The sun., 1891-06-16
THIEVES FIRE TENEMENTS.
MAsoUERADJNG As LIFE SAVERS ON
THE WEST SIDE

Yesterday One of Them, VauGht on n Fire
Escape, Tried 10 HOAX the FIrenen 1Ato
Putting mp n Ladder for Him-seveu
Fires Laid to One west side Gang.
Thieves set nre to wood box In the Eve.
story tenement house at 454 Ninth avenue
yesterday morning. and when tho smoke filled
the house they rushed IN staIrs. frirhtsned
the tenants out Of their apartments. ind then
ransacked them and escaped.
There have been dozen similar fires IN the
neiGhborhood within week, all. it is believed,
started by thieves. On Juno 8. Of seven fires in
that fro district six were started In the wood
houses In the collars OF flve-story tenomonts.
ard In every instance tenants were robbed.
The building where tho flro was started
yesterday is owned by Worner Bros. OF AGO
Ninth avenue. On tho street floor there nro
two stores. ono unoccupIsd and the other oc-
cupicd by q alaunorymnn. Twelve families live
up stairs.
There is wood box for each family In the
back basement. The first tho tenants knew OF
ths s Thsn thick smoke Poured
youne men ran up the stairs and into the ,ari.
Is afire!" Some OF the people on the top floor
lower floor out into The railways and down
tho stairs.
Rs. men rs. ss sl Hts hS ss @
ses pns bis Ss lss bss s1ss TO
ran sa in;G il ii. ! Is , VIII It calling on the mother
enod 10 DO fse oSs and hn
beon out Of the room with the child about a
Enns InsI hn he . sr%s rnnpng "SS hr
scended 70 the 50, ond noor..
Ian rl.N ~ IA NNT
above the kress es. was Sick In bed. ller
mother was attending her. Two Young mon
ran into her apartmcnis and ordered her out.
Tho smoke was pouring In ut the door and
both women screamed.
oS sn ao f Nnn hs
bed, aud were taking er ont whom word came
or thirty persons, incluhlng Bnt,ali1n Chief
who had got into the street. tod the story Of
's FG'sy.s sns X sa thore was cry Of
u, A moment later young man stepped out on
hs s hs % sSsr % bs Sor bos% SS.
e. sS +: Eh.iT' !hta HsS were last
there Three Women and children on the
Goor q nbeye," , 49,. ,,,., -
arar, ,msnts have beer. searched"
man, man shonIted Is again. Hun up ladder. you
The iron bottom Of tho fire escape on which
the young man was staGding was hot. and be
fremeh fr not hurrytng un a ladder.
What's the matter with your" called the
Chief. why don't you come DOWN"
Why in thunder don't you put nm ladder
and get those children ?" the man yelled back.
can't get down myself The windows are
Burst them in them advised the Chief. and
the Young man smashed a window and di.ap.
neared c A. that n, m1mont t tho thought came
no business on tho fire escRre anyway.
by George" he said =" III bet that follows
thief" and he ian through the hallway to
intercept him. He WAS not quick enough He
told Poiice nptain Cross his suspicious. The
Captnin and his two detectives had been
searching The building.
They had missed the, young man, too but
1z5 Ninth avenue. He was found, on the top
floor Of the building and was unable 10 give
satisfactory explanation Of how he came there.
He was arrested on suspicion.
The search of tho building showed tho thieves
work. Bureau diawrrs wore omen and their
contents were strewed about the floor. Clothes
closets had been tern apast
Greene was locked nr., Chief Gicuuel gave
to to- Cant; Gross DESCRIPTION Of the man who
Chief Bonner md Assistant Chief Reilly. who
bad been In charge OF the fire agroet in saying
the NJ an was undouhtedl n thief. Capt. Cross
said he though: no know him.
1t was reported at the station house that tho
thieves hud got awav with about 500 worth OF
properly. mostly Iewelry. Cant. Cross and
the hremen beli.ye that oil the cellar fires