New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-31

was on fire witnessed sights which Will SURELY
trouble their dreams tonight. The most dread
ful incident II the fire the fall Of a
woman and man from the fourth story Of the
building Four persons had made their way TO
the fourth floor when aware of the danger
They were Mr.. and Mrs Benjamin Heilman. Of
Brooklyn. who were said to be on their wedding
trip and Mr. and Mrs. William II. Fooks the
former an agent OF the National Cash Register
Company. whose home has been in Dayton
ohio. but vi no intended to take up his residence
I'm Albany. rope had been lowered from the
room above them. but by some terrible chance
it had caught and reached only TO the third
floor Apparently the Heilmans were in
frenzy II fear. FOR they seemed TO
make dash for the rope together. They de
scended only a short distance when. reaching the
end Of the rope. they fell to the street. \ shud
der ran through the hundreds Of spectators. The
man seemed t. have thrown himself out from
the building and landed the curbstone. Tn
woman struck the slanting roof Of the balloon,
on the second floor and bounded out into the
street. The deep snow doubtless broke the falls
Of both somewhat, but their groans awful
to hear
HANGING BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.
These two injured persons removed to
the Office Of the Directory Hotel. across the street
and the crowd then third figure coming
down the rope. II was that Of Fooks. He dis
covered that the rope went no further than the
third floor so he stood on the sill OF the window
there The fire had long ago mounted to the roof
and was spreading all the great structure.
and the Fire Department Just arriving
Fooks's situation was critical in the extreme
Volumes Of smoke rolled from the windows from
1pI thn faa- In
heart that the frall strand would be burned
the upper end and he would thus be- preclpitated
70 the street His cries for help were heartrend-
ing Five hundred voices offered him encourage
ment Don't let co." "Thc ladders will soon b.
here" Keep your nerve" came from anxious
throats The form. attired in black, could not be
plainly seem and every eye was strained TO catch
It's motion. His piteous appeals could at times
be- heard through the shouts Of those who bade
him take heart.
At last the ladders arrived. but the misman-
agcmcnt of ;hc fire department made one heart
sick The first ladder. far too short To reach,
was raised by twoscore willing but over-hasty
hands. It placed just in the centre OF the
Stcuben-st. side OF the building. while FooIs,
steadying himself on the rope. which might any
instant give way. was at the second window
from the Broadway corner. AT that time the
ladder was far too short to reach him. Soon
an extension ladder was brought. AS many
could grasp it essaycd to raise 1t. The weight
was so great that not enough could find room
for their hands. Then half dozen poles, with
ends In the shape of a somewhat hattened '.
were brought. and with the aid OF these tn
ladder was placed against the wall. But the
fircmen who should have directed the work Of
their tremendously willing but unskled vol
pfa haI al u
raise the ladder that its top score OF
feet to the east of where Fcoks stood
WORKING FOR \ HUMAN LIFE.
The crowd had been swelled into a multitude
and hearts beat anxously at the delay. Nov
the great building in a blaze In all the upper
parts, and 1t question as to how long II
would take the flames reach the rope. A
great murmur, broken by shouts. bidding the
man to be OF good cheer. swelled from the sur
rounding streets. which were crowded for blocks
Meantime the heavy ladder was being slowly
moved First the bottom part was showed over.
but so earnest were the workers that the top
nearly fell over. The lower end planted I'm
the snow and the upper moved along. Another
shifting at the bottom. and then of the top. aud
then the ladder was under Fooks. But II was
too short. and had tc be extended. Inch by inch
the topn ost rung crept upward. Then came
handclapping and shrill catcalls for the ladder
reached Fooks's feet. Even then the man was
dazed. and he heJtated a minute before descend
ing Finally he began his crawl downward.
Cautiously he made his way until dozen arms
reached him and led him away. He was grimy
as a coal miner and his clothes torn.
Mrs Fooks. who in her room had escaped
I'M cd 0u