Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-12-06
pYlLADELpHlgs FATAL FIRE.

Mrs. Eilh Ray smith anu Miss culIenden
Lose rncir Lives ut the Fire in Mrs. &.
u. Renyes' Fashionabis boarding House,
Sr. 1is suuth Isroal Street.
PHIbApEIpHIA, Dec. 1.-Two persons
lost ticlr lives in Ire this morning ut
the fashionable boarding house of Mrs.
@. y. Reeves. No. 3tS South Broad
street. The dead are;
Mrs. Ella Ray Smith and Miss Gull
,erden, both boarders in the house. The
fire was discovered by colored waiter,
shortly before 0 O'Clock, bursting from
tho ghaft of tho dumb waiter. Hn at.
tempted to extinguish tho flames with
bucket Of water, but the fire had gained
such Roadway that the water had no
effect. Tho colored man seeing the
flames were beyond his control rushed
Financially freln room to room to arouse
the sleeping bnarders, 30 of whom were
IN the house atthe time.
Before he had completed tho rounds
of the rooms the house was filled with
slneke and the man had to flee for his
life.
THE DOORS BURST OPEN.
The fourth story front room was
occupied by Mrs. Smith and the middle
room on the same door by Miss Cullen
den. The iiremen were on the scene ia
few minutes and at onca turned their
attention to rescuing the b0arders on
the third and fourth floors. aAll Of those
ON the third floor were gotten out and
tho fircmen rushed TO the fourth floor.
They tried the doors Of. Mrs. Smith and
Miss Cullcnden, but found III locked.
The doors were quickly burst open.
FINGER MARKS on WINDOW stills.
Lying on the floor in the .ffsnt room
was the body of Mrs. <Smith partially
wrapped in carpet which She hadftorn
from the hosr in her agony. She had
been sulfecated by the smoke. Marks
on the window sills showed, thatishe
l!had made ON effort to raise the window
| but it Isl supposed that her weakened
condition she could not get it up.
pAuaHTEE's TIMELY RESCUE.
Mas Cuilenden vas found lying
across tho bed in her room, hGTisg. also
| fallen from snfacation. She was dead
when reached by the firemen. There
were mGny narrow escapes. Mr.. and
/ Mrs. II. q. Pollock occupied room on
the tirst foor. As soon as they were
aroused Mr. Pollock rushed 10 the tiooi
above to arouse his daughter. lie was
partially overcome by the smoke before
lie had succeeded, ant. had to be carried
from the building.
A THRILLING ESCAPE.
+. i. Rahoug, who occupied FOURTH
story b3ais room, had Il thrilling escape
from suifscation. lie saw that his escape
Down tua stairway was cut off anc
gathering up his he'd clothing rnsned {
the window and waved frantically, en-
desvoring 30 attract the attention d. tHt
iiremen. Fireman Rafferty, of cn%!n,
No 3 had ey THIS time reached the roo
Of tue burning building and was NJ
tracted to the side Of the building b,
t.ubous's wild sirisis.
Rahtrsy too. in the 81; ion at
Glance. ila rushed 10 the ser, and
prpcurng q seust piece Of rope, or"ppe,
it ~ Raaau@, iIna latter realizing tina
this was ms anlY means Q. cseaYa
Slu.ahc.. ti3 slender strand an. wa
dr2HA upou inD 1907 by tho shee
strength d the iireman. From the roo
lie was taken down the ladder in safety
The roar OF the building was PARTIAL
destroyed, involving a loss OF few
, thousand dollars