New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-31
BACK IN THEIR LITTLE BEDS.
THE BURNED OUT CRIPPLEs UNFRAMED.
INCIDENTS OF CHILDISH CooLSFss-THE CAUSE OF
THE FIRE A MYSTERY.

THE FIRE MYSTERY.
Tho Door little children In tho bosrital Of tho New
York Society for the relief of tho Ruptured and Grip
Pied did not seem suffer yesterday from the effects
OF tho fright and exposure they experienced during
the fro of tho night before Tho entire population
about Forty second II. and Lexington ave had turned
out at tho tmo OF tho fire. and had provided retreats
for the little tots rapidly as they were rescued
by citizens, fremen and policemen Tho youngsters
had the most thorough during the night, and
nothing spared by their Kind volunteer hosts
to mako them comfortable
Tho dormitories OF the children In tho hospital re-
ceved n thorough ventilation during tho night, and
at about six o'clock yesterday morning were almost
FREQ from a smell OF smoke. Then collection
OF tho inmates was begun, and armfus OF tho little
patients were brought in from every side. They
all seemed happy enough, and apparently looked upon
the nights experiences in the light Of lark
"Those are the bravest kids ever saw said Fire
man william H. Donnis. OF Hok aid Ladder Co. No. 2.
Yesterday while he searching the burnt premises
for lost hook. "There wasn't one OF them that
seemed scared We just packed them up like bundles
carried them down stas. and dropped TEN Into
willing hands that plentiful to receive them
I thought the youngsters all out, but went to
search once more, carefully. The smoke was so thick
could not see vey well bn grored into the corners
and I'm one found bundle Of bed clothes that seemed
alive Sure enough 1t little crookedlegeed KID
and he al once became wide av AXE, and grabbed me
by the coatcoar. l carried him down and he mover
opened his mouth until we got out Of doors Then ne
said quietly: ITS cold out. isn't itP'
During the day yesterday there perfect tor
rent OF visitors the hospital most of them consist
ing OF anxious relatives OF the children Some of them
wanted to take their little ones at once to place OF
safety but when they saw the condition OF things
they gave up their purpose. One woman came tear
Ing into the Office. rushing by the policeman guarding
the entrance, and at once set up wall for her dar
lint he had n bundle
seven shawls in which she intended wrapping up
what sne supposed was halffrozen and terror
stricken bit of humanity. She was not convinced OF
the contrary, until she her little girl gayly enjoy
ing game of tag with lot of Others who hobbed
around in lively their deformities would
permit.
Both in the boys and girls wards TRIBUNE re-
porter found a collection of bright eyes and happy
expressions, such one rarely finds even among
children of better physical condition They were all
CHEEKY, and ready to make new acqualntances In
the boys ward the reporter at surrounded by
a crowd of shrlll-voiced lads who We'd with one an
other tell just how It happened They pointed out
with evident pride George Kaiser, who had carried
out helpless comrade.
The damage to the building is not great as was
at first supposed The fire confined entirely to
an II wing, which contained bathrooms and closets
on each floor, and separate staircase leading from
story to story. The fire began tho first floor, In
the bathroom used by the staff and nurses There
had been fire of any kind in either this bathroom
any other part of the wing since II was built and
this fact renders the origin Of the fire still more In
explicabe The officials Of the hospital have no the
ory regarding the OF the fire. but will continue
I'm their hitherto unsuccessful attempt to unravcl the
mystery.
DIR. Ell Z. Josselyn, IN whose room the first fire oc-
cured thinks that ono person Is responsible for
both. The burning Of the top of the dressing case in
the doctors study was certainly remarkable occur
renee. There was q cloth the dresser and pair OF
new suspenders had been left lying near the edge.
When the alarm was given, the suspenders had been
burnt cnder the cloth was going up In smoke, anu
one end thick top board blazing vigorously
Tho doctor insists that he had been smoking in tho
room for hour and a quarter before the fire. 1t
W as but a few after the first fire had been put
out that the bath wall and door werc found 10
be in flames.
The fire must have made remarkably rapid Roadway,
for ten before the alarm had been sent out,
Hook and Ladder No Q passed the building, on their
way to the engine house from fire In Forty ninh-st
None Of the fremen noticed anything and were Just
about to oil their truck when they were called 10 the
hospital. ,,,
johnny Reilly one of the boy patients disappeared
strangely at the beginning OF the nro'
1t was found later, that he had gone to bis homo
No. 2lO East ty-fourth-st The fact was thought
to have q possible signfc ance, and President Will
lam II. Osborn and Warden Walter j. Averlil ex-
sned the boy Iaey oO wee
and gone home, after the alarm. ~
The Fire Marshal did not proceed with an nvestiga-
ton Of the fire yesterday but VIII LOOK INTO Inc
necessary repairs In the wing.
tho smoke has Two Sisters here, and will DO buried
by thom to morrow.