New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-21
CRAzED BY TORTURING FLAMES.
FLINGING HIMSELF TO CERTAIN DEATH.


FLINGING HIMSELF TO CERTAIN DEATH.
A HoDoKEN THEATRE DESTROYED BY FIRE-vATA
DEVOTION OF BOY.
A destructive and fatal fire occurred in Hobokel
yesterday morning. The building in which i
began and which WAS totally destroyed togethe
with frame building adjoining, was Rober
Ciantzberss theatre, Nos 6i, 60 and 65 Washing
ton-st. II was a two-story frame structure, ex
tending back about 25 feet An extension II
| the rear almost touched Cronheims Theatre In
| IIudson-st. The entrance to Gantzberg's was
through barroom in front, and the theatre
proper occupied the width OF two full lots Nortl
OF the theatre and connected with it was q laNSj
| unoccupied room which was used during the
summer as pool room. troup of Tyrolest
| musicians the attraction at the performance
Sunday night.
The show closed about IL o'clock and was fol
lowed by dance in the vacant room. This
ended about 2 o'clock. Gantzberg's family lived
up stairs tho actors boarded with them and they
all retired to their sleeping apartments Tho
twelve persons sleeping in the bedrooms were
Gantzberg, his wife and his son Otto age twelve
Otto LADIES, Gantzberg's brother-inlaw and leader
of the orchestra; Louis PCloner, Franz Grauso
Max Peters, Frederick Pictsch and his wife, an9
Caroline Tuepp, the Tyrolcan singers; Florins
a servant Mrs Gantzbcrg was confined to her
bed with severe attack Of pneum onia.
THD SERVANT GIRL GIVES TINE ALARM.
About 4 30 a. m. the servant girl was awakened
by the smell Of smoke and fame and realizing
that the building was on fire, ran through the
corridor screaming fire" and knocking on the
bedroom doors. The occupants ran ont without
waiting to dress themselves and rushed toward
the stairs only TO find the way blocked by roaring
flames and dense volumes Of smoke. They tben
ran TO the front windows and some OF the men
in their excitement broke out the panes OF glass
with their fists. The fresh air was relief and
tho men threw up the window sashes and helped
the women ont on the ledge BY this time q
small crowd of men had gathered on the sidewalk
and called the terrified people above to Jump
one at time. Gantzberg lowered his wi down
as far a. h.. CONT reach and let her drop
into fhc outstretched arms OF the men below. The
then the men jumped They had no time to
spare n! T." roarl. Hams were advancing RAP
idly and speedily in thcir rear
Cantzberg that his wife was taken care OF
and then looked around to see If all the others
were safe lie discovered at once that his brother
in-law Labes was missing and began to shout
and before any one could stop him. was trying 10
force his way upstairs to arouse his uncle. !ils
While the crowd crowd were watching the boy, LADIES
appeared 8t Of the windows and IN his terror
and excitement threw himself headlong to the
sidewalk He was picked up and carried across
the street TO the Police HEADQUARTERS where he
died n few minutes later In the meantime some
Of the hremen went in search Of the boy and found
him lying in the hallway Just inside the door.
He WAS badly burned. cSDecially about the lower
limbs, and will probably die.
SPREADING To ADJOINING HOUSES
The fircmen, seeing that 1t would he useless to
try to save the theatre, turned their attention
TO the adjoining buildings. and success crowned
their efforts, except in the case Of No 30, which
fell prey to the flames. The building on the
north, No. 60 is occupied by Iirter Brothers,
pork packers. and 1t caught fire several times but
was quickly drcnched with water. The building
No 50. threc-story frame structure Mrs.
Glaser and her daughter occupied the second floor
and Mr. Pierce and his wife the third They
were awakened and rescued by ROundsman Fan
ming and Lieutenant Mccullough, OF the ID ltesi-
mcnt. They had barely time to dress themselves
and saved nothing but the clothing they wore.
All the sufferers were provided with temporary
quarters in Bade's Hotel There is some suspicion
OF incendarsm. but the fire probably originated
from lighted cigar thrown carelesslv on the
floor nv some one OF the audience at the show
Gantzberg estimates his loss at 10000: In
John IL ShorfcII, of New-York, and was insured
for its full value $1,000. No. 50 was owned BIZ
Counsellor A. Boyd whose loss is about $4,000
William Peterson. who kept butcher shop on
the first floor, loses $1,000 Both are insured.
Iirter Brothers the pork packers. ut No. 81. had
large stock They estimate their loss at 81 900,
which is covered by insurance. The losses Of the
others will reach about 1000, on which there is
no insurance.
About midnight the boy Gustave, died from his
burns at St. Nlary's IlospitAL