The evening world., 1894-01-19
FIREBUGs At WORK.
Three Attempts to Burn the
Building SO Monroe Street.
Kerosene-Soaked Rags Set Ablaze
Each Time.
The Structure Occupied Principally
by "Sweaters."

less attempts were made to burn the six
story brick building 50 Monroe street,
between the hours of 10 o'clock last night
and 6 o'clock this morning, when the
last blaze was discovered.
The accidental discovery of the fire In
each instance prevented a connagration.
Had the flames obtained the least head
way a fearful loss of life might have fol-
lowed, as the building Is surrounded by
tenements, the inmates OF which were
nearly all wrapped in slumber.
Following 30 soon the work Of the
hre-bugs in Avenue C, Avenue d and
other places. this latest attempt to de-
stroy property regardless OF loss Of life
has served to stir the fire officials into
increased activity.
Fire Marshal Mitchell and Assistant
Marshal Freel are already at work on
the case They hope to run down some
clues before the day is over.
The ground floor Of the Monroe street
building is occupied by l.. Arininstz,
manufacturer Of iron ware, and with that
exception all the other floors are used as
'sweat shops" FRANKIE is the name OF
the man who uses the first floor. Penn
and Cohen occupy the second, Goldman
and KLEIN the third: Cohn and Michaels
the fourth, and Brodsky and Zalinsky
ne NTH. A man named Zellich with
all In the coat, pants, padding and
pressing business.
The entire building is Il regular finder
box. with narrow wooden stairs, having
little, II any. ventilation. An elevator
shaft runs from top to bottom of the
building, while on each landing at the
head of the stairs Is a closet.
Some time ago complaint was made
about the closet on the first floor be-
capse 1t was always open. Janitor
L and told him it should be kept locked.
FRANKIE retorted that 1t might remain
open; that he was not going to take the
ever, gave him a key and said he would
hold him responsible for anything which
might happen.
The first fire was discovered about 10
working late. He smelled smoke and,
without stopping to investigate, rushed
out and gave the alarm. Janitor Abram-
Engine Company No. 9, and two firemen
went around to investigate. They found
z pile OF blazing rags in the rear Of the
the rags had been thoroughly soaked
with Kerosene. and the tiremen, on going
away. remarked that the building had
Janitor Abramowitz was ]denouncing
the perpetrators of the outrage nearly
Two HOuTS ldleT 10 MS 1aInlly at MS
home, three doors away, wnen he was
informed hat the building was again
on fire. and he started on a mad run
for the engine-house. The fremen turned
prepared for a stubborn blaze. Nearly
all ip the adjoining were then
The fremen found the halls and stair
way dense with smoke, but for a time
could not locate the fire. Finally there
WAS u roaring noise from the air shaft
ann n 1pf or fa ma shot nnt into tho fret
LANDING, The door to the elevator was
the blaze was stamped out.
A bundle of tailors' trimmings, pieces
or cloth; lining. padding and the like had
been piled nearly two feet high in the
sides of the shaft, of wood. had also
been saturated with kerosene.
The hremen whistled, but said moth
miraculous that the whole building did
not &c up. Then they nailed up the
door and went away.
halls this morning. and about 6 o'clock,
while he was standing on the sidewalk
near the door of the building, he thought
sprang up the stairs and ran straight
for the closet about which there had
been so much trouble. On the floor he
thoroughly soaked with kerosene, biaz.
himself. "
On the arrival of some of the tenants.
this morning, they were made acquainted
with the main facts, and a chorus of
inclination was the result. The en-
Rloyees were particularly indignant.
Whether the "sweaters' are insured or
II know that / am not" said Mr.. Arm
wttz to an Evening World reporter
worth Of stock there. Had hat building
gone up l would have lost everything.
This is terrible" '.
There is nothing on the blotter of the
hat any attempt at incendiarism had
been made. nor is there any intimation
that there had been three fires. The
Fire in the six-story brick house 80
Monroe street. No damage. No alarm"
When the Sergeant at the desk was in
World, reporter this morning he seemed
amazed.
Well, we have a man on the case, any
hear from him. You cannot do anything
with these people unless you catch them
In the Essex Market Police Court to-
morrow morning Henry Gottlieb, who ia
under arrest charged with the explosion
In the house. lSs Avenue G on TUESDAY
Mitchell and Freel are hard at work on
the case. and promise TO introduce some
sensational testimony. Among the wit
utsses 10 De examined Is MTS. DuHI'
who lived on the same floor with the
alleged flrebug and his family.
She said to an Evening World" re-
porter to-day that Gottlieb had moved
tome Of his best bedding out of the
Ipuse three weeks ago.. and took
mere instead a couple of old mattresses.
Mrs, Dunn's two-year-old child, Edna,
seriously i'll, as the result Of the eX,
Rlosion. The attending physician says
.ne shock. completely upset the babes
ssystem; Since the day OF the explosion
the child has eaten nothing
Maggie Dent. who lived over the Colt
Meos. has made the most Important
sIatement to the Fire Marshal. Gottlieb
haS contended that he was not In the
ouilding for several hours before the
explosion. Miss Dent says that he and
ms wife were in their rooms at 4 O'Clock
~ she saw them there. The explosion
TOOK place at 4N o'clock.
IRE Marshal Mitchell thinks there
we're two bombs used. one in the north
vest corner OF the kitchen and another
~ the southeast corner of the front
.oom, and that they were connected. by
.me same fuse. He also thinks the fuse
vas attached to a candle. which burned
at MALT an hour before reaching the
destructive bombs.
RECEIVER APPOINTED.