New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-29
SAVED BY A TANGLED ROPE.
NARROW ESCAPES FROM DEATH AT n
BROOKLYN FIRE.
MRS. HENDERSON. sEvENTY-Two YEARS OLD.
JUMPED From a THtRD-STORY WINDOW
AND HER FALL. WAS CHECKED ONLY
FOOT FROM THE PAVEMENT-A
Young WOMAN UNCONSCIOUS
THE HALLWAY.

YOUNG WOMAN UNCONSCIOUS
IN THE HALLWAY.
Mrs Anna Henderson. a wealthy widow. sew
erty-two years old. narrowly escaped instant
death in fire that burned the handsome three
story and basement brownstonc dwelling No. go
McDonough-st.. Brooklyn. yesterday morning at
43O o'clock. The fire is believed to have started
in the laundry. In the basement Of the rear ex-
tension. Mrs. Ella J. Powell owned and occu-
pied the house. which IS in an arisocratc sec
ton Of the city. Mrs. Powell Is the widow OF
the Rev. Or. Powell formerly Of the Board
OF Foreign Missions Of the Presbyterian Church
She has had a number Of ble-boarders, and
alb )ut eight people lived In the house. including
Mrs. Powell and her daughter and od Mrs.
Henderson. The latter occupied rear bedroom
on the top floor.
The fire must have made rapid headway. as
flames pouring from the basement and first
floor windows. front ard rear. by the time the
engines and Hook ard Ladder Truck No IL
reached the scene. Notwithstanding the early
hour, it was only few minutes before large
crowd collected. The members Of Mrs PowelIs
household were hustled out after another.
Mrs Powell the first to discover the fire. ana
alarmed as many Of tho household as she could.
Leon J. Lewis broker. who lives ne%t door
at No 2j7. of the first 10 get into the
burning building. lie met the inmates hurrylnS
down the stairs through the binding smoke
Passing through tho hallway on the first hoor. he
stumbled over tho unconscious form or Miss
Powell. He dragged her - the door. and the
air soon revived her she having fallen from suf-
location she was trying 10 reach the front
door from her bedroom in the back parlor on the
first floor. All were thought 10 be out, Wnen sud
denly come remembered Mrs. Henderson. y
ladder was quickly run 10 the top floor. and
Frank Woods OF Truck NJ. II. entered the win
dow from which smoke was already pouring.
He reappcarei at the window in less than
minute supporting Mrs Henderson in her night
robe Sheets OF fame darted upward, momen-
tarly hiding the front Of the building from the
gaze Of the spectators. Woods tied rope around
Mrs Henderson's waist and pushing her
forward on TO the ladder when the fire reached
them both.
Either from fright or agony, she tore herself
Loose from the fireman. and the next instant her
body shot straight downward toward the stone
pavement In front q the basement windows.
Then with sudden snap the rope became taut,
ard Mrs Hcniers1ns writhing body hung sus-
pended a foot from the pavement. BY rare good
fortune the rope as Il paid out over the top
= tho ladder had become tangled and "snuohed
Itself
Willing hands soon cut Mrs Henderson .oose.
and two calls for ambuances We're sent out.
She was taken u st johns Hospital. only d
few blocks away. in Albany-aye. At first the
doctors thought that sh" was unnjured save
from shock but later Il was said that two ribs
were fractured probably from pressure from the
rope. At III" hospital last night II was re-
portel that her hands and lower extremites
showed burns. and the doctors said that her age
and Injuries together made her recovery doubt
ful Mrs Henderson s said 70 be member q
the Church Of the Good Shepherd. In Macdon-
ough- st near Stuyvesant-2ve.
The house and its contents were damaged over
$1,000 The loss is said 70 be covered by insur-
ancc. The dwelling was richly furnished Mrs.
Henderson has no nearer relatives than cousins
living In the city. The origin of the fire Is un-
known Mrs Powell says there was no fire IN
the laundry wien she retired on Saturday night.