New-York tribune., 1879-11-15
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
HEMMED IN BY FLAMES.
LOSS OF LIFE AT TWO FIRES.

| "a
yesterday morning, caused little loss Of property.
but resulted IN five deaths. Two women and two
children were suifocated in their on the upper
floor and man was killed by leaping to the ground.
woman also jumped from a window and was
seriously injured. Other persons were hurt.
including an heroic fireman. In the after
noon The Churchman Building in the
Of No. AZ Lafayette-place, was burned. with
loss of $4,000 The flames spread so rap
idly that there were many narrow escapes from
death. The iaDitor's wife leaped from a window
and was so badly hurt that she soon died.
TERRIBLE SCENES IN A BURNING HOUSE.
EFFORTS To RESCUE THE INMATES OF CANNON
STREET TENEMENT WHO WERE SURROUNDED BY
SMOKE AND FLAMEs-FIvg LIVES LOST AND
SEVERAL PERSONS INJURED.
The members of the two families on the
upper floors OF No. so Cannon-st awakened about
O'Clock yesterday morning by volumes Of thick smoke
that poured into their rooms. Several women, num-
ber OF children and rushed franticaly about
the house looking for place OF safety. They were en-
couraged for a time by shouts from the
people In the streets. Every way OF escape was
cut of by smoke and hames and several OF the inmates
compelled to STAY In the building until they were
suocated. The jumped 70 the ground and was In
stanty killed One woman threw her two children out
window and they safely caught by the fire.
men, She jumped after them and sustained injuries
which will probably prove fatal.
The house Is a plain brick building in the heart OF the
Bohemian district the East side OF the city, IL IA
four stories in height The ground floor was used oy
George King as an upholstery store He lived in the
adjoining house. The first floor was occupied by
Samuel Cohn. his wife and four children All the mem,
bers OF this family were absent on the night OF
tho fire. On the second floor lived widow
named Mrs. Mary Busbicher with her two children.
The highest floor rented TO Joseph Botzk His
family consisted OF his wife. two children and Mrs,
Mary Grouder, his moherin-law. On each floor there
three large one in the back Of the house
and large aud a small In the front Ii is an old
fashioned tenemenihOuse with three rckety flights OF
stairs. The first light also used by the tenants IN
the adjoining house
Georgr KING, wno lives at No. "a Cannon-st the
discover the fire. He reused from his sleep
when nearly strangled by the dense smoke He rushed
TO the that the smoke rolling in great
masses out of the next building No. 50 Cannon-st.
He gave the alarm and returned quick y. by
that time crowd had gathered in the
street and shouting 70 person on
the highest floor, whose face could scarcely be seen
through the smoke He climbed the window sill aud
shouted in the Bohemian tongue, "Help! help! For
Gods sake save me-" II Botzk He weht away
from the window for few minutes. but what he did
can only be surmised for he did NOT live 10
tell. It Is thought that he made despeT-
ate effort TO bring his family down the stair
way or to seek safety by the hre-escape. lie
failed, however for smoke ded tho stairway pnd pre-
vented him from finding the fire escape He appeared
At the window again. and the crowd. which had now
greatly increased bade him wait the arrival OF the nre
He was next seen 10 clasp woman by bis SIDE
1t was his wife, but whether he intended this for part
ing embrace or was endeavoring 70 persuade her to
jump is not known In an instant afterward he eaped
into the street. He gave few and was dad.
Tho hremen arrived IN short time. Very little hame
could be seen. but the building was veled IN smoke.
Two alarms were sent which brought an increased
Before they fairly at work face could ba
I'm O
On the third floor Mrs. Busbcher stood with folded
hands at the middle window and cried Z come
one 10 save her and her two children sac evil
IDENTITY had realz zed the extreme danger in,
for size waited 10 dress the children aud hcrsclf Ths
faint OF the young children could be heard in tho
street. Her little boy blinded with smoke, tried 10
climb the window-slll Fearing he might TALL, the
mother and caught him. Patrick ]. Lynch, fire.
of Engine Company No H. stood under the win.
dow and shouted "Let the boy drop In arm- - Mrs.
Bnsblcher heard HIM speak could understand
English. She shouted hack To HIM. but her language
uninteligi6e The fireman finally made her UNDER
stand by motions OF the She then took the little
boy by the shoulders and dropped him. lie was only
seven years old and easily caught by the fireman,
knocked down however by the shock and his
wrist sprained. The mother stayed at The window
until she saw her safe the hreman's She
.hen dropped her girl ten years old. into the arms
OF anoth dreuen who caught her. Mrs. Busbcher
then jumped herself before the rrcmen were aware
OF her intention. Her head struck the pavement and
she very badly injured.
Two women and two children still remained on the
highest floor waiting for help IL was not known thea how
many there were. The women at short utter
walls at the window, each carrying chid in her
arms Lynch the fireman. decIded TO rescue them even at
the risk Of his life. With lie rushed up he starr
way through binding smoke. He shouted on fhe first
floor but he respOu Ic the next flight but
made to his cries ON reaching the next
foor he saw Mrs. Grouder, woman seventy years OF
will y
bitterly She almost naked. and was crozy with
fright lie spoke and tried get her follow
him the fire escape IN the She screamed al his
touch, as If she thought he intended her some harm
she did not understand his language. and did know
enough to follow him. The fireman then went into
holding her two children and gtrplng Tor breath he
tried drag her but she resisted ana the fireman
stairway again but una It impe,s Die lie Jumped
the hreescnpe, which was rapidly burning under his
feet. BY catching the gutter Of the ROOF he
made AN attempt to draw hims.ii on top OF tue
build ng. He weak from being almost sufOcated,
made He was assisted by Flremen snowden and
pull him up. He received some severe injuries
FINDING THE BODIES.
The frcmen soon exunguished the hames. As soon as
the smoke had cleared away a thorough search OF the
house made. On tue highest noor. IN the small
front bedroom. found four dead bodies They lay
on the bed, the two children folded 10 their
mothers breast. The grandmother was partially
on the hoor aud her thin emaciated face
bore signs Of great agony. Mrs Boizk's face bad a
more camer appearance. She had put the little heads
her children under her dress In AN mort 10 save them
from suno, alton. All the faces Were black.
The dies we're TAX To III Eleventh Precinct sta
ton House. aud afterward ito the Morgue. Coroner
Woltman took charge Of the MAINS and empanelled
mry An inquest Will be held next week. There
one mem0eI OF tnr BotZk family who was not AZ home
when the lire OCcurIet His name Joseph. and he
was employed as milk ooy by Mr.. Brandenherger. lie
always sleeps MS employers house IN order 10
early IN the morning lie was IN the nelgnbOrhuOd