The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-14
.IERY MISSION BURNED.
-~~xx oF THE INMATES PERISH
n THE FLAMES.
n~wsisfng Two Hundred and
1 r<vty Lodgers Barely Escape
vra6n Their Lives, Naked, and I'm
,-eeasees suffering From Barns.

Wa6h Their Lives SnAe"' anu ."
-e..ees suffering From Barns.
-xrW YORK, March f2.-The Bowery
-~m hedging house, fes Bowery, was
~-,rpyed # an early hour this morning
II 4 least ten lives were lost the
xmerty loss Is fls.so. There were 20
ssssrs in the building when the Ire
~.rted. and 20 rapidly did the names
Srsad tina, many OF them were unable
= sienpe. At 3:l5 a. m. the FIRE chief an
spupced that the fire was under control
- - lives lost The cause OF the fire
g ,mhnowr. A thorough search OF the
sr.1l0pes II los Bowcry, which were par
ssIw destroyed by fire at an early hour
-. Earning, discioeesf the fact that eleven
$3.50 were burned TO death Al first
: - rumored that the loss OF life was
ar.ck greater, bat after searching the
,viae yery carefully. the police and fire.
s,ac Mpcoyerea eleven charred bodies and
suumoyed shem 70 the morgue.
~ r. Bowery Il one of the best known
s~ieepx houses on that thoroughfare. IL
= sAled the Bowery mission lodging
hsupe. and il conducted by the Christian
Hers3d. In the basement OF the building
sners b . cheap restaurant. The seco:zd
6eor 4 used exclusively for mission pur-
pssss, eospei meetings having been held
4nprs daily for several years. The four
uppes floors were fitted as cheap lodg-
/ ri with accommodations for 80 males.
{ no raid 10. Il or Is cents each. accord
i IN to tbs location Of the room.
iAef right almost every bed was occu-
: Id 1t 80 o'clock one of the dodgers
( lbosvssed flames coming from wash
I rom a the third floor. but before he had
.-ne . alarm the house the fire was no.
( dcsd n pAssers-by on the street. BY this
tina the flames had eaten their way to
- top Of the building and were bursting
/. through the roof when the alarm was
: sven and the inmates aroused. Wild
assss, Of excitement ensued.
1Gany Of the dodgers became panic
4 Osyseksn. They rushed into the Railways
/ sd fell over each other In their efforts
4 % resch the streets. Those on the lower
4 doors tot to the street safely by the stair
4Uys while those on the upper floors
= .sped their way through the binding
3Gnpks 10 the fire escape In front of the
4ssDd.ne A majority OF them only saved
Hons Of their clothing. while several Of
Tim we're naked Those who made their
way TO the streets by the fire escapes
i we supsrGciaAy burned by the excess
~ heat OF the iron ladders, which in
n uany places had become red not from the
A1amm within.
!. ~ the meantime three alarms OF fire
had been Sent liz. and In a few minutes the
4 eHmen were busy deluging the building
4 -sh torrents OF water. They finally sue
4eseded IN keeping the fire within the lin
70 Of the three upper sIoriss of the struct-
5rr. A large detail Of police was quickly
nmmonsd to the scene. In charge OF In
Il pecsor Gross and the reserves were
\ Med from the DOWNTOWN precincts. This
1fsee Of officers had difficult work to keep
sae psst crowd IN check. AS well as TO
8A9p The unfortunate dodgers. Many naked
d - Injured people were cared for IN the
ivtlntsy and the most seriously Injured
34re accommodated at the Eidredge street
.xs-s sion. three blocks away. Several OF the
3nps, destitute were removed TO the sta
lun hguse IN patrol wagons. and on their
asNSyd they were partially clothed by
sRmhsrs a. the fire department and kind
bart In general. -
- Auer the IRE had been extinguished SUI
@aentiy that search OF the place was
Wannse the f'remen and police entered
- building and the work of searching
- the victims WAS begun. Several bod
= were found near the windows OF the
T upper floors. where they had been
cken down In attempting 70 make their
NY 10 the IRE escapes So many bodies
zee tohd In the early stages of the
sch that II was estimated that over
nv persons must have been killed
However. The officers fortunately overes-
matsd the loss Of life. and eleven bodies
AZ we're found. Some Of these were
discovered In the small rooms they had
kTup'ed. while others were found In the
ways and on the stairs OF the fourth
M mn floors, All of them were naked
most OF them were burned and
&sarred h<yond recognition. II Ia Thought
the police that only one Of these ho,lle.
Ai be eventually identified. This one
=, asHgnaied rs No. 10, II was found In
foam OF The nth roor. In the same
I'm There was a satehet. and 1t Is uheae n I
ass US contents may iead to the ifcrti-
.tson n the body
A. soon as the bodies were carried on,
~ were Transferred 20 the police s.,
and at s:3o this morning the police
ah9essntd their search Coroner Zucks
a'sf booking at the bodies at the station
psrmi, for their removal 10 tho
Mplal Manager Sardenssn. OF m.
fe1mn Herald who has direct charge OF
MISSION and iodgins house. called at
- Saxs street station later and told
sMsef N charge that he would bury
Tue lose On the building BY fr~
estimated a, s7ooa and tho contents are
$50 10 the extent Of 1000. Tha
80. eaurssy covered by inxuranrs. tn,
8xaas which belongs 20 the Chester
leasse By the Bowery Mission.
ra ae aead are supposed 10 -.
L. caaay - wears Of age aSsres,
~ "esh; JOIN Moran Sfeo,es-. =
T. aenermsu. . years ADDS -. :.
- James o'Roufke phIlaAeinhia
injured. all of whom VIII recover
> Asansan a years II aye bsff,
"a About the feet AZ Gouverneur has
a., .1 Graham fruan. hQrnsg
r~ss e sahds. George Wilson. a years
- ss-,s ao1et TIE face apI hands. a
laAN's OFFER ACCEPTED