Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-01

Its Crying Awakened Others and They Es-
capped FROM q Turning Building.

NEW YoRK. Nov. AFTER a baby had saved
in all probability che lives OF many of the six
teen families in The burning tenement. No 35l
East Dist street. BY its early discovery of the
fire another baby furnished one of the most
sensational ESCAPES ever recorded at a fire.
The building is q five-sto-v double-decker
hrcwn-st"ne Cat house owned by Morris Tekul-
sky. pre-identof the Liquor Dealers Association.
Mrs.. Aaron fateman. who lived on the second
noor. was awakened at 800 o'clock this morn
ing BY the wailing of her babe which lay in its
CRIB gasping and choking from the effect of
thin clouds OF smoke that were eddying about
the ROOM Mrs. Cateman was alive TO the stu
atom Instantly and opening the air shaft she
cried fire with all her power.
Her cries aroused the janitor, Peter Huebner,
who also lung open window in the air shaft
and shouted an alarm In an instant all was
excitement Men, women and children hurried
into the hallway. shouting. shrieking and cry
ing, and the smoke, which grew thicker every
moment frightened them into "a belief that the
lower part of the house was all nblaze. Mean
time Policeman John Barnes had seen the blaze
and turned III alarm Engines and trucks
ratified up 10 the house, with bells Changing,
adding to the confusion and excitement.
Among the tenants was Joseph Leonard, who
occupied the fourth floor with his wife and
three children. the youngest a babe about n
wear old. By the time they were all awake es-
question. and it looked to Leonard as if he
could not possibly save all his family By the
fire escape. In this dilemma a novel idea
saved him Quickly wrapping his baby in a
mattress he carried it to the window and,
shouting 10 the helmeted blue coats below
asked: Can you catch my baby?'
Let her drop. sang out fireman in reply.
We'll catch her"
ThE.e or four of Chief Bonner's gallant fire
fighters sprang forward and Leonard tossed
his little one to them. Mrs. Leonard shrieked
and almost sWooued "a she saw the bundle
crash through the outstretched arms knocking
over two of the men and landing heavily on
thu pavement. But the fremen had the mat
trcs- UHwrapped in n jlffy. and there.
safe and sound. lay the little one. who sat up
and laughed as If toboggan sliding on thin air
was tine jollest fun imaginable. Big-hearted
firemen gently picked up the child and held it
aloft To- show the parents il was uninjured and
in a few moments ladders were run up to the
windows and the rest of the family were safely
rescued.
Many Of the tenants hurried to the roof and
escaped down adjoining houses. The fire had
started in the lower hallway. cutting off escape
by the front door. but fortunately none OF the
occupants were severely hurt. Mrs. Leonard
who lived on the second floor, was hurt worse
than any Of the others. having had her head
cut by jumping from the window of her fiat.
FOur alarms were sent in. the house being
one Of long row. The fire was confined to
Mr.. Tekulskys building, but everything in it
was destroyed. the tenants losing everything
they had. few Of them saving even part OF their
clothing. Most OF them were uninsured. Most of
these tenants clambered down the fire escape,
clad in nothing but their night clothes. Mr..
and Mrs. Learmouth are bride and groom.
Though they lived on the first floor the bride.
very heavy woman, was too frightened to
jump. She stood in the window imploring
some one TO save her. The smoke in the hall
was too thick to allow any one to
dart through. 80 Officer Barnes stretched two
long. heavy plauks from the window to the
side walk and with the assistance of the BRIDE
groom the bride was lifted to the planks, down
which she half shd and half rolled to safety.
The total loss was about $1,000.