The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-08
BURNED In THEIR BEDS.
EIGHT LIVES LOST BY A FIRE
AT CHICAGO.
Narrow Escape OF q Number OF
Others-The Grand Theater
Mt Louisville Burned.

Canal street, at 4 O'CLOCK this morning
Ubich is Thought TO have been OF in
cendiary origin. Eight OF the sleeping
Inmates had no warning, end WIT
hnrned in their beds. They were
Michael Murphy and wife and two
dauchters, aged nine and eleven years;
Mrs. Mary Durkin snd infant ,hildi
Patsev LAWN, four years, and William
Hand, sixty-icht years OF age.
Toe fire broke out in the cellar oil
733 Canal ttreat. The flamts shot up
ward and quickly burned through the
first floor, which is on a level with the
ground. Shooting upward, the next
hoor was o abb re. The nre spread
through the wooden walls OF the base,
ment' and No. 731 was soon wrapped
in the flames which enveloped the adj
Joining number. Both houses were
filled with smoke before any OF the
occupants were aroused. Many OF
the ~sleepers were doubtless smo hered
in their BEES. 1t will probably never
he known who awoke and tried in
vain 10 escape from the sitting smoke
and tcorching flames. The flames FOL:
lowing rapidly after the smoke, burned
the i~nsensate bodies till they
were uurecognizable masses OF black
and charred bones and fish. Inc
lower floor of 7S3 was occupied by
John Raleigh, jr. His wife was
awakened bv a sense Of suffocation.
She aroused her husband, who hastily
threw on a few articles OF clothing.
He threw up a window. The raging
flames fcorched his face, singing his
hair end mustache. Not hesltating a
moment, he caught his wife in his
arms. and W tn a terrible effort, threw.
her bodily through the flames out OF
the window. Her night dress caught
on fire, but with great presence OF
mind she extinguished the flames with
her hands and lent assistance to her
husband in saving the lives OF their
two smsll children. The fire had
gained additional Roadway. He was
unable to put the children out of the
same window. He then kicked on
the wall to arou e the people on the
second floor. Catching the babies in
his arms, he ran up stairs and jumped
with them from a second story WIN
dow.
The second floor Of No 799 was oc-
cupied by the Durkin and Murphy
families. No membtr OF either OF
these families escap. d. The firemen,
in searching the ruins OF the houses,
came upon the most narrowing
n Some were lying in the half
burned beds. others, who were
awakened before death came upon
them, were clutcbing each other 10
o u on the floor. They were all
evidently overcome by the smoke be-
fore any effort could be made to es-
cape.
The upper floor was occupied by
William Hand, jr. His father lived
with him. They were aroused by the
smell of the smoke. Toe young mar
caught up the children and jumped
from the second story window with
them, after assisting his wife to the
street. He wanted to help his father
down, but the old man insisted on
his jumping with the children. The
aged and deerepid form OF the cd
gentleman was seer at the window 9
moment, and then disappeared Just
as he was about to leap. The raging
fire prevented the making Of an effort
for his rescue.
The lower floor Of No. 731 was oc
cupied by a man named McGulrei
who kept a grocery store. All his am
ily was saved. 1t is believed that the
fire was the work OF an incendisry
II was first seen by a Waterman in {
brewery heal by. He started owe t
alarm the occupants. When in the
rear OF the burned houses he met
man who said: '"Tbere's a fire
you'd better turn in an alarm" Tit
man disappeared up the alley, Tn
Waterman could not identity him
he should see him again. This is thu
third time the place has been Sc
aire.
John WEIGH, a tesmster, said tina
he YVES at the scene OF the fire fv,
minutes after 1t STATED. He Iendere'
what assistance he could and helpe'
in caring for the t~uffocated victims
He said a great delay was made il
sending ia the alsrm. The delay wa
caused by the msn who pulled tn
box rot understanding its working
and the delay hsd much to do witt
the fatal result. The origin of tn
fire was at first a mystery, un
iii a tub containing clothes saturate,
with coal oil was discovered in tn
basement. The articles in the tub wer
removed, and a strong smell OF tn
oil could be detsCtsd on raising tn
contents. The scene.o the fire WASH
the midst of thst quarter occupied b,
the poorer people or working clssses
and to-day poorly clad men, womeI
and children stood around the plac
discussing the tragedy. But few pei
sons were allowed to enter the hohsE
unless they were friends of the forme
occupants.
Little Johnny Durkip, aged 81
weeks, lies in Ward 10 at the count
hospital. The physician refused
say whether the child would recove
or not, but he thought II it had nc
inhaled TOO much heat the chance
were in its favor. lis worst exterDs
burus are about the head and fee
which were not protected as We
when found as4he rest of its body.
John Raleigh, who is landlord {
both the burned houses, told his stor
as follows: "When l heard the shout
ing / jumped out of bed and dresse
myself. When | went out l foun
three or four boys trying to get a lac
der up to one of the windows OF Mul
phys room. The heat was TOO II
tense; nobody could stand it. l the
grabbed the ladder and made r0un
to the back window. / placed it t
the sill and climbed CUP, but was me
at the window by sheet of flame tbs
nearly knocked me down into tn
yard. / shouted but got no re
sporse. l did not hear even q erl
or q mean In a few mcmenis th
engines came, and l told the me
there were two f~snilies inside. The
said they could not do anything unit
they had subdued the hte. Whei
they got in the only member Of tn
two families they touud aliTe was Iii
tie Johnny DuikiD, a child Of abou
elk weeks. In my opinion the tr
was the work Of incendiaries, thong
what their object could have been
cannot divine"