Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1900-03-16

BURNED AMI smoTHERED 70
DEATH IN A rRSEMEar HOUSE
L Majority OF the Unfortunate Were
authenticated Italians Rum.
ming Hifher and Thfther, Through
the Burning Building, Unable 70
Find Means OF Eseape-Many M
raculous Eseapes-Aen Leap from
WfnAows.

"S"a1hs ~. J~S-%- 49, x AASSA ~
sons. a majority OF whom were chill.
dren, were burned to death at tene-
ment house 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 extinguished. The fire
was Of incendiary origin.
The building was three-story frame
structure, formerly used as church,
but transformed into tenement house
with small rooms scarcely eight
by ten feet In dimensions. open
ing into a narrow hallway on
both the second and third floors.
forming veritable fire trap.
This Is right in the heart Of the italian
district and the greatest excitement
prevailed. This feeling has been great
~ intensified since o'clock, when 1t
first became known that the fire was OF
incendiary origin, and within fifteen
minutes Of the time when this report
was first circulated men and women,
wall nigh crazed with grief, ran tear
ing around the streets looking for the
incendiary and threatening dire VEN
geance. It was a few minutes after
o'clock this morning when smoke was
seen pouring out Of a second-stery
front room and the alarm was given.
But long before the fire apparatus
reached the scene the interior of the
burning tenement was peopled with
wild Italians, running hither and thith-
er, unable to find means of escape.
Every room emptied its occupants into
those narrow little halls and there was
no escape for the frightened tenants be-
cause Of the jar1, and they could not
get out. There were at least twelve
families IN the place, sixty persons in
all, Of whom perhaps fifty were chill
dren unable to care for themselves, es-
pecially in time of such great excite
ment. Four men ran to front win
dow and jumped to the street. Several
were hurt and later sent to the hospi-
tails.
The flames spread with frightful ra-
pidity and the keen March wind blow
ing sent the sparks to the southeast
and threatened also the frame tene-
ments in that direction. The place was
like roaring caldron when the firemen
reached there. The ladders were quick
ly put in position and then began the
work Of rescue. 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
frightful sacrifice had been offered
Human bodies were observed pinned
down by heavy timbers. The rescuers
worked for hours clearing away the de-
bris in the hope that some might yet be
rescued alive.
Eugene Castillo husband Of one Of
the dead women, jumped from third
story window and was seriously in
jured. An unknown man who jumped
out Of an upper-story window died in
a hospital. SALVATORE Baldi, husband
of one Of the dead women. managed to
escape with a child in his arms. He
lost trace of his wife in the smoke and
fame. Vito Credavo is locked up on
suspicion of having set fire to the build
ing. Credavo, with his wife and two
children, occupied the rear portion Of
one of the upper stories. He was ar
rested on a statement made by Virginia
Di Prula, who was a boarder in the
house. Di Prula told Captain Edwards
that when he was awakened by the
smoke he found Credavo and his family
fully dressed and ready to leave the
burning building. When CredaVo was
taken to the station house he became
much excited, and when he was asked
questions he pretended that he could
not speak English. Through an inter-
prefer he denied that he had set fire to
the building or had any knowledge as
to the origin of the fire.
Following is a corrected list of bodies
recovered from the tenement fire: An
tonic Parnicino. Bastiano, his wife;
Giuseppe Parnicino, Z years old; Nuzi-
etto Parnicino, year old; Oecana Cas-
cino; Angelo Cascino, his wife; Tony
Cascino, son Of above. 8 years; Beyinto
Cascino. 4 years; Frank Cascino, "a
years: Carrine Cescino, daughter, !
year: Mrs. Guertano Palimona; Gui-
seppe Barto; Mrs. Munziato Barto, his
wife; Theresa Barto, daughter, years.