Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-03-13

EkEcmGns
NEWARK, N. J.,March 12.-Fifteen
persons, a majority of whom were
children, were burned to death in a
tenement house fire at Morris and
Fourteenth avenues, about o'clock
this morning Thirteen bodies were
recovered from the ruins within three
hours after the flames had been extin-
guished.
The building was a three story
frame structure, formerly used as a
church, but transformed into tene-
ment house with small rooms, scarce
ly eight by ten feet in dimensions.
opening into a narrow hallway on
both the second and third floors, form
ing veritable firetrap.
This is right in the heart of the Ital-
ian district. and the greatest excite
ment prevailed. This feeling has been
greatly intensified since Z o'clock,
when it first became known that the
fire was of incendiary origin, and with
in Is minutes of the time when this
report was first circulated men and
women, well nigh crazed by grief, ran
tearing around the streets looking for
the man who was responsible for the
terrible tragedy, and threatening all
sorts of dire vengeance.
Three of four minutes after o'clock
this morning the fire was discovered,
but long before the fire apparatus
reached the scene the interior of the
burning tenement was peopled with
wild Italians, running hither ana
thither. unable to find means Of es-
cape. Every room emptied its occu-
nants into those narrow little halls,
and there was no escape for the
frightened tenants because of the jam
and they could not get out. There
were at least twelve families in the
Mace. sixty persons in all, of whom
perhaps fifty were children, unable to
care for themselves.
Four men jumped from front win
dow. Several were hurt.
The flames spread with frightful
ranidity. and the wind sent the
sparks southeast, threatening all the
frame tenements in that direction.
The place was like roaring caldron
when the fremen reached the scene.
The ladders were quickly put in posi-
ton and then began the work OF res
cue.
One after another the women and
then the men were taken down, while
other firemen devoted their attention
to drowning out the flames. This
they succeeded in doing in less than
an hour. but during that hour fright
full sacrifice had been offered.
Nearly every room in the building
contained its victim. They were burn
ed to death, the most OF them having
been suffocated.
In different places in the ruins hui
man bodies were seen pinnned down
by heavy timbers. The rescuers
were clearing away the debris, in the
hone that some might be rescued alive
hut there is little chance of any one
now being in the ruins alive. Two
victims have been taken TO the hospi.
tai One of them is severely burned.
The other was severely injured by
jumping from the second story OF the
burning tenement
Vito Credayo is locked up on suspi-
cion of having fired the building.
Credavo. with his wife and two child
rem, occupied the rear portion OF one
of the upper stories. He was arrest
ed on a statement made by Virginia
hi Prula, who was boaFder in tho
house. Di Prula told Captain Ed
wards that when he was awakened by
the smoke. he found Credavo and his
family fully dressed, ready TO leave
the building. When Credavo was Ia
ken to the station he was much ex-
cited. but denied that he had set ire
TO the building. or that he had any
knowledge as 10 the origin Of the
confagration-
Among the dead are Antonio Parnis
elmo: Bastiano. his wife. Giuseppe
Parnicino aged seven years; Nuzi-
etto Parnicino, one year OF age. De-
cana Casino. Angelo Casino, his
wife. Tony Casino. son OF the aDoys
couple. nine years. Bevinte Casino.
four years. Frank Casino. two and
one-hah years. Carrine Casino, aged
one year. Mrs. Giuseppe Palimona.
Giuseppe Barto Mrs. Munziato Barto,
his wife. Theresa Barto. their daugh.
ter, seven years.