The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-28
Mrs. Kriechbaum Gave the
Alarm to NeighbOrS.
Then Went Back to Arouse Her Own
Husband, Who Was Deaf.
Both Lost their Lives Apparently Be.
cause They Waited to Dress.

At $40 this morning Thomas Larkin, .
grocer. doing business at the corner Of
Plainfel and Lawrence streets, Johns
ton, attempted to I'LL lamp from bar
rel Of kerosene. The result was that the
building was set on fire and Gegor
Kriech baum and his wife, Nellie, both
about SO years old, lost their lives.
As soon as the oil ignited, Larkin
threw the lamp down and the fire COM
municated with the oil barrel. In less
time than it takes to tell 1t the south
west corner OF the store was in flames. The
building is two and half stories In
height, and the floor over the store was
coupled by the owner of the building,
Asa Lawrence, his sister, and houseke keep-
err. In the attic lived Mr.. and Mrs.
| Kriech baum. AS near as can be learned
Mrs. Krjecn baum was the first in the
| building, other than MIR. Larkin, who
| was aware OF the fire. She ran down
| stairs and awoke Mr.. Lawrence and the
family.
| Ste then went down the narrow flight
| of stairs at the south east corner OF the
building and knocked on the window OF
| the house just east of her own. At this
| time she was in her night robe.
Mrs. Kriechbaum next went upstairs
and was seen ct a window on the east
side of the building. She was told to get
out of tho building, but her answer
was: "My husband is deaf and ! will 60
and wake him up"
She went in the direction of her own
apartments and tnat was the last seen OF
her until about IL O'CLOCK, when the tire-
nen found her body and that OF her hus-
band partly dressed near the chimney at
the head of the stsirs. This showed. Mrs.
Kriech baum had succeeded In arousing
her nus band, and that both had made Z
fatal mistake in waiting to dress. Whether
thew led from suffocation or from burn
ing will probably never be known. lhs
| bodies were taken from the ruins and
delivered to undertaken j. William Car
penler.
1t was reported that the son OF the vio'
Tins, Charles Kriechbsum, had also
perished, but such is not the case, for
few DAYS ago he lett the home OF his par
ants TO live with an aunt on WashinRton
street in this city. On the arrival OF tho
fire department the members were In
formed that Mr.. and Mrs. kriechbauu
we're on the upper hoor OF the building
and a desperate but unsuccessful attempt
was made TO save them.
1t is said there Is some difficulty be
tween Fire Chief Fiske and the ire com
mittee, sno II is more than probable tha
, the san affair will pe thoroughly investi
gated, as nearly 30 minutes OF valuabl
time were lost In responding TO the alarm
J nichard Arnold sent in an alarm iron
box 43. but the slarm came In II and the
! 3. At last some one saw the bieze an
the apparatus was soon on Its way to th
. fjre. A report was set in circulation thi
s morning that George K. Beans refused
{ allow the firemen the use OF his horse
I drag the heavy apparatus 70 the IRE, br
Y this. MIR. Beane says, 10 not true, and 3
o showed representatives of the press thi
4 even a lantern was hanging on . post {
+ IL always Is, for the use Of the depsr
8 ment. and that the doors leading to thI
norton Of the barn W here the horses u
kent was unlocked. MIR. Beane soys th'
there has been quite . difference bstwss
u the chief, some OF the latters followsl
y and himself--Mr. Beane being one Of Il
i nre COMMITTEES. MIR. Beane claims th
Q had II not been for this difference Mr.. a.
J. Mrs. Rriechbaum would not have 10
a their lives, snd he further states tn
some one has seen fit to override the cor
'e mittsc. tut none supposed that liv
!" would be lost.
Il is also stated that ladder OF sui
cient length was not placed against &
building to reach that portion occupt
4. by the kriocbbs family. MIR. krlcc
"A | baum and bic wife came from Germa
about 30 years ago. and be was one OF
= beet known jewellers In this state. r
'a building and its contents were 20
:. ioss... The building was valued ~ 10
ID. insured for t3, 800. The furntturo
rs the homes OF the Lawrensss ana
4 U-t~.eS~..c~s ~ Am and 4