Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-08-04

NEW YORK, August 4-The Bowery yes
terday afternoon was the scene Of one OF
the most horrible and disastrous fires that
has visited New York in many day.
Fourteen dead bodies were taken from the
ruins. and number of persons taken TO the
hospital badly burned or injured by jump
ing. Some of these will die.
Theabuilding burned was . six story death
trap located in the rear of the Peoples The
atre in the center of the block bounded by
Bewery, Rivington, Christie and Delaney
streets and was unapproachable save BY an
alley way scarcely three feet wide and
hundred feet deep. The first, second, third
and fourth floors were used as tailoring
shops by four different firms, who en-
ployed nearly 100 men and women
in the manufacture of cloaks. All
OF the employees were Polish Jews. The
building, which was filled with inflam-
able maesrial, burned fercely and rapidly
and by the time the firemen reached the
scene II was roaring furnace. Back OF
the building is narrow courtyard about
SIX feet wide and covered with tagging.
All roads of escape being cut off,
many Of the affrighted inmates rushed
to the windows and jumped from the
third and fourth story windows to the mar
row pen below, only TO receive broken
limbs or heads. Many were overcome by
the smoke before the fire reached them and
were unconscious while their bodies were
being burned to a crisp. The FIRE, which
lasted a little over an hour, was drowned
ately made for the victims. One dead
body was found in the alley way
On the third floor, occupied by Mart J.
Klein, tailors, three dead bodies were
found; on the fourth floor, occupied by
Dawes, tailor. five mere found, and
on the fifth floor, H. Levine, coat maker,
five. All the corpses appeared to be those
Of men, and were burned beyond recogni-
ton. An unknown man died while under
the surgeons hands in the White House
Saloon at 1877 Bowery, making total of
Is dead. The injured, as far as known.
are: Phillip Trots aged 30, fatally burned;
badly burned and injured internally, will
die: Michael Rubenhaus, arm broken and
badly bruised; Ed. Mapastie. both arms
and legs broken, and Harris Berscheid,
ankle broken.
The origin of the fire il unknown. The
total loss, including 81, 900 damage to the
to Peoples Theater, will not exceed $l0,0 600.
The scenes attending the fire were heart
rending. Owing TO the peculiar situation
Of the building, the firemen were unable
to reach the people from the windows and
prevent their jumping, and the construc-
ton of the place was SO faulty that it is
doubtful if the suffocation and cremation of
inside victims could have been prevented
even if the firemen had been able to get to
work earlier. Crowds Of Polish Jews and
people of all descriptions thronged into the
Bowery, screaming and weeping, and
greatly impeded the work Of the police and
fremen. The lamentations uttered by rel
atives and friends as the dead and wounded
were brought out to the street were appall-
ing. The injured were cared for
on the sidewalks until ambulances from
the various hospitals arrived and the array
Of bleeding, MANNED and burned humanity
was ghastly one. The building hsd fire
escapes, but the fire ran up the rear of the
structure, cutting of egress by these as well
IS by the stairways. Some Of the victims
might have escaped by the way of the
roof If the dense smoke had not
overpowered them. 1t is doubtful, too,
if they knew that there was hatchway
there. The fire was probably caused by
upsetting Of q can of benzine. Mira Gray,
who lived on the third floor, was about to
become q mother. When the fam
lily were startled by the flames
coming up through the floor, Mr..
uTdlb Cdukht uP = Odbyy Abu NaiAln6 W LIZ
two other children, Joseph and Celia, to
follow. hoping TO return with help and
save the mother. Graft and the baby
alone escaped. An hour later the firemen
found Mrs Graft, with the newly born
baby, and Joseph and Celia, all dead.
Charles Norman, property man of the
Peoples Theater, saved many lives by
breaking down partition on top of the
theater and throwing ladder over the
alley to the third story windows of the
burning building, over which the occu-
pants OF that floor could pass. When thev
were all out Norman threw the ladder up
to the fourth story and rescued many
there. He says he was sstonished to. see
the frantic people trying to save their little
property BY throwing 10 out of the vim
down, while their lives were in danger, as
there was but q moment or to in which 70
work. The fierce heat soon made the lad
der bridge useless. He thinks the large
loa Of life is mainly due to the people be-
ing panic stricken.
The following is a list of the dead: Mrs
Adele Graft, aged %, with her new born
babs, burned to death; Joseph Graft aged
Z, burned to death; Celia Graft aged 4,
burned to death: Phillip Toloph, aged g,
killed by jumping rom sixth story, skull
crushed; Henry Schwartz, tailor, sufio-
Gated; unknown woman and ten men,
all burned 30 as to be unrecognizable.
These eleven bodies are at the morgue.
The police have record Of two killed and
tive missing. The injured are Asias Spence,
Bernard Rethman, Phi ip Torlove, Michael
kubineG. Abeaham Novstsky, Edward
Napisoc, Morris Bresheir, Nathan Lemie
Ida Frank and . woman named Sarah,
last name unlearned. The two women and
epsnuel will probably die. Some were in
jured by rumping others from burns
The missing are Henry Prodissl and
Benjsm;n Bernstein. The hospitals are be-
sieged besieged BY Polanders inquirins for