The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-01-03
BURNED TO DEATH
Mrs. Devine Loses Her
Life in Tenement
House Fire.
HEROIC PATROLHAH OCosNOR
Blinded by Smoke He Re-
covers Woman's Body
and is Overcome.
HEROIC PATROLMAH O'cOSNOR

disastrous fire in which one woman
lost her life, another was severely burned
and a brave policeman was almost sun
focated by smoke, occurred early TINS
morning.
It was about two o'clock when Patrol
man O'Connor who was patrolling Bruns-
wick street noticed smoke issuing from
the windows of the top floor of No. lSf
Brunswick street. He ran to fire box No.
1853 and sent in an alarm and then hur-
ried back to warn the tenants Of the
house. By this time flames were burst
ing through the windows
O'Connor bravely darted up the stairs
and bursting in door after door hustled
the occupants out into the street, where
they huddied together, shivering, wateh-
ing the destruction of their homes.
OsConnor, supposing that he had notihed
all the occupants, returned to the street.
The fire engines had responded IN the
meantime and several streams OF water
were being played upon the fire. Despite
the most heroic efforts on the part Oh the
firemen the flames spread to No l2s, q
three story frame building owned py
Lawrence Purcell and occupied by SIX
families and No. 127. a three story frame
building, owned by Anthony Dubosi ana
occupied by four families. The names
rapidly gained headway and although the
ice coated firemen worked like TroJans
the fire was rapidly getting beyond their
control and a general alarm was sent
in summoning every apparatus In the
city.
The occupants of the houses stood in
groups inadequately clothed, seemingly
unable to do anything but bemoan the
fate which had robbed them of their
homes. The sidewalk and street were
coated with ice and every lew seconds
one or another would slip on the ground
and fall.
Suddenly a cry arose among them that
one was missing. A count of those pre-
sent showed that Mrs. Mary Devine, a
60 year old woman, was absent. She and
her husband occupied rooms on the top
floor of No 1S1 in which the fire started.
Patroiman O'Connor again proved ms
heroism by dashing into the burning
rAflding i and up to the top floor On the
A1.nr ueap 4la< de-us Leading to the hail he
stumbled over the charred body of the old
woman. She had evidently made an eff
fort to reach safety and being overcome
had fallen.
He lifted her up and, scorched by the
flames and blinded and choked by smoke,
he picked his way down the stairs and
deposited his burden on the sidewalk. AS
soon as he had done this he staggered and
fell to the ground. He was picked up un-
conscious and carried to a safe place
where he was revived. After regaining
consciousness his first words were an IN
quiry as to the condition of Mrs. Devine.
He was told that she was dead. Mrs.
Deyine's body was charred almost be-
yond recognition. 1t was taken in charge
by her husband.
The flames had by this time spread to
NO. 125 Brunswick street, but they were
extinguished before any serious damage
was done to that building. Michael Zin-
ner owned this house and occupied the
top floor Minnie Arnicher, twenty seven
years old, lived in Zinner's apartments
and was severely burned before she could
be rescued. She was taken in charge by
friends and removed to No. SS81a Second
street, where medical aid was summoned.
Patrolman O'Connor in the meantime was
removed to his home in patrol wagon.
The flames were rapidly being subdued
and were soon under control The fire.
men. coated with ice. were working under
the greatest disadvantages. The ladders
and hose were masses of ice. With cut
and bleeding hands the men labored
heroically Assistant Chief Hud. Lowell
was in charge. He had word of praise
for each of his men. There was no hot
coffee such as is usually supplied the fire.
men.
The families that were rendered home
less were:-James Morrow and family,
Lawrence Purcell and family, William
Shelly and family, William Devine and
family, William Robertson and family,
George Beck and family, John Murphy
and family. Salvador Archie and family,
Thomas Pulls and family, James Rose
and family.
Chief Lowell estimates the damages at
about five thousand dollars. The property
damaged is covered by insurance to the
amount of about two thousand dollars
Miss Arnicher, who was removed to the
home of Lewis Weisburg, was reported
this morning resting nicely. Every hope
for her ultimate recovery is entertained.
The cause of the fire is being investigated
but is at present unknown.
lkfl1T eHAQr a TIlE