New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-15
HEROLSM AMONG FLAMES.
BRAVE RESCUES AT A TENEMENT HOUSE
FIRE.
ONE WOMAN AND CHILD BURNED 10 DEATH
IAN OIL STOVE THE CAUSE.

IAN OIL STOVE THE CAUSE
Mrs. Emily Reefkine lives on the second aoor
Of the six-story double tenementhouse at No.
SO Norfolk-st, with her family Of three small
children. At few minutes after o'clock last
evening she started fire In oil-stove which
was standing on q window sill IN the kitchen.
She went into the front room for short time, and
on her return found the ol-stove in blaze and
the woodwork in the window burning. She
tried 70 put out the fire with q blanket, but IL
had got too much headway, and she pushed the
oil-stove out of the window. When it struck the
yard IL exploded and threw the burning oil into
the hallway and over the rear Of the building.
The aames extended with great rapidity TO the
upper part Of the building through two ar-shafts
and the stairway. and the place was filed with
dense smoke. There were eighteen families and
in all about 100 persons in the house when the
fire started. Many Of them were eating in their
rooms, when the smoke oame pouring in upon
them, and everybody made wild rush for the
stairs. Escape by this means was cut OF from the
families living above the second door, and they
groped their way TO the front and rear Of the
structure through the halls, TO the fre-eScapes.
There were fire escapes fronting on the street and
the yard, but there were so many excited people
on them that they got In each others way and
thero was great danger that many lives would be
lost, as the dameS had burst through the windows
below them and threatened 10 drive them back into
the building.
BRAVE But gRUITIEeS EFToRT.
Mns Karowslcy, who lived on the afth door.
ran down the stairs with her baby In her arms
at the first sign Of FIRE. She was overcome by
unaloe on the second floor, but she orawled with
great dIfhcaltg % tho trons window and held the
baby Gus into tho comparatively fresh air while
she called for help. John Smith, Of No 81 Nor.
folk-St, saw the woman's perilous position, and
at once started up the front Of the building,
climbing from window TO window. He shouted
words Of encouragement 70 the poor woman, who
had crawled out ON the ledge. The flames were
coming nearer to her every second, and she feb
back into the room.
Her face appeared % the window again in an
instant. She held her baby out when Smith
within few feet Of her, but she did not hear
his cry, and dropped the child. 1t struck q can
vas awning and rolled on striking man In the
head, but it escaped injury. Mrs. Karowslcy
Jumped after the child. She struck the awning,
passed through it and broke cellar door. She
WIS picked up in an unconscious condition, taken
to q ncighbortug drugstore, and subsequently TO
Gouveneur Hospital Her injuries are serious.
Smith retraced his steps short distance and then
had 20 jump for his life. He unnjured, eX-
cept few burns upon the hands.
J. j. Wilbigg, Grand Army veteran, Of No.
lGO Delancey-st., heard some children crying
on the stairway leading from the first floor, and
he dashed into the building. lie saw the chill
dren huddled on the stairs with the flames above
and below them. Without moments hesitation
he ran through the fire, picked up a child in
oach nrm and brought them to the street IN safety
lie did not escape as well himself, as he was
burned in the hands, face and head. He did not
pay any attention 70 his injuries, but assisted
the tenants from the fire escapes.
The presence OF mind Of Frank Otis. OF No
rs Norfolk-St. saved many lives. There was
no ladder on the lower fire escape and the people
TO get down, would have TO make jump OF
about twenty feet 10 the street Otis got a ladder
from fire escape another building, and ia
this way the tenants were enabled TO reach the
street Long ladders were raised TO the roof
soon as fremen arrived, and the people who
had fed there for safety were rescued.
OVERCOME BY THE FLAMES.
Soon after Mrs. Sarah Goldberg, who lived on
the second floor, came sta ggerng out OF the build
ing from the front door and fell fainting into
the street She recovered consciousness in a mo-
ment, and said that Mrs Kirschman, her mother,
and her child hAd fallen on the stairway behind
her. Mrs. Goldberg is delicate woman, and
she gave her child her mother TO carry. Several
lrcmen tried 10 get up the stairs, but the smoke
and flames drove them back several times, and
the woman and child had TO be abandoned.
The fremcn got the fire under control and pre-
vented il from doing much damage 10 the adj DIN
ing buildings. search was then made for the
dead bodies and they were found the landing
OF the second floor. Mr. Goldberg had been at
work and the first he knew OF the fire was when
he saw the unconscious form Of his wife lying
the door Of butcher-store, and the dead bodies
Of his daughter Ond mother in-law The shock
nearly orazed him and several Of his friends had
to hold him 20 prevent him from iniuring himself,
The inside OF the building WIS entirely de- |
stroycd, and the tenants lost everything. The |
house is owned by Henry Spetkouski, and the total
damage is estimated at 81 900, partly covered by
insurance.
John Turner, pedler, while working at the fire |
was struck In the face by brick thrown by some /
unknown person. and had his skull fractured. He /
was taken to the Gouverneur Hospital.
AN oPFER FOR THIS ELGry wAroH FACTORY.