Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-09
PULITZER DWELLING GONE,
Handsome Dwelling The Scene Of Sorowlu
Tragedy.
Two Servants Lose Their Lives
Narrow Escape Of Others-House
Total Loss.

New York, Jan. 9.-The handsome
dwelling Of Joseph Pulitzer, the pro-
prletor Of the New York World, in East
Fifty-hfth street, was destroyed by fire
today and at least two lives lost. When
the flames had been extinguished the
bodies Of two women were found bad
ly burned. One is that OF Miss Eliza
beth Montgomery, the governess, and
the other Of the housekeeper Mrs. Jel-
lett. In one hand OF Mrs. Jelletts was
firmly clutched small bag. into which
II is believed she tried TO thrust some
Of her personal effects before leaving
her room.
Mrs. Jelett was a widow and II was
said that she had son and daughter
in Toronto. One Of the servants, who
escaped over the roof, said that he
saw Mrs. Jellett on the roof at the
time. II is supposed she went back
for the bag which was found clutched
in her hand when her body was found.
At the time the fire began there were
In the house Mrs. Pulitzer, her daugh-
tiers, Edith, IA years old, and Constance.
IL. and Mrs. Pulitzer's baby son, two
months old, and twenty-five servants.
Mr.. Pulitzer and his son Joseph, Jr.,
are at Lakewood. n. j.
Mrs. Pulitzer was asleep with her two
daughters on the second floor. The
floor above was occupied by the nurse
and he baby. Mrs Pulitzer was awak-
ened by cracking noise. She detect
ed the smell OF smoke and almost
Immediately afterward the electric fire
alarm sounded.
Mrs Pulitzer ran to one Of the doors
of the room but found II locked. The
other was open and, taking her chill
dren, she started down stairs, shout
ing the alarm. After placing Edith
and Constance in the street. she hur-
red up 10 the third floor and found the
nurse with the baby in her arms about
to get out on the fire escape. The wo-
man was hysterical, Mrs. Pulitzer
quIeted the nurse, took the baby from
her and together they went to the
street
John OConnor, the second butler, had
a narrow escape. He slept on the top
floor with another servant. He was
aroused by Mrs. Pulltzer's cries, and
HuulhS inc SulOht OolniHs liuNhly up
ward, walked out along the window
ledge to the roof Of the next house, No
IA, the residence Of Alexander Matt
land.
O'Connor says he was overcome by
the smoke and sank down when he
reached place OF safety. A oompan-
ion revived him and assisted him to the
street.
The origin Of the fire Is unknown but
II Is thought that II must have started
in the basement or In the lower portion
by defective electric wiring. 1t Sc
cured great Roadway. and in a short
time was blazing from the roof.
While the crew OF twelve firemen
were al work on the third floor the floor
fell, carrying them to the second floor.
Lieut.. Hauck was painfully hurt, but
remained at work.
The house contained a valuable his
torical library and many carefully Sc
lected works Of art. Nothing Of value
was saved.
The total loss is estimated at 100000.
The second body found In the burned
Pulitzer dwelling was Identified posi-
lively as that Of the governess Miss
Elizabeth Montgomery. Death was
caused 10y suffocatlon.