New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-23
BURNED TO DEATH.
FATAL WORK OF THE FLAMES,
ONE WOMAN KILLED AND THREE FIREMEN ANn
A SERVANT OVERCOME BY HEAT
AND SMOKE.

The death of bedridden woman by hanes on
the top floor of the fiat-house No. l,517 lhlrd-
yesterday afternoon when heroic efforts were
being made TO rescue her. created great excite
ment in that part of the city. Several families
were made homeless by the fire, and one fireman
was sent to hospital, insensible from suiocauon'
The fire started in the cellar at 3 80 D. m ana
shot up through an air-shaft 10 the roof, spread
ing rapidly as it went Persons in c. d. Pratts
crockery store the ground floor, first discovered
the flames and gave an alarm to call the firemen.
The seven families upstairs were not warned In
time TO escape by the stairs. From the second
floor Janitor Frey and James Freeman escaped
with their families by means of a broad coping
over the store front, on which they made their
way into the next house. Policeman Snyder, on
the third floor got his family out rear ire
escape in time, and the family of A Burbidge on
the same floor, also went out that way IN safety.
The fre-escapes also saved the families Of I.
Farley and r. A. Taylor on the fourth floor. One
fat, on the fifth floor, vacant The other
was occupied by John Mackie, bookkeeper, his
wife and three children and a servant, Maggie
Nulty. Macke at his work downtown,
and his oldest child was at play in the street
when the fire broke out Mrs Mackie. who had
been suffering from paralysis, was helpless III
bed and her youngest child was with her. while
tne OIncT Cnllu was NllH hdESN ~'ullg III O.io
kitchen.
When the fiat began TO I'll with smoke Maggie
Nulty became heroine in the face of danger
She did not lose her presence of mind or thlnK
of deserting her mistress and the children. She
carried Mrs Maclie into the front room and
placed her on lounge near of the open
windows Then taking the children in her arms
the brave girl leaned out OF the other window
so as to give them as much fresh air rs possi-
| bic. while she shouted for help. Policeman
| SNYDER saw her at the window and thought OF
hor sick mistress. lie made his way up the fire.
escapes in the rear with all possible haste, bus
with great difficulty, because there were no lad
dcrs between the balconies. When he reached
the top story, however, the flames shot out OF
the windows into his face, and he was obliged
! to retire quickly TO save his own llfe
Hook and Ladder Company No. IL was the ilrst
| company OF firemcn TO reach the house When
| the fremen saw Maggie Nulty and the children ao
| the top-story window they hastily raised an eN-
! tension ladder, but its top reached only 10 the
| fourth story. Fireman O'Brien up the ladder.
carrying a scaling ladder lie fastened the nook
Of the latter firmly on the window Sill close TO tne
servant and in another minute he was at the
| window Firemen Finn and sullivan had iol-
lowed him closely, and he passed the children down
| to them. They In turn passed the niue ones 70
| other fremcn on the extension ladder. VINO car
| red them down to safety. Before the children
were fairly out Of the winrOw the smoke rolled out
| in such dense volume that Maggie NuItN was
| cboked and she fell taintlng into the arms or
| O Brien who barely saved her and himself rom
| falling. The flames followed the SMOKE so quickly
| that the oirl's hair was singed as size being
| horne down the ladder. She revived quickly IN
| the open air and began 10 wall for her mi stress
| In was too late 10 save Mrs. Mackle. Inc
flames burst from the windows and Compelled
| the fremen to retire Streams OF water nom
| the engines were directed into the top story,
so as to save the body Of Mrs. Mackle from the
fury of the fire as much as possible. Al the same
! time three firclnen, who were fighting the names
| i'm the cellar were overcome. by the dense smoke
! and were carried out by their comrades. Two or
! them quickly recovered and went back 10 work.
! but Fireman Patrick Horn, of Engine No. A, re-
mained insenslble until an ambulance arrived; ana
he revived, and last night II was said that ne
| was out OF danger. =, 49,.
When the fire under control MIS- MacKl' y
dead body seriously Scared by the hames, was
| found on the lounge on the top hoor MacKle
| reached his ruined home while the fremen were
still AT work. and he became frantlc
with grief TIE body Of his wife was
! covered with blankets and was removed 10 an
! undertaker's shop in the avenue. Inc nre'n'H
| were in hurry to get away from the house atter
apparently putting an end TO the fire: but me
! flames broke ont afresh soon after they "ehu
| away and they were recalled TO finish the lop
| The house is owned by John II. Grey. Of No. l,O66
| Park-ave. and can be repaired for about So,"0"
! Furniture belonging to the families apoEe the
| stores was damaged to the extent Of $1,000 or
| more The loss in Pratts crockery store was
about g. 900. and in the adjoining store oi A. VI
! Folbeck florist. the loss was estimated az S=.oVo
( The cause of the fire was not known. All OF the
damaged property was said TO be insured.