The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1885-05-07
HORRIBLE HOLOCAUST.
A TENEMENT BURNS AND ROASTS
MANY OCCUPANTS ALIVE.
A Scene to Convert the Unconverted as to
the Efficacy of Fire-Human Sacri-
fees Made When There Was No
Hope Of Escape.

NEW YORK, May 3.-The terrible fire and
loss of life which occurred in the tenement
house ON First avenue caused the greatest
excitement among the residents on the East
SIDE of the city, and all day long the scene
of the disaster was visited by thousands Of
people
The building in which the fire occurred is
five-story double tenement, and had only
recently been built. There were ten families
in the building at the time of the outbreak,
and unfortunately there were no fire escapes
in the front of the building, the only escapes
being in the rear, and the inmates residing
In front were, on account of tine flames and
smoke, unable to reach them. 1t was ru.
nlored that the fire was the work of an in
cendiary, but nothing definite will be known
until the fire marshal has made an investi-
cation.
Numerous complaints were made Of the de-
lay in the fire department, but that is ac-
counted for by the engines of the district be-
ing at another fire in Park avenue. The fol-
lowing is list of the dead and injured:
Dead-Mrs. Minnie Kretchnsr, aged thir-
ty-four; Richard Kretchrer, aged eleven;
William Hurley, aged twenty; Elizabeth
Hurley, aged twenty three; Christina Ker-
ner, aged forty-eight; Joseph Humphrey,
aged thirty-seven; Henry Humphrey, aged
four months, and servant girl named
Mary.
mjured-Mrs Kate hamburger, aged
twenty-eight, and daughter Kate, aged SIX
years; Mrs Ida Ehricn, aged forty; George
Hurley, aged forty-nine; Elizabeth Hurley,
aged tifty-five; Albert Kerner, aged four
teen; Christina Ksrner, aged twenty three;
Kate Kerner, aged twenty; William Flanna-
gan, aged sixteen; Kate Lamphul, aged
seven, and Sophie Korner, aged eleven.
Coroner Martin has taken charge of the
case and will commence an investigation
early In the week.
As soon as the stream had darkened the
flames little, and almost before the embsrs
ceased to glow, the rooms were searched for
the people. They were found and brought
out and hurried to the hospital for an effort
at resuscitation. The occupants OF the >tene-
ment were mainly Germans and one apart
ment to a family was the rule. There wera
ten families in the tenement, averaging five
persons each. OF these fifty men, women
and children, more than half are dead, in the
hospital or not accounted for. There weTa
no fire escapes on the front of the building
and the old ones on the rear of the house
were clogged with rubbish. The scuttle on
the roof was locked ana the tenants who
went up to go on the roof had to retreat
The smoke filed the house and the stairway
caught fire.
A woman who lived In one Of the uppc.
floors flung her fiye-months old baby out of
the window. Policeman Fegarty caasl.. It
in his arms and carried it across the street.
Several of the insurance patrol carried poo
pie down stairs and hung out of window.
with women and children in their arms till
ladders were put up.
Chief Shea says lie neyer saw so many ex-
cited people clustered about tho windows of
burning building. One woman who had
been given up as dead and stretched among
the corpses was seen to show signs Of life,
and men worked upon her as they would in a
case Of rescue frcm drowning unil an anl.
bulance could take her away.
Mr.. Rochich, who, with his wife and three
children occupied the top floor, was the only
tenant who escaped without loss. Innledi-
ateiy after the fire was discovered, he closed
his doors and windows to keep out the smoke.
He then took his wife and children to the
front window and passed them one by one
down the ladders erected by the freEeE
Mr. Rochick said:
''The fire cut off all cgress by the stairs and
fire escapes The foorings of the latter and
the boxes and wash :Cos stored thereon burnt
Like tinder and made the iron work Of tie
fire escapes SO hot that it was impossible to
get down If ths people had only shut their
doors and gone to the top of the building,
none would have been killed. I saw Mrs
Humphrey in the hospital and she said that
Humphrey had set the place on fire. Philip
Limhac!Ser, painter, was awakened by the
smoke. He reused his wife and four chiLlren
and dropped them from the third story into
the arms of persons below. They were not
much hurt"
The fire did not get beyond tho fourth floor,
except in the Railways, where the doors and
wainscotting were blackened and cbnrred.
The building was erected in 1876 It is
owned by the estate Of David Jones, the ale
brewer.
Coroner Martin viewed the bodies at the
morgue aud granted a permit for their re-
moval. He will lmpannel jury to view the
building, and will hold an inquest some time
during the week.
The fire broke out in the kitchen of Hum
phrey's restaurant The police think it was
due to csrelessness on Humphreys part, whd
often closed his saloon and left hot fire in
his range Mrs. Burge, whose saloon ad-
joined Humphreys, said she had often spoken
to him about the careless manner in which
be left his fire, but he only laus shed and said:
&c oil ;rlt