The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-25
FIRE SET IN A TENEMENT.
ATTEMPT TO BURN a CROWDED
EAST SIDE BUILDING.

Kerosene Poured Over the Stairs and Near
tie Atr shar-The Incendinry Appar-
entity Battered and Escaped Through the
scutue-No Motive KnoVsH for His Act
Jacob Dinofsky. a tailor, who lives in q rear
fat on the fourth floor Of a tenement at 8
Sheriff street. containing twenty-one families,
numbering 100 persons. over two-thirds chill.
dren, when aroused by Illness at . A. NJ. yes
terday, smelled smoke. When he opened a
door leading into tho hail flames were licking
n door Of the ad Joining fat. occupied by Jacob
Moensch. A strong odor of kerosene pervaded
the hall. The fire began to burn briskly as
Dinoffsky stood watching II for a moment, too
dumfounded to do anything. lie soon re-
covered his senses. however, and realized the
terrible danger that threatened unless quick
action was taken. lie first ran TO the main
hall and shouted Fire" as loud as his lungs
would permit. lie gave the cry in the Hebrew
language, so that all would understand It.
Confusion and panic rcigncd in a minute. Men,
women. and children. ecantily clad and shak-
Ing with terror at the fearful cry that had
awakened them, rushed into the hall. blocked
the stairways, and shouted for help. not know
ing which way to turn nor where the danger
lay which they feared.
DlnofTsky, aided by Moensch, succeeded in
a short time In beating out the fire. Then the
alarm in the building abated, and the tenants,
with their fears set at rest, went back TO their
rooms. Moensch and Dlnoffsky then started
to mako an Investigation. While * distinguishing
the fire near Dino'fsky's door, another tenant
discovered that there was n small fire smOul-
dering near the door leading to the front pri-
waite hall. There WAS y trail of kerosene
stretching from Moensch's door TO. the spot
where the second fire was discovered. Ii was
also found that oil had been tied along
the stairway from the fifth to the third floor.
Burnt matches were scattered In tho hail
leading to Dinotfsky's rooms. There were also
waste paper and other material.
II was evident that deliberate efforts had been
oil was heaviest ut the air shaft In the centre
of the building. Had the fire gained ten
minutes Roadway, its discovery would have
been too late to prevent great loss of life.
The police OF the Delaney street station were
called TO the building, and n thorough inquiry
was started by them. Dinotrsky recollected
that before he smelled smoke he heard the
sound Of footsteps hurrying. up the stairway
leading to the floor above. The police went to
tho top floor and found the sCuttle door open.
They sent for Mrs. Hauherger. the janitress.
and asked her IL the door was usually left
open. she said 1t was always closed at night.
and she was positive that she closed 1t Thursday
night. The police believe that the inccndiary
had entered and made his escape from the
building by way of the roof.
The police questioned all the tenants In the
house az well as the ,Janitress, but none OF
them could suggest who might, have set the
fires. What the motive could DO was also II
mystery that could not be solved. No one had
been disposscssed from the building recently.
and none OF the tenants would say that they
work in revenge. The building Is owned by Il.
Smol!nsky. who lives in Division street. The
police notified the Fire Marshal of the cnsc,
and he is to make an additional Investigation.