New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-13
ROASTED TO DEATH.
BRAVE MEN TRY IN VAIN TO RESCUE A
BURNING MAN.

s. 1.-TWO HOUSES ALMOST WRECKED.
Hugo Schmidt. of Mariners Harbor, S. l.. tried
to flll gasoline stove last night while 1t was
burning. He used tin can to carry the oil from
the barrel to the stove. The can was full when
he started to pour the innammable oil into the
stove The result was what might have been
expected. The oil caught fire. the can exploded,
the side Of the house blown out the side OF
the house next door was driven inward and
Schmidt lost his life. The man caught be-
meath the ruins of the house as the timber came
crashing down. and although those who re-
sponded to his frantic calls for help tried to ex-
trcate him. they could not do so. and he was
roasted to death before their eyes.
The fatality occurred at Mariners Harbor
Erastina as 1t Is now called. Schmidt was en-
ployed as man of -all-work by Nathan Strome.
Mr. Strome Is a dealer In second d-hand furniture
in this city. His home is in Union-ave.. Eras-
tina. The building three-story frame
dwelling, with unfinished attic above the third
floor Mr. Strome was at his business in this
city when the accident occurred at $40 last
night Mrs Strome and her daughter were away
visiting friends in another part Of staten Island.
Schmidt was alone in the mouse. The gasoline
stove which exploded was used in the kitchen as
a cooking stove. Schmidt. among his other du-
the evening He always used the two-gallon can.
No one knows Just how the accident happened,
as happily there was no ore else in the building
at the moment. Schmidt frequently neglected
to turn of the flame before filing the stove. and
had been reproved for this. He doubtless did
this last night FOR the greatest force OF the ex'
posion was in the kitchen and he flames hrst
burst forth from that part Of the house Next door
10 the Srome house was that occupied by . W.
Smoote, conductor on the Rapid Transit Kali
road. Mr. Smoote was not at home Ills wire
and four young children were in the house, how
ever.
The place is a lonely one. and few persons were
in the streets at the hour when the explosion took
place Suddenly there was roaring sound, and
the side OF the house next TO the Smoote house
fell and was hurled against the side OF the Smoote
home The walls ~ the Smoote house could not
stand the shock. and they. too. gave way. The
noise OF the explosion deafening. and reused
the country for almost three miles around. IL
plainly felt and heard at West New
Brighton, over two and half miles away
RACE FOR LIFE.
When the explosion occurred. Mrs. Smoote was
sitting with the four children close 10 her. She
grabbed the smaller two. and, driving the others
before her. rushed into the street which she
reached before the tmbers from the wrecked
buildings had settled.
simultaneously with the explosion came
burst OF flame. and within a few seconds both
of the houses were in flames The fire appeared
to break out from every stick and beam AT
once. Charles B Britton. llQuor-deaer, whose
place is close by: Wesley Guyon, Frederick
Welcher and Christopher Latorette were the
first three men at the place When they reached
the house the flames had just begun TO take nod
OF the woodwork They saw Schmidt caught be-
meath some timbers in what had been the door
way OF the Strome house. 1t appeared to them
that he had made rush for the door when the
oil caught fire and was pinned down just as ne
was In the doorway The wreckage mad failen IN
such a manner that Schmidt was caught In an
upright position. The debris was piled up TO his
waist. The flames were tnen In every part or the
house except Just where Schmidt was standing.
The three men ledped to the wreckage ard
tried 10 pull the man from the pile OF stun which
held him down They could not. They tugged
and pulled and shifted the wreckage; although
they worked hard and fast. the flames were trav-
elling faster. and before they could release
Schmidt the fire mad taken hold OF the wreckage
about him Still the three men worked on. al
though their flesh was blistered and burned
Finally Schmdts clothing caught fire. and the
clothing ot the rescuers was singed by the IN
tense heat Then the four men were forced 10
abandon Schmidt to his fate share it with
him Schmidt's arms had been pinioned and lie
could do nothing for himself. While the men
working about him he uttered piercing
shrieks
The explosion having been heard In Port Rich
mond and Elm Park. which are within short dis
tances OF the place, hundreds OF persons had
cached the fire They were obliged 10 stand In
front Of the house and see the man roasted To
dea tn before their eyes. Nothing more could he
done to save him. Many were made SICK by the |
shreks and pleadines or the frenzed man
WORK OF THE FIREMEN
Erastina is In the territory Of the North Shore /
Fire Department one hose company. the Acqua- |
honga. IS in Erastlna The next nearest Is In |
ha
place within a few minutes but were powerless
to prevent the flames rea hing the man. The |
fire had surrounded him before they arrived. and /
by the time they had stream of water on the
flames about his body Ills cries had ceased. |
Two hours later. small backened heap was /
recovered from the runs-lt was all mat re-
mained Of Schmidt.
A general alarm was SEMI out as soon as 'he !
first company arrived. and every company on the
North shore responded. Water was thrown on
the flames and they were confined to the three
houses Everything the houses contained was
destro, cd None of the families saved anything |
except what the members had on al the time;
The police and fire patrol and the regular ponce
had n hard task In handling the excited crowd
which forced It's way toward the place Of the
fire The fremen encountered a serious danger
while fighting the flames The barrel OF gasoline
exploded and a quantity Of fireworks In the
house began 10 "go Off.
Guyon and Latourette were the most severely
burned o. the -four who risked their ives.
Their faces and hands We're badly blistered. They
were treated by a physician and no serious re-
suits are feared Schmdts body was turned over
to Coroner Scheaffer who was summoned.
The Strome and Smootc houses were owned oy
Edward p. Doyle. secretary OF the state tish
The Decker House was owned by
the occupant Mr. Doyles .oss will be about
81 900 and Decker's $500. but no estimate of the
losses Of the Smoote and Strome families could
be made.
Schmidt was forty-eight years old He was
born I'm Germany. He had been In Mr. Strome's
,n,pIoy for some years. X * not known thar ne |
,sd anv relatives in this country An inquest
viii be held by Coroner Scheaffer nj Erastina to-
morrow night
THE CHILLTESr SINCE S5.
Woafh hcr IN