The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-19
THEIR LIVES PUT IN DANGER.
A FAMILY NARROWLY ESCAPES
CREMATION.

The basement OF MIR. John II. McIn-
shortly After Midnight Pistol
Shots Attract Attention and Cause
the Alarm to BE Sent In-Mrs. Day
ton Forgotten in the Excitement,
Cut on by the Flames, and Saved
Only by the Good Work of the Fire
men-The Fire May Have Been In
cendiary.
The occupants of Mr.. John p. McIn-
tyres house. No. IL Tattnail street, had
narrow escape from cremation early
this morning.
Fire broke out in the basement OF the
house while all the occupants were asleep
and had gained considerable Roadway
when discovered.
Mr.. and Mrs Mcintyre occupy the
first floor Of the house. The fire was
discovered by Mrs. Mcintyre shortly af-
ter midnight. She was aroused by the
smell of smoke and getting up to inves-
tigate found smoke pouring into the room
from the fire place. Concluding that the
smoke came from the floor above she
ran upstairs to arouse her sister, Mrs.
Tuten, who occupied the second floor
with her children. Finding that the fire
was not on that floor she ran back down
stairs and aroused Mr. Mcintyre. The
latter has been suffering from paralysis
for several months and is able to get about
with difficulty. 1t was on this account that
his wife did not stop to wake him up when
she first discovered the smoke.
Both Mrs. Mcintyre and her sister
screamed for help at the top of their
voices. but as they did not appear to at
tract any attention Mr. Mcintyre got out
his pistol and fired several shots. This
attracted the attention of Mr.. Greene,
one of the dodgers, who ran out and
turned in an alarm.
As Mr.. Mcintyre and his family ran
down the steps to the street, the flames
burst out of the basement widows under
the stoop.
The top floor of the house is occupied
by Mrs. Dayton, mother of County Engi-
neer Walter A. Drayton. In the
excitement she was forgotten.
1t was not discovered that she was in the
building until the fire had gained such
Roadway that 1t was impossible to res
cue her. A great deal of excitement was
created when it was learned that the old
lady, who is an invalid, was in the burn
ing building. Several men attempted to go
TO her rescue, but were almost suffocated
when they reached the door. AS soon as
the nre department arrived a stream from
the chemical was turned on and in a short
time the flames had been subdued suffici-
emily to go into the building. Several of
Chief McGuire's men rushed up to the
top floor and broughs the lady out. She
was almost suffocated, and il is wonder
that she survived, as the whole building
was densely filled with smoke.
The hremen succeeded in subduing the
flames in a short while after they arrived.
The hre was confined to the basement
tioor which was completely Quilted. This
floor had been occupied by the family OF
Mr., II. NJ. Stanley, who moved out yes
terday. A new sewing machine and a
lot of books were left behind, and were
entirely ruined. The furniture in the
room belonged to Mr.. Mcintyre. His loss
is small, as the fire did not spread to the
next floor
The house is the property of Mr.. D. J.
Morrison and is supposed to be insured.
The damage will not exceed $500. Mr.
Mcintyre did not have any insurance,
nor did any one else in the house, so
far as known.
Nothing could be learned as to the
cause of the fire. Mr.. and Mrs. McIn-
tyre believe 1t was of incendiary origin,
but the general supposition is that it
caught from some fire left in the crate
by the family that had just moved out
Mrs. Mcintyre thought that someone
had set the fire in the basement with the
intention of robbing the house in the
confusion which would follow. Had it
not been discovered just when it was there
might have been a horrible holocaust AS
1t was, Mrs Dayton had a narrow escape
The f1remen made short work of the fire
after their arrival.