Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-10
SAVED FROM THE FLAMES
THE BORGSS FANTLY'S NARROW
ESCAPE FROM DEATH.

Burning OF a House on Habershan
Street.-The Occu pants Aroused Rarely
in Time TO Rescue Them from SuffOca-
tiOn-A Colored Mans Bravery.
The midnight fire that destroyed Lewis
Boriss' home came within an ace of Gre
mating himself and family. At 1890
O'Clock last night some persons who were
passing the neighborhood Of Habersham
and Cam streets saw the blaze through
tho windows.
While officer Bradley was hurryirg TO
turn in an alarm Some c0lored men We're
trying TO awaken the sleeping occupants.
Cries from the outside failing % arouse
the sleepers, a cOlOred man rushed against
the door, Ii gave way, and he stumbled
inside and burst into the room
in which Boriss and his wife
and three children were being rapidly sur
located. A l7-m0nths babe lay across its
mothers breast. She and her husband
awOke with a scream.
The fire was cracking and swapping,
and the flames had just reached the head
of the bed. A moment more and 1t
would have been ablaZe and the sleepers
burned TO death. Snatching the infant
from its mothers arms, the brave colored
man hurried ont with il into the fresh air.
dense hot smoke, CROPPED their way out
as best they could. Neither had time TO
seize more than blanket.
Two other children, ! and 9 years old,
slept in the same room. They, too, were
carried out shrieking from fright The
oldest child, daughter Of IA, slept in an
adjoining room. She had barely
time to escape In her night
dress. Neighbors assembled quickly
md f.-. al
ing, doing their best TO save a part Of the
household effects. They were partially
successful. but the owner was compelled
10 witness the ruin of much of his furni-
tuTe, together with his house.
No other buildings adi0ined the burn
ing one, and the fremen had little to
watch except the one dwelling. Just
opposite, and only few rods away, was
IT. Mary's Orphan Home. The light
wind that was blowing carried the smoke
and myriads OF sparks high into the air
and towards the frame building occupied
by the orphans. Waterplugs were not
convenient and the engines could do little
more than delay the fire and lessen It's
tierceness.
Like the fire in the same locality three
WHcks ago no cause is assigned. The
FAMILY went to bed very early about
O'Clock. Mrs. B0riss said that she is posi-
WV ttiAh LAcIt WIS no uFG IN Inc stove
when They retired. Supper was over two
hours before, and the fire was allowed to
die out.
An incident that suggests the idea Of a
flrebug was related by Mrs. BOriss after
The family and effects that We're saved
We're taken into a neighbor'5 house. She
stated that just after dark last night one
OF the younger children called her from
her work into the front room The child
was very nervous, and said that some one
mad reached in through the open window
ana moved the curtain aside. The mother
quleted the child as best she could by
saying II was some one playing The
other children who were listening became
nervous and laid awake for some time
Mr. Boriss, the owner and occupant, is
cabinet maker. His place Of business
is AZ u Abercorn street He has been
SICK for some time, and went to bed sick
last night. Ia the pocket OF coat that
was burned was $40 bill. Thus money,
clothing, furniture and home were all
swept away in less than an hour.
The house, which is a 2-story frame
structure, Is only u stones throw beyond
the new base ball park, was insured for
Sfuo. The kitchen was insured for $50,
the furniture for 500 and 500 more ON
other things, making total of 81 ,O50. II
is placed by Mr. r. +. Neufyille, and is
SAID to be in the Northern Insurance Com
pany Of London Euu