Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-02-01

spread their SleeCS, Wule WluuS nhuuo
grasped them and held them for
those above to jump into. Some fe"
availed themselves of this means of escape.
A long wire connected telegraph pole
with an upper Park Row window, and by
cutting tho wire a. tho pole fire escape
was. .improvised, down which four persons
slid from a fourth story window to the
ground. One man jumped from the fifth
story window to the telegraph wires IN
front of the building and creeping along
them slid down the pole. Flames were
shooting out Of all the top windows and
the three sides. The heat was almos5 in
sufferable. but its temperature was mid
compared to what it was hall an hour
later. The great crowd that had gathered
below were horror stricken to see four
persons hanging by the lintels of the win
dOws Oh the fourth floor. Three of the men
were on the Nassau street side. The other:
an old man, was isolated by himself on the
Beekman street side. The smoke almost
blinded them the flames almost scOrched
them. Flames of fire dropped upon them,
but there they stood and hung, awaiting,
as all thought who saw them. inevitable
death.
A Terrible Fall.
The flames danced from window to win.
dow, approaching with fierceness that
paled many cheek to the spot where the
three men were. The firemen had trained
four streams of water upon the men and
upon the windows nearest them and
checked the flames. Ladders were brought,
but all fell short by about four feet. The
flames suddenly broke ont of the window
nearest the men and the orstricken
persons expected mOmentarily to see them
drop, but two we'll directed streams speed
lily drove the flames back. A desk was
brought out at the suggestion of MIR. An
thOny Comstock. and he braced himself,
allowing the ladder to rest on his back.
But while the ladder was being put in
position one of tho men drOppea, in the
hope ofcatching it, and missing his aim fell
to the street, his head striking tho curb
with sickening thud. He was picked up
his name was Richard Davy-and
carried into cigar store opposite and an
ambulance was sent for. In the mean-
time, with tho aid of tho desk and score
of stalwart arms, the ladder was placed
| directly under the feet of one of the men.
He was young man and further from the
flames than the other, but with q display
of bravery that called forth the cheers of
| the hundreds who saw the act he stretched
out his hand to the older man and helped
| him to descend fiyst. AS tho older man
reached the sidewalk his appearance was
greeted with cheers and he was rushed
| over to the cigar store. He was uninjured;
! his name was A. N. Stewart and he is the
editor and proprietor of the ScottishAmeri
can Journal. Then the ladder was shifted
| to the other window and tho hero of tho
fire descended. His name is Edward
Moore, compositor Oh tho ScottisaAnacr:-
can Journal.
| A Brave Colorcd IsoOtblack.
| On the corner of Beckman street and
Park Row for months past might nave
been seen IL co!orcd bootblack who was
known as Charles Right. This morning
he occupied his usual position, when he
was startled by loud cry of Fire ~
Ho Immediately went to the scene of the
blaze, then On the fourth floor. He saw
three men standing on the window-sill OF
the fourth floor. At the same time he
noticed that a large telegraph cable ran
from the roof of the burning structure to
pole which stood near the curb in front
of the building. Without moments
hesitation he climbed up the pole, and on
reaching the top, with a spike he cut
loose tho wire which came from the
roof. He then took it aud threw it toward
tho three men. As soon as it reached the
men they proceeded down it hand over
hand till they reached the ground in safe
| ty, thus owing their lives to tho fore
! thought Of this heroic bootblack.
| Among tho miraculous escapes none was
more remarkable than that of Mr.. Charles
Blackwell, who was cut off from escape
both on the Park Row and Nassau street
entrances. He burst through the door of
| an Office fronting on Beekman street, on
the fourth story, and climbing out Of the
window held on firmly to a large sign
board till the fireman reared ladder and
rescued him. Tho rcscuers were not q
moment too soon, for he had not
descended more than talf way down the
| ladder when sheet Of f1amo swept
out OF tho window through which he
had emerged, aud half a minute
later the cornice of the roof tumbled
over with a loud report. The cheers of
tho spectators for the gallant firemen
| were again and again repeated. Two girls,
shortly after the flames were discovered.
street. side. A ladder was quickly raised
ing for assistance, Mr.. +. Herrlich,
water meter inspector, sprang up the lad
der, and taking ono Of them in his arms
proceeded down the ladder amid the shouts
and applause of the spectators. After de-
livcring up his charge nc again went up
tho ladder and brought down the other
girl.
\ Woman's Death Leap.
Ellen Bull, a colored janitress, was at
her work when she became aware of the
presence Of the fire. She, with two men,
rushed to tho window of the top floor on
the Park Row side and climbing out
gained footing on the cornice of the
window below. In this position, the smoke
ever and anon clouding them from the
gaze of horror stricken thousands in the
street, they remained for at least five
minutes, which must have seemed ages to
the unfortunate persons. Meanwhile the
fircmen and citizens halloed to them en-
couraging words and in most sup
plcating manner babe them retain
their hold little longer, and with an
carnestness that was truly heroic the citi-
zens helped the raising of the ladders to
the place where the persons clung for life.
Suddenly tho colored woman rose bold
upright on tho cOrnicc and her shout to
clear the way sent terror to her hearers.
The men raised their hands and begged
that she stay a moment longer, but in
vain. She gathered her clothes tightly
about her and sprang, striking the street
with sickening thud. Several men i'm
mediately sprang forward and raised the
almost lifeless body and carried it into a
neighboring restaurant and from thence
cJ, onOuovo6 IN op,hu1auoo fo ho