The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-03-28
DLEDIN INCENDIhRY FIRE!
Fourteen italians Burned to Death
in a Newark Tenement.
AN ARREST MADE ONlSySPlCl0N.

ing the Fire - Men, Women and
Children He,nined In without
Chance to Escape-Aroused From
Sleep Only to Meer DEATH.
NEWARK, N. J. (SpeciaD. Fourteen per-
sons perished Monday Ia a fire which
ourned big framed tenement house occu-
pied by Italians. Vito Credanzo is under
arrest, suspected OF having maliciously
started the blaze. Vlrglnius de Prula and
Giuseppe Firignio, who asserted they could
prove that the fire was Of incendiary origin,
were detained by the police for the pre-
liminarY hearing.
The house was two nnd half story
frame structure, built In 1895 by the Rev.
Felix Morelli, and was known for some
time as the Church OF st. Rocco. 1t was
not a prosperous congregation, and after
time Father Morelli, who owns the prop
sarty, leased 1t to Joseph Mafda, who
transformed 1t into tenement house,
with three stores on the Fourteenth ave-
nue side.
There were from twelve to fifteen fami-
Hes living In tho twenty rooms, in all about
atty persons. The fire spread rapidly and
the strong breeze famed l.. Tue wretched
Inmates OF the ramshuckle building fed
hither and thither In wild alarm and
one after another fell unconscious In the
smoke. The majority OF the victims were
not burned to death, but sn nothereG.
Here is the list OF the dead: Antonio Pal
misauo and wife, SebastianH, and daugh-
ters, Guiseppa and Manzlata; Gultana Pal
misano, vile OF Felipe Palmisano; Angela
Oasilo, wife OF Ugennio Casilo, and An
tonic, Benninlta. francesca and Carmiua
Casllo, their children; Nunzlata Boldi, wife
OF Salvador Boldl, and Teresa Boldi, bis
daughter, and Angelo Rosso who died IN
the City Hospital. There is also an tn
identified body OF u tve-yenr.old child.
NTwo men were hurt while escaping from
the. flames. Salvatore Boldl, whose wife
and daughter perishsd, was burned about
the hands, and Ugenulo Casllo, the only
surviving member OF his family, was
bruised In jumping from a window.
While the fremen were playing streams
upon the smoldering ruins an Italian was
overheard to say to a friend that IL there
was any money In II he could tell who was
responsible for the firs. This was the first
intimation that the Ace may have been OF
incendlary origin. The two Italians were
V1rglnlus de Prula and Joseph Flrlgnto.
The two men were taken into custody and
as result the arrest WIS made later OF
Vito, Crednnzo, :.under suspicion OF being
the inoendiary.
It appeared that there was game OF
cards In one Of the rooms OF the house on
Sunday night and 1t lasted until we'll into
the'morning. The players drank consider
able wine and after midnight there was
q quarrel, during which Credanzo Is re-
ported to have uttered terrible threat.
Soon after the threat was made the card
party broke up. 1t WAS said that just Dc
fore the fire was discovered Credanzo was
seen to leave the building with his Vile and
two children, all fully dressed.
This. taken In connection with his threat
at the card game. led to the suspicion o.
incendrarlsm. His arrest caused great
deal OF excitement. He was taken to the
station In patrol wagon and locked up.
Enter he was arraigned before Justice
SchaIk aud held for EXAMINATION. II con-
victed his penalty would be hanging, even
II he had no tnteution to XIII, 40 long as
death resulted from the flre.
The body of Mrs. Angela Castlo was found
with her two and half year old boy caught
tightly to her breast. It was plain that she
had fought hard to make her way out. Tne
little fellow had his face buried In his
mothers bosom. Underneath her gown
was the baby Carmlna. 1t was evident the
mother had striven to save the infant from
the smoke,
Those who escaped got out not mo-
ment too soon. There was no time to
think OF saving valuables or even cloth
ing, and the street was filed with scantily
clad men, women aud children.
Heartrending beyond description were
the scenes in the street, where men,
women and children whose relatives had
disappeared rushed frantica lily about, call
Ing IN agonized tones for their loved ones.