The San Francisco call., 1896-02-24
The Flames Spread Rapidly and
Prevent the Escape of
the Inmates.
ONLo0KERs PowERLEss TO AID
Heroism Of Firemen Saves Several
From Crema tion-A Woman's
Plunge to Death.

BALTIMORE, MD, Feb. 23.-A fire in
the fashionable district of North Balti-
more about s O'Clock this morning caused
seven deaths and sent thrill of horror into
hundreds of homes in the city, where most
OF the unfortunate victims were well
known. The disaster occurred in the home
OF James R. Armiger, one of the best
known men IN Baltimore, at 1865 North
Charles street, and, owing to the mistake
OF two policemen in breaking open a front
door and giving draught to the flames, was
greater than it would have been had
proper precautions been taken and FORE
thought exercised.
The dead are: James r. Armiger, aged
55; William B. Riley, his son-in-low, aged
IS; Richard Riley, aged 4, Marian Riley,
aged 21I James Chamberlin, aged3; Mrs
Marian Cham berlin, aged 50; Harold
Manuel, aged 90.
The fire started in the basement shortly
before o'clock, and Lou Whiting, a col
ored servant who was employed next door,
first discovered the flames. Gaining an
entrance over a rear fence, he dashed
through the building, arousing the in
mates, most Of whom were still in their
beds. But quick as was his action, the
flames were more rapid, and egress by the
staircases was shut off before half of the
sixteen occupants of the dwelling had left
their rooms.
The sleepers on the fourth floor could
get no lower than the second story, where
they were driven into the sIeeping-rooms
OF the other inmates of the house. With
closed doors behind them to keep out the
eFlla nd ha ants
rushed to the windows crying piteously
for help. Two maid servants, who were in
the kitchen when the fire was discovered,
escaped by the rear door, There were
then penned up in the building fourteen
persons crying or shrieking for assist
ance.
AS soon as the Fire Department arrived
nets were stretched beneath the windows,
and the firemen called TO the terror
stricken persons at the windows to Jump
The crowd in the street, not realizing the
extent of the fire and smoke within the
house, yelled: Don't jump!" The be-
wildered inmates held back. and some of
them disappeared from the windows. Ap-
parently they went back for clothing, or
perhaps for some treasured or valuable
possession. 1t was fatal move, and in
most instances .st life.
Policemen Carlos and Crewe, in an at
tempt TO rescue those whose lives were in
danger, broke in the front door. 1t was a
mistake, for it only gave the fire, which
had begun in the basement. the draught it
needed, and 1t roared through the hall
ways and up the stairs with greater fierce
ness. The policemen could not reach the
imperiled persons, for the stairszyas then
q mass OF flames and the smoke was blind.
ing.
. The ireDen had by this time thrown up
ladders against the front of the house, and
District Chief McAfee climbed ND to the
second story window, where Mrs. Armiger
was crying for help. The ladder did not
quite reach the window, and there was the
widest excitement III the crowd below as
McAfee stood on the upper round OF the
ladder and grasped the window sill for
support. He encouraged Mrs. Armlger to
swing herself out of the window. As the
chief grasped her with one arm he steadied
himself with the other, and had taken one
step down the ladder, when it slipped, and
McAfee, with the woman in one arm and
with the other holding to the window
frame. dangled in the air.
A cry of horror went up from the crowd
as it saw the peril of the daring fireman
and his human burden. Fortunately for
them McAfee caught the top round of the
ladder on his toe and pulled it back into
position, released his hold upon the yin,
dow and quickly descended with the
woman to the sidewalk. A great cheer
went up as rescued and arescuer reached
terra firma.
AT one of the third STORY windows man
with a look of agony shouted to the multi
tude below. 1t sent him back an encour-
aging shout. and he q moment later, before
a ladder could be run up, disappeared.
When the 1remen reached the window the
man was found lying beneath it. suffocated
and badly burned. twas Harold Manuel,
a New York stockbro and banker. In
his arms was little Richard Riley, a grand
son of Mr.. Armiger, also dead.
Alice J. Williams, one of the colored
servants, appeared at one of the fourth
story windows, shrieking for help. She
leaned far out over the pavement.
Don't jump! don't iumpF" yelled a
hundred voices.
She stepped back, wringing her hands.
Then she leaned out again and appeared
to be trying to call something to those
below. Again the cry went up, Don't
iumpr
Too late the terrorized woman drew
half back in the window and with an
awful shrek launched herself out into the
air. Down, down she shot, her body turn
ing over several times and striking the
mar bic steps of the residence. The crowd
stood transfixed with horror, as the
Woman's body rebounGed and rolled 10
the pavement. For a moment no one
moved. Then a man rushed forward, fol-
lowed by score. The woman was moan