windows; Que Of them, John
PlankenDetg, jumped from the
third story. He meant to jump on the
roof OF shea, but he mis- sed 1T ana fell
III the yard. l took MIN TO the Hospital
IN IA wagon"
Officer A. Schaerer corroborated the
above. EPlunkenDerg tod as that he
lived on Bank LICK street, Covlngtnn,
and had wife and lour children.
In speaking of the cause OF the
ire, as we rode TO tnr Hospital, ne told
us that IL originated in The englne-.oom,
GuO he aid not know from WuaL cause,
He was baretooted; had just taken off
mis- shoes 10 go to work.
Officers Sam. Mcfarland, Of No. 1O1
Oregon street, and Constable Hanrahau
were examined, out their testimony was
OF no Importance as liking The origin of
LNe fire.
Officer Fortman - 81 have been
through Pelstrlng's building time and
again. L ae house had but one stllrway
which is very narrow and som
what steep. Those that lost their lives
might have got out Of the windows into
the DierkIng building on the
north; but L suppose they were too
badly scared. saw Engineer Black
a lew minutes after the fire started:
He said that the flames spread with the
rapidity OF lightnlng; that he dld what
he could to stop them, and when ne
found it impossible he made all the
noise he could, in order TO aldftA those
in the building.
Harry Learup, of No. 10 Jane street
81 assisted in recovering some of the
bodies. l have no idea how the ire orip.
mated; have been in the building sew
eral times; there was but one stairway.
and that from the first to the second
story was very steep. There was an
In The center OF The building,
which was used tor hOlsting lumber"
Michael Lyons, living at'lhe uthsast
Arch and Ludlow, a member
Of The Fire Department-'Wh the
TO which beionged-the Hooks
No. got there the building was all
ablaze.. The Ladders could not be ap-
pHea. L AeIped remove some Of the |
UOdiss."
Leo UihIein, residing at No Mary |
street, member of the PueIix Ladder !
Company, testified ''tAat he assisted in |
IOur Of the bodies, but that he |
knew nothing as 10 The cause OF the fire.
Ihe bodies were found in Che northeast |
corner OF the building"
Charles CUttin, OF 46l West Eighth |
street, running member Of The Hook |
and Ladder Company No. /: IL assisted |
II the removal oil three of the bodies, | |
know nothing a. to the cause Of the fire. |
fne walls OF the building fell in just as |
reached The place."
GEORGE PELsTRING,
proprietor and owner of the burned |
'uilding,w lives at No. 50 Clay street,
estti d as follows:
81 erected this building about three
'ears ago for the Manufacture OF cigar
md tobacco, boxes and for saving the
imber used in their construction, l
ave the plans ana specifications of the
'ullding In my office now. | was in the
'ullding az $3.50 Yesterday morning, but
Don alter left and went down town. L
aW several Of the men there sitting
round waiting to 90 to work. Wnen re-
urned about halt-past the walls had
allen in. Mr. A. z. Black was my en-
ineer. He was recommended to me