The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-01-04
DESTRUCTION OF THE DELIvAN
HOUSE IN ALBANY, BY FIRE.
Thrilling Incidents Of the Occasion.

two women and one man. The fire
took place in the evening Of Decem-
Der goth, about half past eight o'clock,
before they had gone to bed, or else
results would have been different, no
doubt. Starting in the basement of
this four-story building the flames
spread SO quickly that no one had
time to save anything above the main
floor. In fact the flames had broken
through the roof on one side before
the affrighted guests and politicians
there convened had time to emerge
upon the street. Had the politicians
and slate-makers not been on the first
floor, just over the lobbies, there is no
telling how the speakership candidates
and their friends would lave gotten
out. The chances are that the exces-
sive heat would have cracked the
slate and consumed the slate makers.
High toned guests were caught in
such straights that they actually took
the servants stairway in order to
effect their escape, while others slid
down the ropes. f. A. Manchester,
postmaster of the assembly, came
from the fourth story in this manner,
hand over hand others did likewise.
A man and wife on the roof clung to
each other until firemen tore them
apart and carried them down the lad
ders. Mrs. Zeh, Of Hlllsdale, Colum-
bia county, an invalid, was carried out
by friends.
MRS FooKEs' TERRIBLE LEAP.
Mrs. Fookes jumped from the third
story window, above the main floor,
on Steuben street, striking on the roof
of the balcony Oh the main floor and
rolling off onto the sidewalk, a fall OF
sixty feet.
The crowd which filled the streets
of the block shuddered as they sudden
ly saw two forms appear at one of the
windows on the third floor of the
hotel. They were man and woman,
clinging to each other. In an instant
the form of the woman disappeared
The man rushed back. The flames
leaped from the window just above
him.
"My wife my wife p he screamed,
as he again appeared. The longest
ladder in the possession of the de
partment was spliced with another,
and the man, who proved to be H. +.
Fookes, was taken down. Just before
he reached the ground his wife jump
ed from the window of another room.
She had broken away from her hus.
band, and he could not find her again
because of the smoke. Her hip was
broken and she was injured internally.
A BRIDAL COUPLES FATE.
One of the saddest fates was that
which befell Benjamin Heilman and
wife, of Brooklyn, who were on their
wedding tour. Their room was on the
fourth floor. They were seen after the
flames had reached their floor They
stood at the window an instant, and
then, with scream, the man hurled
himself to the ground.
| ihS hSht Hioiaul illS WIG IOlIOWeV
him. The husband struck the balcony
and then fell to the ground. but the
wife struck the shoulders of two men
as they were rushing in the door of
the building. This broke the force of
her fall; but she struck on her head,
and cut herself SO badly that it is
feared she cannot live. The husband
is injured internally SO badly that
there are fears that he will not re
| cover.
d. P. Brockway, of New York City,
was cut on the arm in forcing the win
dow of his room. He was rescued
from the third story with the aid of a
ladder.
AN AssEMBLYMAN's BRAVERY.
Assemblyman Keck, of Johnstown,
went through the second and third
floors notifying the guests of their
danger. He helped twenty people to
an exit, and had narrow escape
himself.
Assemblyman Fish, Louis F Payn.
and others in Mr.. Fish's headquarters
had no trouble in reaching the main
floor. Those in Mr.. Malby's head.
quarters were not so fortunate. MIR.
Malby and Assemblyman Weeks, of
Queens County, were the last to leave,
and 1t remained for Mr.. Weeks to
direct Mr.. Malby to means of escape
by the servants stairway. The others
had gone some minutes before.
A. f. Dart, New York Herald
artist, when he opened the door of
his room on the third floor, was
knocked down by burst of flame.
He managed to pick himself up and
reached the ground, but does not
know how. He was but slightly burned.
Charles L. Winslow, Speaker NAL
by's secretary, succeeded in saving
the Speakers trunk, in which we e
the pledges of members who are to
support his candidacy.
BRADLEY MARTINS EFFECTS BURNED.