The morning call., 1892-08-25

The casualty occurred
during the progress of fire in the lodging
h ouse.
The man, who was nearly 70 years of
age, tried to escape from the building by
climbing down the posts supper ting the
balconies in the rear.
He descended one story in safety, then
his hold gave way and a moment later his
mangled remains were lying in the alley
way between the lOdging-house and the
Lincoln School.
At o'clock Special Officer Handman,
| from his beat on Fifth street, saw smoke
pouring from the rear doors and wndo VS.
! OF the lodgng-hOuse which open on the
| back yard of the Lincoln School He
turned in still alarm. to which engine II
responded. The fremen came none too
soon. Tor when they reached the seen e the
building, which at best is but wooden
| shell, was filled with smoke. No fire was
visible, but the occupants were making a
frantic rush 10 escape.
Many OF the roOmers work at night, and
were asleep in the little cubby holes called
rooms. They awoke from a sound sleep 10
hnd thlck clouds OF stifiing smoke sharing
their single room. The fire was in the lower
floor front. and the Markei-street doors and
windows being open drove the smoke to the
rear. 1t was in this direction that the in
mates sought safety, and all escaped but
| the old bedmaker
he was at work on the top floor when the
alarm was turned In. He knew nothing Of
| the flre until the smoke came rolling up the
narrow stairways. Escape by the stairs
was impossible, and the old man evidently
| lost his reason.
Rushing to the small room he occupied
Courtney gathered I'D his few belongings,
| stuffed them into a valise and ran madly
out 10 the PACK porch. Had ne stopped TO
| think or size up the situation all would
have been well, but he was too much ex-
| cited.
AS the frightened old man appeared on
| the porch the schOol-children in the rooms
directly opposite, attracted by the smoke,
had risen TO their feet. Only narrow alley
divides the two buildings and the children
had full view of the horrible spectacle.
On reaching the rail Of the porch Court
ney cast one terrified look behind and then
| hurled his valise far out over the rail. IL
struck on the planked yard, broke wide
open and the contents scattered In all di-
| rections.
A second later the old man swung over
| the balcony and started to follow the
satchel. Turning his arms and legs about
post he slid in safety to the floor below.
| Between this post and the next support be-
| below is space about five feet wide which
| is boarded In. presenting a smooth blank
wall. There was no possible way to cross
this space, fact which the old man in his
excitement did not discover until too late.
Grasping tile top edge of the balcony with
! both hands, he swung over and felt around
| with bis feet for the post But il was
| beyond reach, and there he hung, unable to
| gain the balcony aud with death staring
| him in the face. Half strangled by the
smoke and ciutehing the rail with a death
grip. he called loudly for help; but no one
heard his cries save the school-children,
and they were poMerless q render assist
ance
With mn last dasnoiring q eror. Co,.+.o..
tried TO draw himself mp and throw one leg
over the rail; but his feeble strength was
gone. His grasp gave way. and with a
horrible cry he fell headlosR to the pave