New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-16
FATAL FIRE IN BROOKLYN.
A SON OF GENERAL FOWLER KILLED.
OVERCOME BIZ TIE smoke lie rs BURNED 70
DEATH-THE OTHER OCCUPANTS OF
THE HOUSE ESCAPE.

DEATH-THE OTHER OCCUPANTS
THE HOUSE ESCAPE.
William Fowler, the only son of General Edward
b. Fowler was burned to death at 6 30 o'clock
yesterday morning in his bed in the back room
on the top floor of his fathers house. No. 532
Monroe-st.. Brooklyn. The house itself was COM
pletely burned out the loss on the building being
estimated at $4,000. and on the furniture at
$4,000.
General Fowler the commander Of the 18th
Regiment of Brooklyn, during the Civil War. and
is now assistant treasurer of the Mackay-Bennett
Cable Company The house, which belonged to
him, was two and half-story and basement
brownstOne front. In it, besides himself. lived
his wife, his son. and Mary McElroy servant.
General and Mrs. Fowler occupied the back bed
room on the second floor, and William, VINO was
twenty-one years old. slept on the floor above.
There, after the fire, which originated In the
collar from defective fluc had been cXtinyuished,
the charrcd body of the young man was found.
lie was burned to crisp, and the bed ard he'd
clothes were burned away. The collar of coat
still clinging TO the neck showed that Mr.. Fowler
had attempted to dress and get ont Of the room.
but being overcome by the heat and smoke, had
fallen back upon the bed and died.
General Fowler last evening described the fire
as follows:
got up to get a glass of water. ! saw by the
clock that il was rather early TO dress. so threw
myself upon the bed again. and as did so heard
the servant, Mary McEroy 90 downstairs. In
few minutes / heard her scream, and jumping
I'D I opened the door The hall was filled with
flames and smoke. Before shutting the door
called to William that the house was on fire.
He called back, I'm all right, look out for
mother
II thought. Of course that he was able to take
care of himself as he was big strapping fellow.
I shut all the doors leading TO the hall ana
cot my wife into the front room. Throwing uD
the window, / called for help. The neighbors
rushed in quickly and saved Mrs. Fowler and my
self. We were taken from the second-story WIN
dow into the house Of my neXt-door nelshoor'
Mr.. Joseph Collins
The General himself, the neighbors say, 5000
upon the stone coping over the front doorway
md lifted his wife, who is an Invalid, from mo
burning house and handed her into the arms out
stretched to reach her from the next house
One of the first come 70 the assistance OF
the occupants of the house DR.. j. II. Mar
shall. who lives at No. 536 Monroe-st. lie tclc.
nhoned 70 the central Office of the telephone COM
many and they communicated with the Fire De-
nortment Then he went TO the aid of the fam
ily Mrs Fowler told him that William was stlll
in tbe house. and he ran up to tue front door
of the house. but found il locked. lie kicked 10
oncn. bur the fire drove him back. Then he
wont 70 thr roof of Mr. Collins's house and trlet
n get down the scUttle Of General tOWlers mouse,
but was driven back by the fam5s. lie SAYS tha9
il was at least fifteen minutes after ne teiephores
before the fremcn arrived lie told thcih thLo
there was in the house, Dut they VIZ
unable to do anything. Finally he g9t udl
tn 20 onto the roof. and the man called i9l "
hose He did not get il, the Doctor says Much
fault is found by the neIghbors with the nremen.
When the fire. which ran so quickly through tne
bomsr. was subdued enough TO allow the hremen
to get to the young mans room, the body was
found. .,u,,
District Engineer McGroarty made a thorough
irv.ctioation of the fire. and has doubt thai
II was caused BIZ ! defective fine. and spread ITSELF
nv means of the fues. lie questioned Mary
NcFlroy carefully. She says that when she got
nm She went 10 attend to the furnace. and moth
ing seemed to be wrong. rs she was going
un,tair, again she was startled by an explosion
under the stairs on the opposite side OF Ihe ceIlr
fror, IN, furnace She ran mp and gave the alaiIn.
The body of William Fowler was taken 10 re
undc-taker's shop of VI. l.. Reeves. az No; 80.
Snmner-ayc Young Fowler was in the employ ot
Charles r. Raynolds & Coz wholesale pant deal
crs ~ No. lOG ard los Fulion.st.. New-l ork.
Geooral and Mrs, Fowler are staying nj the home
of Dr. MARSHALL who reports that Mrs. Fowler
Stood the shock of the fire better than her irehdS
expected. ,;,u ~
The house ard handsome furniture. which was
ont rcly destroyed. were insured IN the Royai No'
pany, of Liverpool.