The New York herald., 1879-09-26
RESCUED FROM THE FLAMES.
A Building Set on Fire by
Half Burned Match.
PEElL0uS POSITION on The INMATES.
Assistant Foreman Lobby Cal
lanrly Saves Two Lives.

AeiAIiy Dawes Two Lives.
At twenty minutes past nine ,. NJ yesterday tho
basement OF No. 4J1 West Fortie.h street which is
occupied as a liquor store by Marcus witlnark, was
discovered 10 be on fire. ana before the dames were
shed the building and stock were consider.
ably damaged and two lives We're placed in jeopardy
The house is four story basement brick build
ing. The basement which is almost aush with the
sidewalk, is used as liquor store distillery.
There was no bar III the saloon, but the
shelves and floor were burdeued with bottled
liquors, casks of whiskey and other spirtuous
beverages. Back of the store there is a small dark
middle room. which MIR. witnark occupied az
an Office Back again of this apartment was the
dining room. A long hallway. which was en- sered
from the street. led back TO the dining room and
into tha kitchen Mr.. witmark was seated ths
desk in the Office counting money. prepare
tory to paying bill. He had S265 in
greenbacks in bundle the top OF
the desk when laboring entered
the store. Mr.. witmark left the bundle of
bills the desk and into the store
TO wait upon the customer The latter took
drink OF whiskey. paid for it. and asked for
match. which him. He lighted his pipe
and threw the still burning match the floor,
where whskey casks we're ranged The drippings
door. and the half ignited match caused blaze
enveiop the entire front Of the store. Mr.. Wit
mark had passed back to the adjoining office. and
about looking his accounts again when his
wife exclaimed "Look, Mark the store is fre!" As
Mr. Wimark expressed it. he thought that the whole
building was III fames and his first impulse was to
rush into the store when his wife restrained him.
At that moment the situation rendered more
alarming by Il loud report caused by an explosion
OF the barrels of whiskey having taken fire.
Opposite where the fire originated. in the front Of
the store, sdo door leads into the hallway. This
door stood ajar and the flames rapidly spread into
the basement passageway threatening to of
Mr.. and Mrs. Witmark's egress to the street. They
thoroughly alive to the danger of their situa-
ton aud they lost not moment in rushing into the
street.
The third floor was occupied by Mrs. Henrietta
Schwab forty years OF age widow. and her three
Two Of the latter were absent attending to
their business. Her other son. Isidore, is nineteen
years of age. The latter had dressed himself and
about taking up his studies in his hall bedroom
when the cry of fre startled him. Mr.. witmark
was shouting "Fre!" at the top OF his voice from
the alarm" said Mr.. witmarE. ..shs ap-
peared At the front paror window with the
bedding IN her arms shouted to her not to heed
the beading but to her life. She disap-
peared for moment and reappeared at her sons
bedroom window, still carrying the bedding.
shouted go back Go back, and leave the bedding
there Save yourself!" Whatever the poor wo-
mans Intentions she seemed to be reckless OF this
advice, and still remained stubbornly determined to
launcn the bedding into the street. until
the increasing smoke and approaching flames
cal moment Engines Nos 20. and 3l and
Hook and Ladders Nos. aud II arrived. Assistant
Foreman Colby, of Hook and Ladder No. 4, placed
thirtyhve-foot ladder against the burning building
and ascended to the fourth floor, which he saw at
glance vacant He descended and placed u
which he quickly reached. The smoke dense
and suffocatng. He entered through the window of
prostra'e on the floor and unconscious.
Sac is heavy woman. weighing over
foreman who is large and muscular, found it as
much he could do to lit her and carry her the
window. Foreman Jackson the ladder
side, and when the insensible woman placed in
his charge he threaded his way down the ladder with
great difficulty and danger until he placed his un-
conscious burden in the safe keeping of sympathz-
ing neighbors She was badly burned about the
face aud hands. but she held firmly cutched to her
breast small satchel which stuffed with green.
backs.
NEARLY sUFFocATED
Assistant Foreman Colby, nearly suffocated with
the smoke. groped his way to the OF the floor.
guided by the hali-stihed groan of person in dis
young schwab was found. coiled in a bundle on the
hoor, frothing at the mouth and surrounded by
flame In seeking to escape from his perilous posi-
ton he had sought out the most dangerous part.
The flames had followed the course of the
stairway from the basement to the attic the uncov-
cred scuttle cauoing draught which sucked the
flames toward the roof. An oaken door at the top
landing shut oat the full force of the fiery element
from the back rooms and kitchen. but the smoke
crept through the crevices and the vicinity OF
the Kitchen where the boy found particularly
dangerous location. he not rescued a moment
too soon. Indeed fears are entertained that in-
jures may prove fatal. He had inhaled the smo6e
in large quantiti and still unconscious when
removed to Bellevue Hospital. Assistant Foreman
Colby dragged the haIf-suffocated youth through
the length of the building until the front bedroom
window reached. when he lifted into the
arms OF Foreman Brown, OF Hook and Ladder No. 4.
who waiting outside stationed on top of the
ladder. In this manner mother and gal
lantly rescued from certain death.
THE INSURANCE..
The building damaged to the amount oe
$4,000. II insured in the Royal Insurance Com.
pany for 900 and in the Jefferson for $s.0 .00O The
furniture covered by insurance in the Royal Tor
$4,000. Continental $4,000. aud the Adriatic $500.
The stock and fixtures insured in the Royal for
: H. 500 and in the Stuy vesant ST. 900.
The store and stock were completely destroyed.
Mr.. witmark states that the $265 which he left on
the desk in the Office had dsappe and the
flames did not cause much damage III this quarter
he considers the loss of the bundle of grcenbacks
very my sterious. On the first hoor he had a valul-
BILE collection Of family oil paintings and two
upright pianos. all OF which escaped injury.
Assistant Foreman Colby had barely time to escape
from the building. As IL was he suffered consider.
ably from the inhalation OF anIoke He found q
bureau in the front parlor SIS in greenbacKs and
box of jewery ii placed there ready to be taken
away. but were forQotten in the excitement OF the
impending danger. These he took with him and
subsequently surrendered to the Fire Marshal. The
latter Is making investigation into the aud
origin of the fire.
p CnNIEDDTNn