The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-06
DEATH IN THE FLAMES.
TWO WOMEN AND TWO CHILDREN
PERISH IN A TRNEMGNT.

Son of Oae of thu Dead Women Pro-
nounced Fatally Ipjured-Her Hus-
hand One of the Firemen Who
Answered the Alarm-Flfty Asleep
When the Fire Started.
NEW YORK, Oct 5.-Three persons were
h,rned to death early this morning in a fire
ina fye-story brick tenement house at the
corner Of Hudson and Dominick streets,
and two others we're badly burned, one so
seriously that recovery is not expected.
The dead are:
Mrs. Annie Murphy, 80 years old, of No.
262 Hudson street.
Miss Tillie Dunn, % years old, dress
maker. who boarded with Mrs Murphy.
Josephine Ryan. years old, OF Washing
iugton D. c.. Mrs. Murphy's niece.
The injured are:
Martin D. Toohey, II years old, Mrs.
Murphy's son by her first husband. His in
juries are pronounced fatal.
John Toohey, years old, Mrs. Murphy's
second son. His injuries caused his death
at 9 o'clock this morning.
DISCOVERY OF THE FIRE.
The fire was discovered at 80 O'Clock this
morning, when Policeman NcGrath heard
a sound Of breaking glass. which he thought
was caused by burglars. Running up to
the store on the ground hoor No 262 Hud-
son street. occupied by j. K. Ratzensteln, a
dealer in furniture and upholstery, he broke
pane Of glass in the window, when there
Immediately poured out heavy volnme of
smoke. The policeman raped for help and
RoundSmeu RYAN and Detectives Cox and
Gargon fastened to his aid. They sent out
an alarm aud then broke in the doors of the
main entrance to the house on the Dominick
street side.
THR OFFICERS DRIVEN BACK.
Flames and smoke rush out and drove
the policeman back. The stairway leading
to the upper floors was a winding one, the
center forming a shaft that was filed with
column of flames. 1t was evident that it
would be impossible for the inmates of the
house, fifty in number. to escape by the
stairs. The policeman hastened to the fire
escape on tee front of the building and
shouted to the panic stricken occupants not
to attempt TO descend by the stairs. Then
they climbed up the fire escape and aided
tAs men, women and children to descend
!nt-is they were aided by the firemen,
who had quickly answered the alarm.
A BRAVE RESCUE.
Fireman Lucas, on reaching the fifth
1oT found in the rear rooms Matthew
Ryan, a Dox maker, who is widower aud
bis three young children, almost overpow-
ered by the smoke and unable to help them
selves. He dragged them to tae window,
aud, With the aid of his comrades succeeded
u getting them down the fire escape safely.
Just then hook and ladder truck No. drove
up, and one of its firemen, Matthew Mur-
ply sprung 20 the ground, shouting, "Great
God. it's my house. Where are my wife
and childrenF'
FOUND THEM DEAD.
Before any one could stop him be rushed
4 through the flames aud smoke and fought
4 bis way upstairs to the fifth floor. There
be found the body of his wife burned
almost beyond recognition lying
IA the hallway just outside of
81 Der apartment. A little further away
vas the burned form of little Josephine
Ryan, the dead wcman's niece. She was
hl! living bnt died soon after. The body
Miss Dunn was found at the foot of
sshort ladder leading to the r3of. She had
x Nidently been overcome by the smoke and
burned to death while seeking to escape
here
THE BURNED BOYS.
Two boys, John and Martin Toohey,
4GpAyS Steps1nS, were found In the
com. They were removed to the rooms of
.he Mouticello Club across the street,
"lfre the helf-dressed tenants had found a
,eellge. Thence the boys were taken to st.
'ncents hospital Martin Toohey was
terribly burned ali over his body and can
lotslrviYe. His brother, John was not so
osa{ burned, but he was fatally injured
Oy ahaling smoke.
MIS- Murphy was married to Fireman
murphy one month ago. She was then the
"lSoW Of Policeman loohey.
A# NAe families resided in the house, and
.acu family had en- average of three board
rs Ibe fire broke out in an unoccupied
700 ,.;3 house in the cellar, and the police
s.;a ,a;a lnis morning that it was of incendiary
Sigh, but they would not say on what this
opinion is based. The actual damage to the
'uiiaing will not exceed 81, 500.