Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-04-08

originated Is Stlil mystery, tHouSH II
seems tolerably certain that an explosion
of some kind occurred. but whatever was
the cause the flames gained hold with such
rapidity that only two escaped from the
building. One of these is so badly injured
that she has no chance Of surviving.
The fire communicated to Sixty-ninth
street and, in the house of Albert ].
Adams, servant was burned to death.
thus bringing the total Of victims to thir-
teen. ---s-----
So thoroughly did the flames do their
work that, when the gutted Andrews
house was searched, the corpses were so
charred as to be almost beyond positive
Identification.
The names of the dead were ascertained
more from certain knowledge Of those who
were in the house over night than for the
traces of the living image that they re-
tained.
The death list Is as follows:
Wallace c. Andrews. president of the
New York Steam Heating Company.
Mrs. Mrs camaIiel G. St: John. slster-in-law
to Mrs. Andrews. and wife of G. c. st.
John, treasurer Of the Steam Heating Com
pany. 49,. 500.
Orson st. John, I years old.
Wallace St: John, Years Old.
Frederick st. John, II months old.
Eva Petersen, servant.
Nellie Boland, servant.
Mary Flanagan, servant.
Annie Neary, servant.
Mary Loughln, servant in the house of
Albert j. Adams.
Kate Downing, servant.
Maria Rath. servant.
The following persons were injured:
Jennie Burns, servant in the Andrews
house; not expected to live.
Alice White, cook, in the Andrews house,
condition serious.
Nellie Quinn, servant in the Adams house;
condition serious. -.- ~ --F
Others were slightly but not seriously in
jured.
The first fire was discovered about a. m.
policeman was passing in front Of the
Havemeyer residence in East Sixty-sixth
street when he heard an explosion and saw
a great fash of light in Sixty-seventh
street. He ran thither with all speed.
When he arrived. the flames were shoot
Ing out of the upper floors Of the Andrews
house. They leaped half way across the
street. The policeman tried to get into
the house to arouse the occupants. He was
driven back by the flames. He then turned
in an alarm and. returning. got the people
out of w. H. Rothschilds house. which is
close by.
Around the corner of Sixty-seventh street
and Fifth avenue are the homes of some
of New York's wealthiest men. Next to
the Adams house. which was a handsome
four-story brown stone affair. is the splen-
did home of H. o. Armour. of the Chicago
firm of packers. Next to that is the home
of Perry Belmont. Directly opposite this
-
When the firemen arrived some of them
fought the flames with hose and chemicals.
while others rushed into the Rothschilds'
house and from there into the Andrews
home. by way Of the rear windows. But
they were even then too late, for in the
middle room of the third floor the firemen
stumbled over the bodies Of Mrs. st. John
and Wallace. her 3-year-old child. The
child was dead. but Mrs. st. John was
still Just alive and gasping for breath A
fireman picked her up and staggered with
her to the Rothschilds' house. but she died
as she was being carried in.
Mrs. st. John. her three children and
two servants. Kate Downing and Maria
Roth, were all on the third floor. Mr. st.
John. who Is the treasurer of the New
York Steam Heating Company, and
brother of Mrs. Andrews. was not at home
during ths fire.
Mr.. Andrews and his wife occupied the
middle room on the second floor. There,
two hours later. their bodies were found,
clasped in each others arms. They were
so charred as to be almost beyond recog-
milton.
The flames shot into the air to height
of over 100 feet, and a strong wind. blow
ing from the south, swept them north
On the north side of Sixty-nnth street was
the handsome home of Alfred j. Adams.
the millionaire sporting man, better known
as ZAP Adams. His family had been
aroused by the tumult. A servant opened
the front window to see what it was all
about. Just then a gust OF wind swept in
burning brands through the open window.
The Adams house was on fire in a second
and began to blaze fiercely.
The inmates Of the Adams house were
panic-stricken by this sudden outburst of
flames. Nellie Quinn and Mamie vogel,
servants. tried to rush down the stairway,
but that avenue Of escape was already cut
Off. The two appeared at the front win
dow. Thence they jumped to the roof of
the bay window, a story below. There
they crouched in terror. The crowd below
shouted that help would soon come. The
flames got hotter and nearer to the wom-
en-.
A policeman and several citizens ran into
the adjoining house and up to the third
floor of that building on level with the
women. While the citizens held the police
man he leaned far out of the window and
lifting the women up one at time swung
them into the room. They were carried
down to the street. Spectators cheered
wildly.
In an hour the fire in the Adams house
was out The firemen found the body of
Mary Loughlin, 60 years old, at the bottom
n a Sfni Iaad 70 fEar
been smothered by the smoke and was not
much burned. Clasped tightly in her arms
was the body Of little pet pug dog.
Almost until dawn the dremen fought fire
in the Andrews house. Several fremen
were on the roof when 1t gave signs of
giving way. They had scarcely time to
heed the warning when the center Of the
roof went down.
The damage in the Adams house is esti-
mated at $4,000. The IRE In the Andrews