New-York tribune., 1900-03-11
LIFE SAVING PENDULUM
SPLENDID BRAVERY AT FIRE IN
MYRTLE-AVE.
FOUR LIVES SAVED BY THE QUICK WITS
AND DARING WORK OF FOUR MEN
BIG CROWD CHEERS.

Five thousand people gathered o'clock yes
terday morning in Myrte-ave.. Tompkins- ave.
to watch fierce fire which sweeping through
the story brick building No. SsS Myrte-ave.
of the most daring and remarkable res
recently made in Brooklyn They made
by means Of rope held by men top OF the ad-
Joining roof. A brave fireman lowered a
story and swung into the top floor of the burning
house. Grasping in turn the persons cut off, he
swung out of the window to the window of the next
house, where ready hands caught the rope and
iieved him of his burden Several times this per-
formance repeated. and each swing OF the
life saving pendulum deafening applause arose from
the crowd below.
The fire started from some unknown cause. Mrs
Alice McDermott the janitress OF the building dis
covered the fire IN the cellar and gave the alarm.
She said that there strong odor of kerosene
The police think that the fire may have been the
work of incendiares. ana investigating it, The
janitress ran through the building crying Fire!
Fre Run for your lives,' The tenants in the three
lower stories reached the ground but the fire
spread with such lightning rapidity that those
the top floor cut off from escape. On the top
floor were James Ambrose and his invalid wife:
Washington Donovan, six years old, and his sister
Ruby years old The father of the children had
gone TO work. The flames swept with awful heat
up the hallway and the four panic stricken people
went to the front windows the fourth floor and
leaned out, with piteous appeals be saved The
fremen tried to raise the big ladder but the ele-
waited railroad structure prevented this means Of
rescue.
William Bakenen driver. living No. 1Os
Spencer Place. the predicamont of the inmates
of the burning house. He reached for a large rope
that was in his wagon, and springing from the
venice ran toward the burning structure. Frederick
Johns3n sailor who lives nearly opposite. at No
$50 Myrtle-ave., followed Bakenell through the
entrance of the adjoining house. No $50 Myrtle-ave
and up the four flights of stairs. Two iremen John
MalIiband, of Engine No. 30. and Rudolph Ulster OF
Engine No. III. caught the idea and also ran p-
stairs. The four men broke through the skyght
and reached the roof. Fireman Maitland a strong
athletic man. tied one end of the rope around his
body. Slowly he was lowered to proper distance
His comrades held the other end of the rope With
hand and heel Maitland pushed himself back and
forward until with final effort he swung into the
window where the two children and the old man
and woman were. He grasped little Washington
Donovan about the waist, and the boy clasped his
arms about the neck of the heroic fireman
Pushing himself of the window Mailman
swung again and reached the corresponding window
OF the next house He was relieved of his charge
by persons who were waiting to aid In the rescue
Three times this performance was repea ted and tba
wild applause of the crowd atested its apprecIation
of the splendid bravery of the man.
The building. which burned out was ovvped
5000. " D'"'