New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-15
BIG FIRE IN JERSEY CITY,
HOUSE BURNED AND ONE
LIFE PROBABLY LOST.

HEROIC MOTHER SAVES HER FOUR CHILDREN
BUT is FATALLY INJURED HERsELF-oTHER
NARROW ESCAPES FROM DEATH
fire which was attended with probably ia ta
accident and a half-dozen miraculous escapes from
death occurred in Jersey City after ! O'Clock
yesterday afternoon. The building. which was a
four-story apartment house. was erected by James
O'Connor at the northwest corner of Henderson and
Fourth SITS. The top floor occupied by the
families OF John Stapleton and Michael j. Murphy
on the third floor lived Mrs Mary Mccarthy and
her four children. three of whom at home. In
the adjoining apartments lived the family OF John
Kimurray consisting OF himself his wife and their
four children-Albert. twelve years old Louis eight
years old; Charles four years old; John seven
years Old. and Frank. eighteen months old
The second floor was occupied by Mary Curran
and her three daughters only OF whom was at
home. In the apartments opposite lived the family
of Michael O'Connor brother OF the owner of the
building. who also conducted a beer shop on the
ground floor.
An oil stove in the OF the beer saloon ex-
ploded shortly after o'clock yesterday. scattering
oil all about the The oil ignited instantly
and before OConnor could extnguish the fire the
barroom was In flames and filled with smoke. The
occupants rushed to the street crying Fire. While
O'Connor FASTENED to his apartments above 10
alarm the inmates of the building and take hi. wife
and child 10 a place OF safety. Mrs Curran and
her sick daughter heard the alarm. as did the
Stapletons and the Murphys on the fourth floor
and all succeeded In making their way TO the street
Mrs. Kilmurray and her children and Mrs. O'Con-
nor and her three little ones, not so fortunate
They did not hear the alarm until the flames had
made great Roadway, and by that time escape
down the hall was impossible. cloud OF smoke
was pouring up the stairway. followed by sea Of
fame. Haf-dead from fright and sufrocatlon Mrs
Kilmurray seized the baby in her arms and cried
to her children TO follow her to the window When
she appeared there with the infant roar went up
from the thousands who had gathered about the
scene. Among those who saw the woman and child
the husband and father. John Kilmurray. He
Immediately beneath the window with Police
man Timothy MURPHY; and shouted:
Throw out the children.
The half-frantic woman gave the little one pas
sonate kiss and then leaning as far over as pos
sble dropped It. The child was caught. uninjured
in the arms OF its father, and again the crowd
kilmurray looked up again at the wpdOw S and
saw John the seven-year-o.d boy: LhroW MN I'm
Kmurray and Policeman Murphy caught him
safely and when eaSGr hands drew am iTn rom S
window The crowd OF anxious spectators watched
for the woman but in her place came Albert the
The little fellow clambered to the window frame
and VIII cry e saaTcy nS saa this hap
penei when Mrs Kilmurray once more appeared
moment later she dropped him 20 his father.
The mother then turned for Louis the last or me
children.
Nv his time the room was filed TO suffocaton with
smoke and the distracted woman CROPPED about the
room calling the boy by name The smoke became
So dense that she was forced TO crawl on her hands
and knees, but when it seemed as II her strength
was gone her hand finally touched the half-con
scious form Of her boy In desperation she dragged
the child to the window, and while the crowd
cheered she dropped him. and he was saved
With wild cry Of despair Mrs kilmurray
sprang from the window herself. As she fell she
struck a cothesllne, and bounded from 1t to a
board fence striking on her back. For moment
she DANCED there and then dropped senseiess 10
Tho ground She was carried to an adjoining house
where she was attended by Fathers Mooney ana
Bahr until she removed TO ST. Franciss Hos
nil Her injuries are believed to be fatal.
While this exciting scene was taking place, Mrs
Mary Mccarthy had taken her three small chIl-
dren TO the roof OF the house. Some one In the
adjoining house stretched ladder across the gap
between the houses. and Mrs. Mccarthy and her
children were assisted across the pcrlous br dge
and thence to the street
Nv the time all the tenants had escaped from the
building the nremen got work. and after stub
born fight suh1ued the flames. The loss Is varloIsy
estimated at from 5000 $500. and is covered by
insurance.