The evening times., 1898-10-01
Fighting amid FLAMES
Desperate Struggle of Two
Men in a Blazing Room.
THEIR CLOTHING ON FIRE
A. Chance Blow knocks Over
Kerosene Lamp, Which ExpIodes
While Two Men Are Engaged i'm n
acknowledgements of n Tenement
Nearly Sunocated by Smoke.

New York, Oct. Enthusiasm and
singleness of purpose in carrying through
a quarrel were never better displayed
than by John Burns and Gerald Demp-
soy. Becoming involved in a dispute
which demanded the stern arbitrament
of personal combat, they proceeded 10
the settlement with thoroughness and
dispatch A lamp exploded in the room
where they battled, but through smoke
and flame they fought on. while the
frightened neighbors fed from the fire,
and they were industriously hammering
each other when dragged forth.
Burns and his wife live on the first
floor of a fve-story rear tenement at
No. 3l5 West Forty-fourth Street. Ger
aid Dempsey and his wife called upon
them on Wednesday evening, and due
honor was given to the guests. There
were cards for the men, gossip for the
women and refreshment in cans for all,
and they spent a very enjoyable evening.
Trouble began to loom up toward mid
night however. Between Burns and
Dempsey in a back room there arose
dispute, which passed rapidly from the
retort courteous TO the lie direct the
same being a lighting matter in West
Forty-fourth Street as elsewhere. Mrs.
Burns and Mrs. Dempsey arose in alarm
IL the sound Of quarrelling, and scream
ed when the scuftiing of feet became the
thrashing OF heavy bodies in violent mo-
ton.
In the midst of their cries came crash
and explosion. The lamp had entered the
discussion. cloud of smoke followed
the women into the hall and hoated up
the stairs with their screams The sound
of the conflict increased in the back room,
and the tenants, awakened by the noise
10 stumble into the smoke filled halls
added their cries TO the din They fed TO
the roof
Policemen Lynch and Tobin soon ar
rived, and sought to save the tenants on
the upper floors. They helped some to the
roof and guided others to the lower exit
Working onward. they finally approached
the Burns apartments. Smoke was pour
ing from the doorway, but still from
within came the thumps and grunts OF
the gladiators. Burns and Dempsey had
no time for side issues.
Dashing into the room the policemen
found the men rolling on the floor. Their
clothing was ablaZe in spots, and hames
were licking Ip the furniture The ar
was thick with smoke and the odor of
Lynch and Tobin dragged the men apart
and turned them over 10 another police
man. who took them TO the West Forty
seventh Street police station after they
had beaten out the flames in their clothes.
Then the policemen returned TO the house
10 make sure that all had escaped, and
were unable TO return 10 the courtyard.
They made their way TO the roof The
tiremen had arrived and eXtinguished the
flames before they spread from the Burns
rooms
With scorched faces and hands, Burns
and Dempsoy were arraigned yesterday
in the West Side Police Court The for
ner had said when arrested that Demp-
sev had thrown the lamp at him. causing
the explosion, bat in court said that IL
was knocked over the scuffie, he knew
not how. Dempsey lad the accident TO
a chance blow. given in a friendly strug-
gle But as he offered no explanation of
why The fight was kept up, despite the
fire he was held in Sle0 bail on charge
of assault. Burns was fined $40.