Evening journal., 1890-10-14
EMPTY is THE CRADLE.
The Awful Fate of Two
Brooklyn Babies.
BURNED TO DEATH IN THEIR BED.
Their Mother Left Them Alone for a
short Time, and When she Returned
Found Them Bcroft Of Lifs-sad Scenes
in an Humble Home.

in an Humble Home.
BRooKLYN. Oct 14-There was a fire In
South Brooklyn yesterday which was CON
fined to a very small space, and which
was fed by a tiny bit OF fuel, but the mis-
cry II wrought Is TO be measured by heart
throbs and tears, rather than in words
James Aldridgo Is employed as fireman on
the tugboat Harry Temple When he set
out for his work yesterday morning he
left behind him a very happy family.
Mrs Aldridge was devoted 10 her eldest
child the little 2-year-old boy, and was
doubly happy in the possession OF her
pretty twins. After washing and dressing
the babies she tucked them away In their
cradle, and then gave little Charlie his
bath She had had only cup of tea for
her own breakfast, and 1t was necessary
for her to visit the grocery near by to OBJ
tain some family stores.
Then the Mother Faint ed.
How long the poor woman was absent
from her home and her babes she docs not
know. Whether ten minutes or half an
hour 1t will forever hereafter seem almost
a dreadful lifetime to her. as she neared
her dwelling she found the neighborhood
in an uproar; three FIRE engines were tear
ing madly down the street. and an i'm
mense throng surrounded the doorway Of
the tenement 'Your babies are burnedl"
said woman, who meant we'll, and then
mother tainted.
Discovery OF the Fire.
The fire was first discovered by the little
daughter of a Mrs. Lynch, who occupies
| =. Al III Al.
/ Aldrdges. She saw the light shooting up
through the transom and gave the alarm.
| 1t Is a thickly populated tenement In one
of the poorest neighborhoods OF South
| Brooklyn, and a score OF people were almost
Instantly at the door of the Aldridges'
roomA Finding the door locked, they
seemed TO question among themselves the
right 10 break in. The flames were intense
when young Insyald Thurgessen, Nor
wegian sailor who happened 10 be on the
promises, came through the narrow hall
with a rush and throwing his sturdy frame
against the door burst II from It's hinges.
IL Was Pitlful Sight.
The sight made women faint Nothing
was burning but the cradle, and that was
funeral pyre. Willing hands hurrledly
brought buckets of water and the flames
were speedily extinguished. And then
the women clustered around the charred
and smoking cradle, and shricKed with
CONSERVATION as they ssY that both Of
those pretty little dimpfed babies has
| EeeminsIy Burned 10 charcoal under tn,
lashing Of the flames. There was nothinl
ghastly Ia their appearance. Their tende
flesh had simply baked aud blackened II
the heat, without being burned away.
The arm Of one Qf the little things WA
charred 70 a jet black, without losing
particle of his graceful shape. The legs o
neither Of the babies were more than blis
tered, the fire having ragged m 1st fiercely al
the head Of the cradle and the little white
foot Of one pfotruded from under th'
scorched blanket
Was Their Brother at Fault7
1t was several moments before any OF th,
neighbors remembered that an older chilt
had been left In the rooms A search WA
then made for the little fellow and he wai
discovered frightened but uninjured, anC
crouching in the furthest bedroom. IN,
only possible explanation of the fire Is thn
the little 2-year-old boy tiring Of his toy
had picked a bit Of paper from the nooi
and lighted It at the open range, as he had
perhaps seen his mother OF his father Dc
before
Then, child like, he had run toward thl
cradle 70 show his pretty flaming play
thing to his little twin sisters. lie wal
not In the least burned, nor did his lttl,
hands show any evidence OF having handled
burned paper, but there is no other way tt
account for the dreadful occurrence, anl
the heart stricken mother in her greai
grief last evening could not look upon the
| little author OF her SORROW yithout aon.
bitterness Of heart The names OF th,
twins were Minnie and Annie. A coroner'i
inquest will be beld today