The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-05-15
LOSS OF LIFE
AVERTED.
Brisk EARLY Morning Blaze
in a North Main Street
Tenement Block.
Several Narrow Escapes From
Suffocation by Occupants
Of the House.
FIREMAN MOONEYS BRAVE ACT.
Overcome BY Smoke While Reseuing a Child
The Less OeeasIeued Was $4,000, and Is
Partially Covered BY Insurance.
FIREMAN MOONEYS BRAVE ACT.

Fire broke out In the Fairbrother tan
merry block on North Main street this
morning SHORTLY before 4 o'clock. But
for the timely discovery Of the blaze 1t is
quite likely that the fire would have re-
suited disastrously. A number of people
occupying tenements In the block escaped
in their night clothing.
Loss to the amount Of 1900 was occa-
stoned.
Thomas Mooney, fireman ut No. sta
tion, was overcome by smoke while max
ing rescue Of child from the burning
building, and 1t was some time before he
was brought to.
The alarm sounded about $40 o'clock,
calling the greater part Of the department
to the scene Of the fire, as that particular
portion Of the city is densely packed with
wooden buildings. 1t has been common
saying among the knowing ones that II q
fire ever got good headway in that To-
cality the entire block, and possibly great
many more would be carried away.
Although the amount of actual loss by
this mornings blaze does not reach very
large figure, yet the narrow escape from
death by sufiocation by many of the occu-
pants Of the two buildings placed serious
aspect upon the affair. When the firemen
reached the scene they found the fire burn
Ing briskly In the lower floor of the bakery
owned and conducted by Nelson Grenier
The fire seemed to be confined principally
to the rear end of the bakery and to por-
tion of the store conducted by John Glib
bons, frame and picture dealer, who occu-
pies the whole lower floor of the corner
store.
Story Of the Fire.
Mr.. Grenier says that he was awakened
about $3.50 by hearing cracking noise,
and that his wife was awakened at the
same time.
His wife arose and went into the next
building to look at the children. When
she went into the room she realized that
the building was on fire, and running
back to the other room told her husband
that they were all on fire. Mr.. Grenier
sprang from the bed, and told her to wake
up Mr.. and Mrs. Gibbons while he pro-
ceeded to put his children in place of
safety.
Mrs. Grenier pounded on their partition
which separated the two families, and
shouted four or five times before she could
make Mr.. and Mrs. Gibbons understand
the fearful situation. Both families and
their children escaped to the alleyway in
the rear, dressed simply i'm their under
clothes. The upper tenement over the
bakery is occupied by Edward Crossin and
family and they were aroused by the COM
motion about the building. The scene ard
excitement at this particular time was ap-
palling, the occupants of the two buildings
running about In their night clothes added
to the hustle and confusion usually attend
ing such scenes.
The children and women were taken
into the police station, where Metron
Jenks did all in her power to assuage their
excitement and grief. At one time there
were 18 people in semi-dress attire. Mr..
Gibbons lives in the rear of his store, oc-
cupying three rooms, and his family con-
sists of himself, wife and grandchild. The
grandchild was somewhat overcome by
the smoke, but soon recovered.
Mr.. Grenier utilizes the rear portion of
his store for family quarters. There was
good sized kitchen and two sleeping
rooms, which are occupied by himself and
family.
A Fortunate Change.
In speaking of the fire Mr. Grenier said
that usually he and his wife slept i'm the
room Immediately over the place which
from all accounts the fire started, but last
night, very fortunately, no and his wife
changed into the other room, leaving three
OF the children occupying the room in
which they usually slept. The fourth
child was staying last evening at neigh
boris nearby. To the fact that he and bis
wife made this change Mr.. Grcnier feels
thankful, for II was, undoubtedly, the rea-
son they were awakened so easily. Being
In a strange bed he says he was somew hat
restless, and consequently could not sleep
80 well.
Tn, Crossin family suffered the most
from the effects OF the smoke. Two OF the
children were nearly suffocated by the
smoke, and were attended by Matron
jerks. Considerable alarm was felt at one
time concerning the youngest child, who,
| II was said, was left behind I'm one OF the
rooms when he rest OF the family escaped
Mrs. Crossin was hystcrical, and called re-
peatedly for her Maud. Finally Matron
jerks, after considerable trouble, found
out that the child slept In the rear room ut
| the head OF the landing. Fireman Thomas
Mooney OF No. fire station made dash
through the smoke and fire TO save the lit
| tie ones life.
lie reached the room, but no child could
be found and 1t was learned that Mr..