New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-05
DETAILS OF THE CALAMITY.

Yesterday morning at . O'CLOCK, HOtNllIStduuIllE
that they belonged to the working classes; but
some of them were children. A slight hustle and
the smell of cooking indicated thut others were pre-
paring for the labors of the day. few of the men
indeed had already taken their dinner paris, had
said good "bye to their families and had started oil
to their work.
On the third floor John Regan fast asleep
while on the fourth and fifth floors, the CaNsldys
and the SheridaDs were not yet up The Egans
and Mudoons the second floor, aud the McKen'
mas Oh The third, preparing break
fast. Mrs. Lizzie McKenna, who was
in general charge of the house, in the narrow
courtyard sweeping off the damp faCstones. In
Doyle's hquor-shop, in the front bullding John
OHaran, the barkeeper, was serving his morning
customers. Timothy J. Harrington, plumber, aud
his helper Charles McGoin, entered the hQuorstore
ana passed into the tenement-house, with which 1t
communicated by a door, to inspect some water
pipes Suddenly the morning quiet was broken by
the sound Of an explosion. The gasoline
used by tho plumbers had taken fire.
The rear door of the hQuor-shop opening into
the tenement-house was violently burst OPEN
O'IIaran started from behind the bar as a man
rushed in. whose clothing was mass of flames. 1t
was Harrington. the assistant plumber. Overalls
and shirt were enyeOped in fire. Fire, fire." he
fhriekcd as he dared through the liquor store into
the street. where the flames were exrlDguished. Mr..
DOnigan engineer OF FIRE Engine NO u WHO was
passing, rang an alarm
In the meantime. Mrs. McKenna turning around
caught sight of the flames bursting from the hall
opening into the courtyard. A living wall of fire
kept her from entering the door. Frenzled at the
thought of her family on the third 0Or she rushed
into ex-Assemblyman Grady's rOoms which we're
over the beer-shOp in the front building Making
her way TO the roof of the mousse she attempted to
lift the scnttle of the tenement-house, which was
story higher than the building in front But
fire and smoke were already leaping up through the
scuttle owing that the flames had spread through
the house. Almost crazcd, she was beaten back by
the fire and forced descend through the house in
frrnt.
Only two or three minutes had passed since the
alari0 ard the inmates Of the house were as yet
hardly conscious of their peril. But the rapdity
with which the fire spread was appalling Patrick
Egan, sitting in his kitchen the second floor
waiting for his breakfast heard the explosion on the
floor below
Whats that is it thunder 7" he asked
His daughter opened tine door into the hall and
blaze of fire swept in against her. She threw the
door to and the terrified family sprang to the
windows Fortunately the height from the ground
was not great The two sons. Thomas and Joseph,
)eaped from the windows. Egan lowered hIo
daughter and wife by their hands until they could
drop safely ON the stores of the courtyard and then
alarm had spread to the next floor Charlie
McKenna, little fellow fourteen years DID, was at
breakfast with his brother At the sound OF the
explosion and the sight of the red tongue of hire
leaping UP through the hall ne seized the baby and
ran TO a window which opened upon the balcony
of the fire-escape. But that was already encrced
in flames The iron ladder passed directly before
the hall window from which rolled out volumes Of
flame and smoke Finding escape there impossible,
has ad forh holm until n neipbbOr stood under
meath the window, and the baby was dropped down
lust as Charles hair caught fire. His little brother
Hugh, despite his struggles. was also dropped down,
and then Charlie cambered down by the aid OF the
fre-escape and shutters. The MudoOn children
on the second floor were hastily wrapped in bed
clothing and thrown from the window into the
court Mrs. Muldoon leaped after them.
Suddenly the figure of man, clad only in shirt.
appeared at a third-foor window 1t was John
Regap. lust awakened from sleep. Springing out
on the window sill he swung himself by the aid Of
the shutters to the ledge of window in the rear of
Mir. Grady's house. Clnging there he shrieke1
with desperate energy while the flames roared at his
back At last. after minutes Of terrible suspense,
he was heard by those wIthin the window was
opened and he was taken III. Others were saved IN
the same way.
The scene was terrible one at the time of the
arrival of the Hremen who we're the spot eight
pipntes after the alarm sounded. At Madison and
James-sts was collected an eager crowd who
could only see the smoke rising above the
buildings. Entrance to the narrow. alley lead
ing by Grady's house to the tenement-house
was forbidden. This window castings were On hre
and from the windows leaped hungrlly curling
tongues of flames The floors and partitions were III
Q blaze. At first 1t seemed to be an ordinary fire.
But suddenly the faces of the looKersOn grew pale
Agonzing shrieks and screams rang out from the
upper stories and thrill of horror ran through the
spectators at the thought of the Caesidys on the
fourth and the Sheridans on the fifth floor
Mary Sheridan discovering the fire had called to
her mother and sisters aud running to the scutte
had pushed il open and had sprung to tue
roof of No. 81 Madison-st. The fire followed
her cutting Off the escape OF the Others. n
column of fame and smoke 10 feet IN heiRht
shot no through the scuttle Policemen Haly anu
Davis. Of the Oak Street Station, climbed TO the
reof from James-st., and saved some of the inmates
But the shrieks that above the roar oil the
names the crackle of shivering glass anu snonts OF
the crowd told of many human beings Buheringa
horrble death. Tue little court into whien ine
house opened was Intensely hot from tne nIe
that the remeu coud not enter 1t TO raise their lad
defs. At last, getting upon adl0ining DulidinRs'
sbey poured torrents Of water upon the nre. Inc
means within grew fainter. Those OF the victims
Who escaped death by inhallDR flame were smOtn-
cred by the black hot smoke.
In half All hour the house was gutted and the
flames practically extinguished. Half re-
lnetantiy iiremen and policemen began the search
Tor the dead. There was an exclamation CT horror
o the first man whe crept up the biackened stairs
reached the fourth floor. In the kitchen IN the rear
lay the body of Mrs. Bridget Cassidy burned almost
% crsp. while near her were her three
children evidently smothered by the smoke. On the
other side OF the hall were the bodies of Ellen EgaI
and John Walsh, boy. Tho little grl. almost
baby. had quickly suecumbed 10 the noxious fumes
g and was found dead under the bed. On the fifth