The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-07-16
TWO LITTLE VICTIMS
Another Deadly Fire in a Brook
lyn Tenement House.
RELIEVED TO BE INoENDIARY

A Hundred Tenants Awakened from
Sleep TO Join in n Struggle for
Life-The Buildings Gutted and
the Poor People Lose All Their
Household Effects.
BROOKLYN, July 10. - Fire which
broke out in the cellar of the double
tenement house, 26S State street, proved
disastrous. The firemen were unable to
check the flames, and the building and
thelad iAi3ing one, 270, were wrecked.
The police of the First precinct and the
people living in the neighborhood did all
they could to aid the occupants, and
were the means of saving several lives.
Two children, however, were suffocated,
having been enveloped in the sitting
smoke, and several persons were more
OF less injured in making their escape.
A Scramble for Life.
The tenants were asleep when the fire
broke out, and were awakened by the
cry of fire. The Railways and rooms
were then filled with smoke. A wild
rush was made for the fire escapes.
Then ensued wild scramble for life.
Men and women fought each other in
their mad efforts to reach the ground.
In the struggle some jumped to the
ground and others fell.
When the firemen arrived the whole
building was ablaze. While the fire.
men were getting to work the flames
spread to the adjoining house, and an
other scramble for life ensued. Half
clad people rushed frantically to the
windows, only to be driven back by the
smoke and flames. They eventually
managed to fight their way through to
the rear, and by means of the fire es-
cape reached the ground in safety. As
soon as the tiremen had sufficiently
downed the flames q search was made
of the building.
Two Little Victims.
On the top floor of No. 1853, lying
under the burned bed, was the charred
body of Janitor Bishops 3-year-old
daughter Maggie. In some way she
had rolled out on to the floor and under
the bed, where the flames reached her.
In room on the third floor of No 270,
lying in bed, was 4-year-old Maggie Nc
Carthy. She had been suffocated.
In the rush Mrs. Bridget Burchell,
aged 60 years; Mrs Bertha Foley, aged
3l years, and Mrs. Mary A. Bishop,
aged go, fell from the fire escape and re-
ceiyed severe injuries. Mrs. Foley is in
delicate condition. 1t is feared her in
juries will result fatally.
A Hundred Weakened from Sleep.
AT the time Of the fire there were
nearly one hundred people asleep. The
houses are what are known as double
deckers. Two families occupy floor,
making eight families in each.
The houses, which are owned by
Thomas Coulson, are almost completely
Quilted. It will take nearly $4,000 to
repair them. None of the tenants saved
any of their furniture.
William Foley was awakened by the
noise in the street. He aroused his
family, and found the flames and smoke
coming up the air shaft. He closed the
shaft window, ran towards the stairs
and dragged his wife and two chill.
dren to the rear window. They got out
on an extension, and the children were
passed down into the yard. Then Foley
and his wife also dropped down into the
yard. James Bishop had similar ex.
perience in escaping,
The fire originated in a woodshed in
the cellar. Police Captain Campbell is
investigating its cause. He is satisfied
that the fire was of incendiary origin.