Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-02-02
SEVEN LIVES LOST.
Two Fatal Fires in Four Hours
Time at Hoboken, N. ].
Schroeder Plays Cards While Wife
and Five Children Perish.
10 Sscond Fire, Little Girl Of Eight Years,
Loses Her Life.

Hoboken, N. j., Feb. This city
was visited by two disastrous fires, be-
tween 1l.30 Saturday night and 3 Sun
day morning. Seven persons were
burned to death and 30 families made
homeless. Saturday night, the fire
started in three-story frame building
a. 40 Newark street. Here six per-
sons lost their lives. They We're: Mrs.
Nellie Schroeder, 40; Henry Schroeder,
II; Maggie Slhroeder.7; Kate Schroeder.
8: John Schroeder. years; Willie
Schroeder. 3 months. The father Of
the family. Charles Schroeder. was in
a nearby saloon playing cards, while
his wife and children were dying.
The second fire started in the five
story double deck tenement at 157
Fourteenth street over mile from the
scene of the first. In this fire, 155. 157
and 159. We're entirely wrecked, and 1853
was badly damaged by water. One
child was burned to death on the
fourth floor Of 157. She was Mabel
Mangles. s years old.
As near as can be determined the
fire. Saturday night. at 4l0 Newark
street started in a defective hue in
Schaffer's wheelwright shop on the
ground floor. Schaffer occupied the
second floor as living apartments. The
front rooms on the third floor were &C.
cupied by Charles Schroeder and
family. and James Blanchfield and
family occupied rooms In the rear.
The Blanchfields discovered the fire.
which had gained much Roadway. and
barely made their escape by way of
the roofs of the adjoining buildings. 1t
was impossible to discover the fate OF
the Schroeder family until the fire sub
sided.
When the police entered the build
ing little save a shell remained and
they were obliged to exercise great
care in climbing about the place. They
finally reached the top floor and made
their way into the front room.
Stretched across the bed, blackened
and charred. lay the mother. and
e-lasped tightly in her arms was the
haby. Willie. Beside the mother and
baby. In the same bed. lay the charred
bodies OF the girls. Maggie and Kate.
II is likely that they were suffocated in
their sleep.
On a mattress on the floor near the
but the body of Henry. the oldest boy.
VAS nowhere to be seen. Upon further
search the boys body was found under
4 mass of debris in the hall. burned
almost to a crisp.
1t is believed the boy was aroused
during the fire. and in his efforts to
escape. ran into the hall. There he
was overcome by the smoke and his
body was covered with part of the roof
which fell in tina. point.
The loss to the building and con-
tents will probably not exceed $4,000.
The fire at 157 Fourteenth street
started from some unknown cause.
There were two families on each floor
of the four-tenement houses. All
families were forced out in their night
clothing. or with what little covering
they could grab in their hurry.
The family of Ferdinand Mangles &C.
cupied the fourth floor at 157. Mrs.
Mangles, with four children. started
for the street. which they reached in
safety. with the exception of Mabel,
who was suffocated.
Loss on the buildings 1855, Isl and 159.
which were completely wrecked. is
$50, 900. Not over a half dozen families
in the three buildings carried any in
surance and their belongings were
worth about $4,000.