Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-11-21
A Tenement House Burned---Five Lives
Lost and One Person Fatally Injured.
New YORK Nov. !

New YORK Nov. ii.
Early this morning fire took place on the
second floor of a tenement, at so Cannon
street. Mary Babiska, who occupied apart
ments ON the tEird floor leaped to the street
and was probably fatally injured. Joseph
Batzlie, who lived on the fourth floor, unable
to escape by the roof or stairs, threw himself
from a window and was killed. His entire
family, consisting of his wife, two children,
and mother in-law were suffocated. The dam
age by fire will not exceed $500.
L. Cohen and his family we're regarded with
suspicion by their neighbOrs. Yesterday
Mrs. Cohen was observed carrying from the
house several large bundles. At a few min
utes before seven o'clock Cohen and his wife
and children, dressed in better clothes than
they ordinarily wore, left the house, the
adults bringing large bundles. Patrick Lynch,
the injured fireman, three times reached the
fourth door and tried to bear out the uncon-
sc!ous women and children, and each time was
driven back, and finally made his own escape
by a tottering fire escape. In his descent he
inhaled flames and was borne away to the hos.
pital, where he lay dying at midday. Fire
Marshal Sheldon came early and made an in
vestigation, which is now going on. He points
at the fact of there being no scuttle in the
roof. Cohen was arrested at the insurance
office where he had 500 on his property. His
wife was found also and locked up.
When the cries of the neighbors brought the
police and flremen to the house, Batzkie was
room and returning as II endeavoring TO drag
something with him. The smoke drove him
back, but he returned again. This time sheet
of flame shot into his face aud with despair
ing cry he seized the window frame and sprang
out. The distance was not so great, but in his
Intel of the window below, aud he was turned
head downward. Thus he struck the pave
ment with a sickening thud and was dg a be-
fore ne could be raised. The flames and
I Il n a. "a.
windows, from which not grOan was heard
and no sign of life was seen after the
| fall of b ltZkie. But the tlremen were
at work, and soon the flames were under con-
| troll. When at length the top floor was gained
| four human bodies closely huddled together
on the bed In the little side room met the eyes
| of the firemen. Half conscious, probably, and
| struggling to rouse herself, with the cries of
| her husband ringing out from the window
whittier he made his two Intellectual attempts
! to come to her assistance, thewiie had rolled
| upOn the floor and reached her children's
rooms, hel first thought being for them,
| Then the smoke had overcome her aud with
| her last strength, feelinN about for her boys,
| she had fallen upon them and died there.
/ Their drawn-up limbs showed the agony OF
| their death struggle together Their cheeks
were slightly scorched, otherwise the fire had
not touched them, but the smoke had done
/ the work cifectually.
| While the police were endeavOrDg TO dis
| cover the whereabouts of Cohen and wife,
Mrs. Cohen appeared and at the sight OF the
scorched house called TO a neighhor, My
God What is the matter with our housef
" You may well ask, - said the neignbor, "fouT
persons have been carried out OF here dead.
What did you do TO your rooms last night ~
" am insured. Our property is all right,
was the answer. Mr. Sheldon, the insurance
man on post at the door, nterfered and spoke
10 the woman, who delantly replied she did
not suppose she had any business to give hin
information. He turned her away and SHE
was not seen again until twelve o'clock, wher
a detective brought her to the police station i
prisoner at eight o'clock.
Cohen himself had come there, he, too, bent
on money, bringing with him lawyer who
was guardian Of sis Insurance policy He haC
reused him from his bed Al seven, stating tina