The age-herald., 1900-01-10
PULITZER'S HOME =
 A TOTAL WRECK
Two Women Lost in the Burn
 ing Building.
CHILDREN WERE ALL SAVED
One of them Went Back to Get Christ mas Bag Which Was Afterwards Found Clutched in Her
 Charred Hands.

New York January 9.-The handsome dwelling of Joseph Pulitzer, the proprietor of the New York World, in East F4fty-fifth street, was destroyed by fire today and two lives were lost.
 When the flames had been extinguished and search made of the ruined interior, the bodies of two women were found badly burned. One is believed to be that of Miss Elizabeth Montgomery, the governess, and the other was identified as that of the housekeeper, Mrs. Jellett In one hand was firmly clutched a small bag into which it Is believed she tried to thrust some of her personal effects before leaving her room.
 At the time the fire began there were in the house Mrs. Pulitzer, her daughters. Edith, II years old, and Constance, 12, and Mrs. Pulitzer's baby son, two months old, and 9 servants MT Pulitzer and his son, Joseph, are al Lakewood, N. J..
 Mrs. Pulitzer was asleep with her two daughters, Edith and Constance, on the second floor. On the floor above was the nurse with the baby.
 Mrs Pulitzer was awakened at 750 by a cracking noise. She detected the smell of smoke, and almost immediately after wards the electric fire alarm sounded. Mrs. Pulitzer ran to one Of the doors, but found it locked The other was open, and taking her children she started downstairs, shout ing the alarm.
 Saved Her Baby
 After placing Edith and Constance in the street, she hurried up to the third floor and found the nurse with the baby in her arms about to get out on the fire escape The woman was hysterical. 'us Mrs. Pulitzer quieted the nurse, took the baby from her, and together they went to the street.
 John O'Connor, the second butler, had a narrow escape. He slept on the top floor with another servant. He was aroused by Mrs. Puitzer's cries, and finding the smoke coming tlhiclkly upward, walked out along the window ledge to the roof of the next house, No IA, the residence of Alexander Maitland.
 O'Connor says he was overcome by the smoke and sank down when he reached, @ place of safety. His companion revived him, and assisted him to the street. b-a The origin of the fire is unknown, but it is thought it must have started in the base. ment or in the lower story by defective cleo tric insulation. It spread with great ra-- pidity, and went straight upward, and in a short while was blazing from the roof.
 The firemen, realizing that the house could not be saved, devoted their energies to adjoining property.
 The house contained valuable historical library and many carefully selected works of art. Nothing of value was saved.
 The total loss is estimated at $S00,000.
 One of the servants who escaped said that he saw Mrs. Jelett on the roof at the same time as himself. It Is supposed she went back for the bag which was found clutched in her hand when the body was found
 Fireman Hurt
 While a crew of fremen numbering twelve, were at work the third floor, after the fire was extinguished, the floor collapsed, carrying the men to the story below. Lieut. Hanek was painfully hurt, but remained at work.
 The second body found was later posi- lively identified as that of the governess, Miss Elizabeth Montgomery. Death was caused by suffocation.
 Mrs. Pulitzer, who is a niece of Jefferson Davis, had number of jewels in a safe in the house, which was buried in the ruins.