New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-25
ONE DIED IN THE FLAMES.
EXCITING SCENES AT \ TENEMENT-llOpoE
FIRE.
REscuISG A WOMAN WHO CLUNG TO WINDOW
sILL-A PLUCKY JUMP FROM THE THIRD
sTORY-ELEvEN FAMILIES ESCAPE
on LADDERS.


fire in a four-story frame building at Greene
and Essex sts., jersey City, yesterday afternoon
caused the death of one man and much danger
to several persons. The building was fire trap
1t was in the heart of the tenement district and
contained eleven families. The only entrance 10
the house was a narrow hallway in Green-st., which
led to a steep fight of stairs. Directly Deheo,h
this entrance was a cellar, where Mrs Minnie
Sauter kept kerosene oil and other articles ohe
has combination candy and grocery store.
At about p. IN. one of the tenants runs"
woman, went to the cellar to obtain some article
She carried lighted lamp with her. The lamp
fell from her hand and set fire to some COM
bustibles, and moment later the oil was on nic
The flames from this blaze burst through the moor
Of the hallway before the inmates of the house
knew that the building was burning. When The
dark volume Of smoke that came from the cellar
burst into the hall it quickly ascended to the
top floor, filling every room
IL was the first intimation of danger some OF
the tenants had All rushed TO the STAIRS Du'
cgrrss from the house in that manner was i'm
possible Terrified men, women and chilhreh re-
turned TO their apartments and cried from the
windows for holm The alarm of fire had been
sent out moment after the blaze started ana
by the time some Of the tenants know that the
buildinp waS on fire the ircmcn were erecting
ladders 10 rescue them.
Mrs Margaret Tanning lived on the third floor
When the smoke poured into her rooms she ran
to She window and, raising it, jumped out one
struck the cover Of coal-bin in her descent ana
broke il so badly that she fell in the bln. She
was lifted out by eager hands and in confused
manner She walked away TO the house oil hcIHh-
bor. Mrs Tanning is past fifty years ola.
While this was taking place Polish woman
on the third floor iacins ENNeA-St. ehueaVor'"
10 make 4 similar jump. Her puck Iallcu l'ci
and instead She lowered hcrscl! from the window
as tar as her tightly clulched grip on the Sill
would permit The crowd that had gathered De.
low sow Truck No l rushing to the IRE ana all
cried 10 the woman to hold fast One man threw
n mattress beneath her, which some frightened
tenant had thrown from window. Encouraged
by the cries of the men the woman cluns to the
window easement until the nook ana LADDER
company put ladder against the building ana
Fireman Edward Coye rushed up and seized her
She was saved and the fireman was cheered
Other fire apparatus arrived at this time ana
for five minutes the members OF the companies
were busy in lowering to the ground the eleven
families. u their only exit. On the fourth
floor IN the rear Of the building the family OF
Henry Guscmann lived. When the smoke entered
their apartments Mrs Gusem2nn, who was alone
with her husband endcavored to awaken him
He worked nights al ;hc Sugar-house ana sep,
during rhc day. She dragged him from the bed
to the floor and believing him 10 he awake, de-
scnnded ladder by the aid Of some hremen
Thinking that lie would follow, she. IN her great
excitement said nothing about him 10 the men
and they, believing that ail were sa"ed, did not
90 into the apartments until the fire was put out.
Then they found the charrcd body OF man ne
lievcd to h. GU-rmann lie was not positively
Identified last NIGHT for his wife and two daugh'
ter, who were near hy, were in such con
dition Of nervous prostution that Trey
could not be prevailed on 10 view the corps"
The dead man was lowered from the fourth loQr
bv a ropc Tie body was cnVelopcd IN thlcH
quilt IS it. danecd in the air II twisted around
so that il crushed in tho glass Of window on th'
first story When finally the body reached the
ground il was placed in tho dead wagon' winch
had been sent for. and was taken to Speer
Norguc ~,
Tie building was owned by Haley 4 Thomas,
and was leased 10 John OTcrmann. who rented
il as an apartment house. here was 'aAnl
store and a restaurant on the ground noor on
Grccn-st. and liquor Store on ES>cA-St. Inc
building insured