The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-03
MEN ROASTED LIKE BEEF.
TEN DEAD AND THREE DYING AS
RESULT OF BOSTON'S BLAZE.

a RESULT OF BOSTON'S BLAZE.
Strong Suspicious that the Fire Was
the Work OF Drunken Row-Two
stairways that Afforded the Only
Means of Escape Burned Before the
Buildings Sleeping Inmates We're
Awakened.
Boston, Feb. 2.-In July, forty-four
years ago, nine persons were burned to
death in fire on North street. Boston had
not recorded a counterpart in fatality to
that disaster until this morning shortly
after midnight, when fire broke out in the
dwelling house No. 259 and No. 261 of that
same street, occupied mostly by Italians.
and the shocking summing up of the dis
aster is that ten persons were quickly
burned to death, three others fatally in
iured. and six more were seriously, if not
mortaily, hurt.
WHERE IT STARTED.
There is diversity of accounts as to the
circumstances of the origin of the fire, alarm
aud rescue. 1t is believed that the fire
started in the clothing store of Morris
Ruby. on the first floor, and some minutes
DeIOl6 II was dASCONOI6u IL ndQ eaLGn
through the partition wall OF the hallway.
which contained the stairs leading to the
tenements above. The wooden stairways
were like tallow candle, and the flames
swept up like a flash. In doing so they
lighted up the hallway, and shot little forks
out through the cracks of the door and
soon attracted attention. In a moment
more the flames had taken a hold on the
rear stairways ascending from the same
hallway, and thus cut off all escape for the
occupants.
HEARTRENDING SCENES.
The scenes which occurred among the in
mates when they were awakened were of
the most exciting description. There was
no way for them to get down, and as they
ascended to the attic the flames followed
swiftly upon them, and shrieks of terror.
groans of agony and cries for help filled the
air. Men and women and children filed
the.windows and piteously pleaded for help.
Some OF the more venturesome even hung
from windows by only slight hold of the
sls.
THE BATTLE WITH THE FLAMES.
Ladders were hurriedly hoisted. Lines
of hose were quickly run off, and "pipen
from the chemical engine was rushed into
the flaming mass. In ten minutes fear of
personal safety had subsidized, those whom
1t was possible to save had been taken from
their positions of peril, and the wounded
had been taken to places where their in
Juries could be cared for. 1t was not until
after the fire had been practically extin-
gulshed that the interior of what was then
but a she'll could be entered.
DISCOVERING THE DEAD.
Chief Wehber. followed by several fire.
men, went into the building a little after 1
O'clock. and with difficulty assembled 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 signt that horri-
fled them met their eyes. Under one Of the
windows crouched a human form, burned
to crisp almost, its two palms clasped to-
gether, and kneeling as though at prayer.
SEVEN OTHER CORPsEs FOUND.
Further search showed in other parts of
the top floor seven other human forms,
covered with cnders and ashes, naked, and
disclosing limbs that had been torn asunder
by falling parts of the building. Seeing
that their cape from the floors below to
the street was impossible because the stairs
were roaring masses OF fire, the terrified
victims had evidently rush d to the upper
floor in their attempts to escape, and had
there been roasted as though held over
furnace.
TWO BODIES OF INFANTS,
Later two bodies of infants were removed
from other parts of the building, and the
completed list of ten lives was made up.
The injured were removed to hospitals and
the dead bodies were taken to the morgue
for Identification.
1t is stated that when the street
door was burst open, the smell gave strong
indications that the stairs and floors had
been saturated with oil The police have
decided on a thorough investigation, and
one Benjamin Simonds has been arrested on
suspicion. It is claimed that no lives would
have been lost if the locality had been
sufficie ltly supplied with facilities for
extinguishing fires.
A LAMP THROWN IN A DRUNKEN ROW.
Tonight, however, it appears that tie
most probable theory of the cause of the
fire is that it resulted from kerosene lamp
thrown in a drunken row. Albert Smith,
who lives just in the rear of the burned
buildings, says that just befo midnight
he heard row In the back room of the
burned house, and looking out saw three men
quarreling. One man threw lighted lamp
at another, and the flames followed, and
Smith made haste to escape with his family.
Two of the men were burned TO death and
the third died to-day at the hospital.
Partly emptied rum bottles and broken
packs of cards found about the ruins to-day
strengthen the theory.