The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-02
SAVED BY A BABY.
IT'S Crying Awakened Others and They Es-
capped From "A Burning Bu ldIng

capfd From burning Bu lllnE.
NEW YORK, Nov. latter a baby had
saved in all probability, the lives Of many
Of the sixteen families in the burning ten
ement. No. 35l east Fifty-nrst street, by
It's early discovery Of the fire, another
baby furnished one of the most sensa-
tional escapes ever recorded at fire.
The building is q hye-story, double
decker, brownstone fiat house owned by
Morris Tekusky, president OF the Liquor
Dealers Association. Mrs. Aaron Cate
man, who lived on the second floor. was
awakened at 3:20 o'clock this morning by
the waiiing of her babe, which lay in its
crib gaspng and choking from the effect
OF thin clouds OF smoke that were eddy
ing about the room Mrs. Cateman was
alive to the situation instantly, and open
ing the airshaft, she cried fire with all
her power
Her cries aroused the janltor Peter
Huebner. who also flung 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 crying.
and the smoke which grew thicker every
moment. frightened them into belief
that the lower part Of the house was all
ablaze. Meantime Policeman John Barnes
had seen the blaze and turned I'm an
alarm. Engines and trucks ratified up to
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 a year old. BY the time
they were all awake escape by the lower
hallway seemed out Of the question, and
n -. ,.yk
possibly save all his family by the fire
escape. In this dilemma novel idea
saved him. Quickly wrapping his baby in
a mattress he carried 1t TO the window
and. shouting TO the helmeted blue coats
below, asked" Can you catch my baby?"
Let her drop" sang out the fireman
in reply. "We'll catch her.
Three or four OF Chief Bonners gallant
fire-fghters sprang forward and Leonard
tossed his little one TO them. Mrs. Leon
ard shrieked and almost swOoned as she
saw the bundle crash through the out
stretched arms, knocking over two OF the
nen and landing heavily on the pave
ment. But the firemen had the mattress
unwrapped in a Iiffy, and there. safe and
sound, lay the little one, who sat up and
laughed as If toboggan sliding on thin
air was the tolliest fun imaginable. Big
child and held il aloft to show the pa
rents 1t was uninjured, and In few mo-
ments ladders were run up 20 the win'
dows 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 Oft 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
eny OF the others. having had her head
cut by Jumping from the window or her
fiat.
Four alarms were sent In, the house be-
Ing one of a long row. The fire was con-
fined to Mr.. Tekulsky's building, hut
everything In Il was destroyed, the ten
ants losing everything they had, few OF
them saving even part of their clothing.
Most of them We're uninsured Most OF
these tenants ciambered down the fire
escape, clad in nothing but their night
clothes Mr. and Mrs. LearmOuth are a
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 10
allow any one to dart through, so Officer
Barnes stretched two long, heavy planks
from the window TO the Sidewalk. ana
with the assistance Of the bridegroom
the bride was lifted to the planks. down
which she half slid and half rolled to
safety. The total loss was about $2O,VV.