Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-11-14
NEW YORK CRIME.
A Tenement House Eircd-Sad Loss
Of Life.

OF L1tes
NEW YORK, Nov. 14-At an early hour this
morning fire was discovered In the four-story
prlcK tenement, No. 50 Cannon street. The fire
proved 10 be on the second floor. which is occu-
pieu oS FAMILY named Cohen. The tenement
Is occupied by at least twelve families and the
excitement was terrible. Mary Babiska living
on the third floor, jumped nom the window 70
the street, and was severely injured Internally.
while four members OF a family named Botzkie
living ON the top floor. were Suffocated by smoke
There was no escape for them. The father, Jos
BotZkie, endeavored in every way to save his
family but finding his efforts frutlesS rushed TO
a window and threw himself out. He struck the
sidewalk with a heavy thud and was picked up
dead. Mrs. BotZkie, 81 years old, her two sons,
Charles, aged I. and Frank years, and her
mother, Mary Founder, 20 years old. were suffo-
Gated. The bodies were taken out by fireman
and removed TO Houston street police station.
Patrick j. Lynch, fireman, In his efforts to
save the inmates OF the burning building. had
both his hands severely burned. He and the
woman Babiska Were sent to the hospital. The
coroner and his jury will visit the scene of the
fire and view the bodies. The cause of the fire
is unknown. but will be thoroughly investigated
will not exceed $500.
.. family named Cohen lived in three rooms
Tor the past thirteen weeks. Cohen Is a tailor
and worked at No. 205 Houston street. His fam
lily, as well as himself were Poles and could not
speak English They had three children, and
all OF them were unpopular and were regarded
with suspicion by their neighbors. Yesterday
Mrs. cohen was observed carrying from the
house several large bundles. At few minutes
be.ore O'Clock Cohen and his wife and
children dressed in better clothes than they
ordinarily wear and left the house.
the adults bearing large bundles. Fire
MAJ shall Sheldon came early and made an in
VeStigatfon which Is now going on. lie points
out the fact of there being no scuttle In the
roof. Cohen was arrested at the insurance
office, where he had 500 on hts property. His
wife was found at No. 106 Hester street and
was locked up. Lynch. the fireman. three times
reached the fourth floor and tried to bear out
the unconscious women and children. Each
time he was driven back and finally made his
own escape by tottering fire escape. In his
descent he inhaled the flames and was borne
away TO the hospital, where he lay dying at mid
day. When the cries of the neighbors brought
the police and tiremen to the house BotzSie was
seen rushing wildly to the window OF his bed
room and returning as II endeavoiing to drag
something with him. The smoke drove him
back, but he returned again. This time sheet
OF flame shot into his face, and with despairing
cry, he seized the window frame and sprang
out. The distance was not so great, but In his
descent the mans feet were caught by the lin
tel OF the window below, and he was turned
head downward; thus he struck the pavement.
When the flremen gained the top floor, four hu-
man bodies. closely huddled together on the
bed in the little sderoom, were found. 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 attempt to come to her assistance,
the wife had rolled upon the floor and reached
her childrenS' rooms her first thought being for
them. There the smoke had overcome her, and
with her last strength feeling about for her boys,
| she had fallen upon them and died there. Their
| had not touched them. The smoke had done the
| work effeCtually.