The record-union., 1896-02-24
DEATH IN THE FLAMES.
4 Fire in Baltimore Which Caused Much
Loss Of Life.
Seven People Reported to Have Lost
Their Lives.
The Mother and Wife of a Houston
CTexas) Farmer Fatally Shot by an
Unknown Person A Mississippi
Lawyer Murdered by a Drunken
Man

Lawyer Murdered py Drunken
Man.
BALTIMORE, Feb. ga fire in the
fashionable district of North Baltimore
about s O'Clock this morning caused
eight deaths and sent a thrill of horror
into hundreds of homes in the city
where most of the unfortunate victims
were we'll known. The disaster oc-
Cured in the home Of James r. Armi-
ger, one of the best-known men in Bal
timore. at 1906 North Charles street,
and owing to the mistake of two police
men in breaking open 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: James K. Armiger, aged
90: William B. Riley, his son-in-law,
aged 80; Richard Riley, aged 4; Marian
Riley, 215; James Chamblin, aged B;
Mrs. Marian Chamblin, aged 30; Harold
Manuel, aged 80.
The fire started in the basement
shortly before 8 O'Clock, and Lou Whit
ing. a colored servant. who was en-
ployed next door, first discovered the
flames Gaining an entrance over the
rear fence he dashed through the build
ing arousing the inmates, most OF whom
were still in their beds But quick as
was his action. the flames were more
rapid and egress by the stairways was
shut off before half Of the sixteen occu-
pants of the dwelling had left their
rooms.
The servants on the fourth floor could
get no lower than the second story,
where they were driven into the sleep
ing-roonns of the other inmates Of the
house. With closed doors behind them
10 keep out the flames and smoke, the
servants rushed to the windows crying
piteousIy for help. Two maid servants,
who were in the kitchen at the time the
{ fire was discovered, escaped by the rear
door. There were then penned up in the
building fourteen persons crying for
assistance.
AS soon as the fire department arrived
nets were stretched beneath the win
dows. and the -firemen called to the ter
q,Cr-stricken persons at the windows to
lump. The crowd in the street, not re-
alizing the extent of the fire and smoke
within the house, yelled Don't jump.
The bewildered inmates held back, and
some of them disappeared from the win
dows Apparently they went back for
clothing, or perhaps for some treasured
or valuable possession. 1t was fatal
move, and in most instances cost a life.
Policemen Carlos and Grove, in an
attempt 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 oraught it needed ind It roafed
through the Railways and up the stairs
with greater fierceness. The policemen
could not reach the imperiled persons,
for the stairs were then a mass of
flames, and the smoke was binding.
The fremen had by this time thrown
lp ladders. in the front of the house,
and District Chief MeAfee climbed up
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 in
the crowd below as McAfee stood on
the upper round Of the ladder and
erasped the window sill for support.
He encouraged Mrs. Armiger 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 win
dow 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
window and quickly descended with the
IL, 4, IL l..
went up as rescued and rescuer reached
terra firTna.
At one of the third-story windows
man with look of agony shouted to
the multitude below 1t sent him back
an encouraging shout, and he, a moment
before a ladder could be run up. disap-
peared. When the fremen reached the
window the man was found lying be-
meath it. suffocated and badly burned.
It was Harold Manuel, a New York
stock broker and banker. In his arms
was little Richard Riley, a grandson of
Mr. Armiger, also dead.
Alice ]. Williams, one of the eolored
servants, appeared at one Of the fourth
story windows, shrieking like mad. She
leaned far out over the pavement
Don't jump don't jump" yelled the
crowd. She stepped back, wrlnging her
hands Then she leaned out again and
appeared to be trying to call something
below. Again the cry went up. Don't
lump Too late, the terrorized woman
drew herself half back in the window
and with an awful shrek launched her
self out in the air. Down. down. she
sped. her body turning over several
times and striking the marble steps of
the residence.
The crowd stood transfixed with hor-
ror as the woman's body rebounded and
rolled to the pavement. For a moment
no one moved. Then a man rushed for
ward, followed by a score The woman
was moaning pitifully. her hands clinch-
ing and unclinching in agony She was
carried to DR.. Bachelors Office. op-
posite. where she soon died
Another colored servant, Mary White.
was rescued from a window in a semi
conscious condition.
While the scenes Of excitement and
bravery were being enacted in front Of
the burning residence other acts of
bravery We're being performed in the
rear.
Mr.. Armiger's two daughters. yir-
ginia. aged %, and Eleanor, 10, occupied
the seeond-story back room. With the
greatest presence of mind, Miss yir-
einia, assisted by her young sister.
made rope of their bed linen, and with
this Eleanor was lowered to the ground.
Fearing to trust her weight on the slen-
der cord, Miss Virginia dashed back TO