The New York herald., 1877-03-20
IMPRISONED IN FIRE.

THE GALLANT RESCUE OF AN AGED COUPLE By
POLICE oFFICER-HIs FIGHT WITH THE
FLAMES.
At a little after two o'clock, yesterday morning,
Oncer Nugcnt OF tho Seventh precinct patrolline
his beat when discovered smoke issuing from the
two story and attic frame building, No. 227 Cherry
street. At he hastcned 10 the nearest signal box.
gave an alarm and hurried back to tho burning house.
From q window in the upper floor the fire flashed
out into the darkpcss, and the officer camo
underneath II a gray haired old man for moment
leaned upon the SILL and in frantic half daxed
way called for help. The ball door fastened, but
It took Nugent only moment to burst II in. He
raped assistance, too before mounting tho stairs
and leaving Onacer Reagan, whom bs saw coming to
follow him, sought the whore he had seen the
anr!ghtcd old man. The house was old one, with
crazy wooden stairways low, doors and light
partitions that would burn like tinder II the nre
reached them. Nugent this and as he went up he
beat with hts club upon the walls and shouted,
Sire |" to alarm the sleeping inmates ON the second
story was the door opening into the burning room,
and from tho cracks the sunocating smoke was
creeping and filing the hallway. This door,
too, was locked, but tho officer forced Il
open-parriay lcast-for object within seemed
to press against and prevent Its being driven in-
smoke pouring from it half suHocated Nugent and
drove backward the other officer who followed at his
heels.
To enter the apartment It was necessary to creep IN
on all ours and mufngohis head in his coat Nugent
pushed in For moment the rush OF smoke into the
hallway cleared the room, and then he saw lying
against the door woman nsensible with her limbs
Scared and her clothing burnt and from the place
where she lay he found It impossible to move her.
Upon bed and almost dead with terror and sufoca-
ton lay the old man VINO had appeared ut the window.
head If he had resigned himself to the tate thai
seemed inevitable. Lifting the decrepid old man in
his arms, Olcer Nugent squeezed through the narrow
opening and bore him down STAIRS and then with the
other policeman burst the door from It's fastenngs,
and able to remove the burnt and unconscious
woman to place OF safety
BY this time flames eaping from the windows,
and tho low projecting catching fire, blazed up
and alarmed tho neighborhood The rattle OF a COM
ing engine, too, sounded near, but Oicer Nugcnt,
thinking that speedy action nigh. save the building
the nre drove him back. and the osher
was left to gropo his way through the
burning building, and to mako an effort as vain IL
was bold stay the progress Of the flames. Ho had
that he lacked that covering the smoke penetrated his
lungs and nearly blinded him. The heat became in
tense and when he sought the stairs 10 make his way
out he found them all ablaze.
A FEARFUL POSITION.
Driven back into the ROOM with his hair singed and
his clothing burned, the officer forced to lie upon
the floor escape suocaton, and In that way he was
gropiug about almost at random when stream o
water thrown into the room dissipated the smoke and
showed him a window. Crushing through tho glass
and woodwork he called for help and attempted to de-
scend lot Of nails and iron lattice work caught IN
his clothing, and for while he hung suspended, with
| tho fro blazing out either side OF him.
From his prccarious position he was rescued
by his fellow officer and number OF hromcn. Tho
! rescued inmates OF the house Dennis Duane, an
old OF scventy.nvc, and his sister, Maria, who is
hfty.six years Of age. They were taken to Bellevue
| hospital where the woman's injuries declared
probably fatal Her limbs dreadfuy burned, and
her body suffered badly Old Dennis Duane's njur cs arc
not serious, but the shock and suocatiop have COM
petey prostraed him. On tho arrival OF the engines
| the nre put out The damage to the building
which belongs TO Edgar Peck, OF No. 144 East Seven
teenth street, amounts to $780, Charles Sandrick q
harness maker the first floor, loses 500, and
| tho Duanes' furniture, valued at Sl20 Is destroyed