The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1890-02-14
TEN PERSONS PERISHED,
horrible Scenes at a Boston
Tenement Fire.
nc escape of the Poor Italians Cut
pS the Blazing Siairways-A
rev Leap From tho WIndnw.

| VI INC EOOr Italians l'uI
Nv the Blazing Stairways-A
| &c" Leap From tho WInduw..
a terrible fire occurred on North Street.
| oos'on' Mass, shortly after midnight in a
"e,nehe mouse, occupied mostly by Italians.
."u the shocking summing up OF tn, disaster
mat ten persons were quickly burned to
"eath' three others fatally injured. and ak
niore were seriously, il not nortally hurt.
inere Is diversity Of accounts as to tho
circumstances Of the origin of the fire. the
Aar% eng Sse II ss SI5ssHYHgo sf5rs snoF 81
Maurice Rubey, on tho first floor and some
'h,"ue's before it was discovered, it had
e'een through the partition wall OF the hail.
thy wnlch contained the stairs leading to
Cne tensments above. The wooden stair
way was like candle, and tho fam s swept
up IKE ii ish. In doing SO it lighted ,ip
me nall way and shot little forks out through
tue cracks OF the door, and soon attra cted at
.ehtlon. in moment more the flames had
taken hold on the rear stairways ascending
from the Same hallway, and thus cut Off oil
escape LOT the occupants. The scenes which
occurred among the inmates when they were
a"uHened were OF the most exciting descrip-
ZION. There was no way for tn IN TO get
Town, aud rs they asccnd,d to the nttic the
'nes followed swiftly upon them. Shr;eks
o, o., terror, groans OF agony and cries of help
hileu Jne air.
Men, women and children filed the win
uoWs ana piteously pleaded for help. Soma
W ". Tue moro venturesome even hung from
siG Sue windows by only slight hold on the
r Os LADDERS were hurrieiIy hoisted. Lines
oI nose were quickly run off, and "pip,"
rom the chemical engines was rushed into
the farning mssl In -,,,;....&---.I-- -H----
sa,s hah g sase SHa been tass
from their positions Of peril, and the wound
eu mad been taken to places where their in
Jur:es could be cared for. 1t was not until Of
Ter the hre had been practically extingushed
tuaG the interior OF what was then but q
shell could be examined.
Chief Webber, followed by several fremen,
went into the building at little after ono
o'clock. and with difficulty ascendej to the
upper floors, The stairways from the street
to the second floor were completely burned
away. When the chief and his companions
reached the upper floor sight that horriiied
tnem met their eyes. Under one OF the
windows crouched human form, burned to
cr.sp almost, the two palms clasped togeth-
or and kneeling, as though at prayer. Fur
ther search showed in other parts OF the top
floor seven other human forms. covered with
cinders and ashes, naked, and disclosing
limbs that had been torn aSunder by falling
parts Of the building
Seeing their escap, from the floors below
to the street impossible, because tho stairs
were roaring masses Of fire, the terrified
victims had evidently rushed to tho upper
IL ior i'll their attempts to escape, and had
there been roasted, as thou IN held over a
furnace. Later two bodies Of infants were
removed from other narts of the building,
md the completed lists ten human lives
! A.. L.. =.