Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1885-05-09
HORRIBLE HOLOCAUST.
A TENEMENT BURNS AND BOASTS
MANY OCCUPANTS ALIVE.
A Scene to Convert the Unconvertcd n to
the Efficacy OF fire Human sacri-
fees Made when There Was No
Hope of Escape.

NEW York, May g. 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 the flames and
smoke unable to reach them. It was rli-
mored that the fire was the work Of an in
cendiary, but nothing definite win 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 i'm Park avenue The fol-
lowing is a list of the dead and injured:
Dead-Mrs. Minnie Kretchner, aged thir-
ty-four; Richard Kretchner, aged eleven;
William Hurley, aged twenty; Elizabeth
Hurley, aged twenty three; Christina Ker-
ner, aged fofty-eight; Joseph Humphrey,
aged thirty seven; Henry Humphrey, aged
four months, and servant girl named
Mary. ~
Injured-Mrs Kate hamburger, aged
twenty-eight, and daughter Kate, aged six
years; Mrs. Ida Enrich, aged forty; George
Hurley, aged fortytnine; Elizabeth Hurley,
aged fifty-five; Albert Kerner, aged four
teen; Christina Kerner, aged twenty three;
Kate Kerner, aged twenty; William Flanna-
gan, aged sixteen; Kate Lamphul, aged
seven, and Sophie Kerner, aged eleven.
Coroner Martin has taken charge Of the
case and viii commence an investigation
early in the week.
As soon as the stream had darkened the
flames a little, and almost before the embers
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 ono apart
ment to family was the rule. There were
ten families in the tenement, averaging five
persons each or these fifty men, women
and children, more than half are dead, in the
hospital or not accounted for There were
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 and 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 upper
floors flung her five-months old baby out Of
the window. Policeman Fegarty caught it
in his arms and carried it across the street
Several of the insurance patrol carried peo-
pie down stairs and hung out Of windows
with women and children in their arms till
ladders were put up
Chief Shea says he never saw 80 many ex-
cited people clustered about the windows Of
burning building. One woman who had
been given up rs 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 from drowning until an am
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 Immedi-
ately 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 flremen.
Mr. Rochick said:
1.-THE fire cut Off all egress by the stairs and
fire escapes The foorings of the latter and