The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-02-01
H0B0KEh'S HORROR
Seven People Burned to
Death in Two Morning
Fires.
INSUFFICIENT FIRE DEPARTMENT
Houses Filled with People Upr
town Burn While All the
Engines Are Downtown.
MANY THRILLING ESCAPES
Policemen Rescue Women and Chill
dren at the Risk of Their Lives
Councils Prompt Action.
MANY THRILLING ESCAPES

Councils Prompt Action.
One of the most heart-rending calam-
tiles in the history of Hoboken occurred
in that city early yesterday morning. Two
fatal fires, one of which broke out in the
downtown section and the other at the
extreme uptown section of the city, oc-
CURED within a few hours of each other,
and each was ATTENDED with untold suf-
fering and thrilling escapes. In all seven
lives were lost, five houses burned and
twenty-nine families rendered homeless.
lat a mother with her five small chill
dren lay sleeping in their beds and no one
tried to save them from the flames seems
almost impossible in this age, yet such
was the case. No one knew they were
there. All said that they thought the
family had escaped and the fremen ac-
cordingly made no special effort to get
into the rooms. 1t was not until the fire
was out, two hours later, that the truth
was made known and the dead bodies
were discovered. To alleviate the suffer
ings of the homeless persons, all of
whom were claid in their night clothes,
Mayor Pagan called a special meeting of
the Council and ordered that the home
less be furnished with clothing and food.
The firemen, although they worked hard,
had many difficulties to cope with. BY
the time they had gotten one fire ex-
finguished the other fire had made con-
siderable Roadway. The need of a larger
fire department in the city was never
more keenly felt. In the whole depart
ment there are only three engines. one
engine and two hook and ladder
companies. All of these were at the first
fire when the other broke out.
The first fire started shortly before mid
night in the three-story frame building,
No. 40 Newark street, occupied on the
ground floor by Charles Skaters black
smith shop. Shaffer also used the second
floor of the building as a store room. The
top floor was occupied by two families.
In three of the front rooms lived Chris
TOPPER Schroeder with his wife and five
children. Schroeder was not at home
when the fire broke out. His wife and
children were in bed and all were slffo-
Gated. The rooms in the rear of the top
floor were occupied by the family of
James Blanchford.
The flames started in the blacksmith
shop. How they originated no one knows.
Mrs. Blanchford was sitting in her rooms
talking with her eldest daughter. when
she detected the smell of smoke. Hur-
riediy going to the door she opened it and
was startled by a flash of flame which
shot in from the hall. She woke, up her.
husband and children and opening n of
the windows they climbed out on. rear
shed. Blanchford got out first and then
lifted his wife and children out of the
1hOy IO0tCQ " IClP, I'LL aot
no one came to their assistance. Blanch-
field threw his three boys. Edward, four
teen years old; James, twelve years. and
Robert, eight years, across to another
shed, where two men who had appeared
by this time caught them. Mr.. n Mrs.
B Bar q niast and their their o1 Laughter {ban ci Mehisj
down a pole to the yard and made their
escape.
BY this time Policeman Thomas Peters,
who noticed the smoke coming from the
windows, ran In alarm from Box 81 at
Newark and Garden streets. When the
ing hng' was as q mass t1 Of names faa1usS' The firemen
the building, but there was no one who
Schroeder family, and it Was not Known
whether they had gotten out Ct The
tore the firemen. arrived, but they were
fTemen made another effort with the
same result. Schroeder, the father, came
running down the street and ~anxiously IN
He had been playing cards in Jenne's
saloon. which Is on the same street g
f aaaf b besra a aSsf MRS s0 scbr peGs0ns and s bsS
children were safe. while others said they
were not The policemen and the fire.
peatedly beaten back BY the flames ana
smoke. Efforts were then made to GET
into the windows but with no success.
bu uh 4 siaR Ne. 4i Eprs and also IL foe a t as5oln5ny
frame building in the rear, which is used
as q factory by. Charles sBnckholz, q
manufacturer of iron ratings. An hour
and a half later the fire was gotten under
control. Policemen Garric,z and Petersswsth
Fireman Griffen, assembled the. stairs 30
the rooms occupied BY the Schroeder
a.horrible sight met their eyes. There,
lying IN bed and partly burned were the
bodies of Mrs. Schroeder and her saby.
breast. Policeman Garrick picked up tie
form of the woman. but the lesf of the
TWO bodies was fairly soldered together
the woman's face was charred and her
feet and hands were roasted. The body
Of the baby, was blistered and partly
Three other children lay ON a mattress
on the floor. These had their clothes on
but their bodies had been burned almost
Mrs. Schroeder in his arms he discovered
a faint flicker of life. He hurriediye car
ried her down to the street and into the
the way. Placing her in a chair he tried
TO revive her, but she was dead. EssThe
body was left in the chair until the ar
rival of the dead wagon.
-Four of the bodies of the children were
then carried out, but it was not until
child. Henry Schroeder, aged Il vears,
discovered under the bed between the
bed and the wall. The family lived in
the most wretched circumstances. TheEe
was only one bed in the room: The ether
artlcles OF furniture consjsted of a. few
chairs and the children were accustomed
70 sleep on the floor. The family was to
baye been dispossessed today for nom
The lead persons WEEK.-MRS.. Nellie