New-York tribune., 1895-12-06
THRILLING RESCUE AT A FIRE
A MOTHER AND HER BABE TAKEN DOWN
LADDERS on A MATTRESS

PEOPLE IN A GRAHAM-AVE. TENEMENT HOUSE
HEMMEp IN BY FLAME AND sMoKE-GooD
WORK BY FIREMEN.
fire which broke out among some rubbish in
the cellar of the tenement house No. 50 Graham
ave. at 10 o'clock yesterday morning was Followed
by a panic among the inmates OF the mouse ana
some thrilling rescues. The building waS occuP'eu
by seven families all of whom had TO be carried
down the ladders by the fremen. one woman, MIS-
Ida Katzman with her three days old child. was
taken from the third floor down the ladder on the
mattress which she lay helpless The puilulhS IL
A four-story brick house al Moore-st and Irahaih-
ave The ground floor occupied by Nathan
Prensky. as a drygoods store PrensAy living Win
his family In tho OF the store. over the store
lived Mrs Fannie Grolzky and Mrs. Fannie Ebper-
sen occupying the front and rear rooms. On the
third floor besides Mrs kazman lived Mrs Kachel
Marks while the fourth floor was occupied by Mrs
Ida Rubens and Mrs Rosie Kreisgoz. The building
was supplied with hre-escapes in the rear, but the
dense smoke which filed the Railways prevented
those living in the front OF the house from reaching
them.
The fire was discovered by clerk employed by
Prensky. who into the cellar f0r box and
saw In, flames in a pile OF rubbish. He ran up
stairs quickly TO tell his employer. In his excite
the clerk left open the hall door, which gave
the fire such draught that the flames shot up
through the opening to the stairs, which were soon
sbaze. and the smoke began to Ill the Railways
Prensky and the clerk. who, with Mr. PrensNy and
the children. screaming TO the street.
The imprisoned inmates the upper floors ran 10
the open windows screaming for help An attempt
had been made 10 reach the street through the hall
ways but the flames and smoke shut off escape.
The names quickly gained the alrshait ana shOt up
through the building TO the root
Within block OF the burning building l. the
headquarters Of Truck No. in Seeel-st; The fire
were apprsed OF the fire by small boy. WhIe
a.arm was being sent out the iiremen hastened
to the house ana found tn streets blocked with
people. many OF whom were shouting TO the excited
men arrived. one woman was about TO drop one
Of her children thu street below. and follow her
self by jumping, when the men or me truck com,
pany appeared IN sight The child had been raised
the sill ana hanging. grasped by the moth
eis hands When the frantic woman saw the hre-
men she drew The child back into the window
the burning building and the Work Of rescue began,
The smoke by this time was intense, and many Of
air SIX ladders had been placed against the build
ing. TWO 10 each floor, and each ladder was quickly
mounted by two fremen The first o. the inmates
and her young infant. AT the window was mid
wife who was In attendance or the sick woman.
begging The hremen TO save the mother and chiId;
g. In the mean time Detective DoughefhX, OF the h
he waited for he fremen As soon as the tire,men
new born infant into the front room mattress
and after covering her with Blankets tied sheet
nn tha ia ddsr Ke,nar win the assistance Of AS
ssant SIS ant fireman Matschke and Foreman Mcrarney
carried Mrs Kaizman 10 the street with her infant.
The midwife also assisted down the ladder,
while Dougherty carried child 10 safety
Mrs. Rachel Marks and her two children.
Abraham. four Years DID, and Annie, six months
old were taken out by way Of the fre-escape
While OF the fremen were assisting the
families in front OF the house II the street others
were rescuing the imprisoned tenants in the rear
Mrs Katznan. with her child was taken 10 -
Catharine's Hospita. while the other tenants We're
cared for by neighD)rs a second alarm was sent
IN and a few minutes after the occupants OF the
building had been taken out the flames sh0j out
through the roof For "A time ii looked a. II the
hui,1ing was doomed and the high wind which was
blowing drove the flames toward the neghoorlnS
frame tenements which for a time were threatened.
After an hours work the fircmen had the IRE under
contro. and soon extin guished 1t. The tota! loss
will reach 5000. None OF the tenants had any ~
surance The origin OF the fire is a mystery