The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-02
The House was "Red" Before the
Fire Quenchers Arrived, and Many of
the Tenants Had Narrow Escapes.
FATAL BOILER EXPLOSIONS
FIVE MEN KILLED AND OTHERS IN
JURED AT GREENvILLE, MISS. =
Two Killed and Three Hurt Near Cin-
cinnati and Two More Victims
Recorded I'm Tennessee.

NEW YORK, April 1.-Ten persons per-
ished by suffocation In Brooklyn tene-
ment house early to-day. The names of
the victims are as follows: August Buno.
his wife and two children, Sally, five years
old. and Johanna, eighteen months old;
Lena Calaba, eighteen years old; Nicolo
Tralia. eighty years: his daughter. Lena
Tralia, twenty-four years; Dominick Traiia,
his son, twenty-four years, and an eight
days-old baby; Corneiia Marretti, twenty
six years. Ists7 t4ef
The fire started in the lower hallway OF
the building, which is a four-story tene-
ment, in Union ST feet. and before the Sleep
ing tenants could be wraned of their
danger all escape was cut off, The flames
swept up the stairways and the halls. and
the rooms were quickly filled with smoke.
Ten of the tenants were suffocated in their
beds. The section of the city where the
disaster occurred Is near the water front.
The majority of the residents are Italians
of the poorer class. The firemen succeeded
in getting the fire under control after
short time. The damage to the building is
estimated at $1,000. There was many excit-
ing incidents connected with the fire. One
man, an Italian, whose name Is unknown,
jumped from a window in the third story
and escaped with only few burns and
bruises. The family of Joseph Estosito,
living on the second floor OF the house, had
a narrow escape from death. When
aroused they found their way cut off and
ments. Estosito led his wife and three
children to the cornice In front
of the house and guided them along
it to the building adjoining, from the
roof Of which they were taken by firemen.
Each floor of the burned building was d.
vided into five rooms. There was one large
the street. A hail bedroom adjoined, with
a window also opening on the street In
the rear was another large room with two
windows. with a good sized kitchen adjon-
ing The front and rear rooms were con-
nected by a hall ard bedroom An .ron
ladder at the rear of the house ran down
dow Of the rear room. so that 1t could
easily be reached from either window. 1t
had been rendered so hot by the flames
however. that the inmates Of the house
dared not use it. Except the fire escapes,
the only outlet from the crowded rooms on
the upper floors was the narrow wooden
stairway. escape by which was cut of soon
After the fire had been extinguished John
Csl2ba was found unconscious lying on the
fire ESCAPE He had got out Of a second
me could go further. He Will recover.
His wife was dead In her apartments. SUBJ
sequently nine ether bodies were found.
When he had somewhat rallied from the
effects of suffocation and heat, Calaba told
the story of how he escaped and left his
wife behind without a tremor, and while
he seemed to be still somewhat dazed. he
had clear conception Of the events of the
night. Later he said that he tried to carry
his wife to the window, but could not, and
hurt his hands ip- getting, out. He had
called for help but-Eone came, as the
house was red" before the firenen came.
The EstoSitos were aroused by the calls OF
fire, end say that in five minutes after they
could not have got out Of the building. In
most cases death was due to suffocation.
The bodies of the Buno family, who lived
IN the top floor, were found huddled to-
gether. showing that the family awoke
during the fire and made efforts to escape
Buno's BODY was found close beside the
window. Tne Italians family was ON the
floor below, sxfs
Fire Chief Dale expresses the opinion that
the fire was tho work OF an incendiary He
says that the firemen did not know that
there was anybody in the house until after
the fire had been extinguisned. The chief
is not all impressed with the story Caiaba
tells. The latter says he made several at
tempts to get out OF the burning building,
but on account of the heat could nat. He
finally fell exhausted on the fire escape,
from where he YVES taken Dy the firemen.
The man was fully dressed, and before he
fell on the escape he was seen by the fire.
men on the roof OF the burning building.