New-York tribune., 1901-03-31
SEES HIS FAMILY BURNED
AGONIZED FATHER PREVENTED FROM
RISKING HIS LIFE TO SAVE
WIFE AND CHILDREN.

IN plain view Of her husband. who had rescued
sne Of their children from being roasted alive
AIRS Esther Cohen with her two other children.
net death in fire in the crowded tenement
house No. % Norfolk-st Yesterday morning
The husband stood by tearing tie hair out Of his
mead and beard and unable 10 give any assist
snce in saving them. Even in the agony that
she suffered Mrs. Cohen forgot her own torture
and thought only Of her children The youngest.
a baby. she placed under her 10 protect IT from
the flames and when the fire was extinguished
and the charred body Of the mother was found
he child was discovered. unburned hut smoth-
cred 10 death
The fire was discovered at 3::i0 a. m. while
the hundred-odd tenants in the building were
asleep. There was a scramble to get out into the
street, which filled with excited per
cons from the adjoining buildings Those on the
lower floors got out easily. Those on the upper
floors were like rats in trap, and the dremen
in order TO rescue some Of the children. had to
throw them 10 the street. where they were
caught. Many Of the older persons made their
escape from the burning building by means az
the fire escapes Occupants Of the adjoining
buildings gave the rescued ones shelter for the
night The dead are:
COHEN. benjamin. five years old
COHEN. Mrs Esther. thirty-six Years
COHEN, Sophie. one year old.
THE INJURED
cEsTFEID Michael years old. scalp wound and
REARDoN John J. policeman r3a-i4r- 8. station fac.
and hands cut by glass in assisting the rescues
ana attempting to rescue Children ABOUT
The building No. % Norfolk-st. has six
stories. II was occupied by thirteen families
Mrs. Martha Reinier. wife of the janitor lived
on the second floor. Smoke and flame coming
UP through the airshaft awakened her. She
called her husband William. who weighs about
three hundred pounds. Together they went TO
the front Of the building. shouting Fire." as
they passed through the halls. They made their
way 10 the adjoining building by way Of the
fire escape. Joseph H. Fox a private watch
man. and a bartender named Lomnell heard
the cries Of fire and sent in an alarm from the
signal box at Rivington and Norfolk SITS, while
some other persons who heard the cries sig
nailed the Fire Department from the box at
Broone and Suffolk SITS This resulted in some
confusion to the location OF the fire and
caused the fire engines to be late in reaching the
scene.
Fox and Lommeu returned to the burning
building after sending in the alarm When they
reached the house they saw many OF the tenants
the fire escapes. Michael Cestfeld was
OF them, and some one threw the boy to the
street. He was caught by Fox and the bar
tender. but not before his head had struck the
sidewalk Annie end Sadie Gruber living
the thil floor. and half dozen other children
were saved in the same manner.
Battalion Chief Guerin was in charge Of the
hremen The crew Of Hook and Ladder Com
pany No. 10 rescued more than a score OF the
occupants Of the building. under the direction
OF Lieutenant Fagin. In attempting to get a
hose into the hallway to prevent the spread OF
the flames 10 the stairway, the men Of Engine
Company No IL were hemmed in by fire which
came from another quarter Had not the
Fire Chief seen their danger. the men would
have been burned TO death.
'I must save iay wife and children" was the
reply Of Cohen 10 passing neighbor. A moment
later Cohen appeared the fire escape with his
wife and children. With boy in his arms. Co
hen made his way TO the street. When he at
tempted TO return for his wife and other chill
dren he was stopped by the police. Almost fran
tic al the danger which he saw threatened them,
he tried TO break away; then, the policemen
and Arernen told him to remain quiet, that his
family would be saved. q sheet OF flame was
seen coming cut from the windows underneath
the fire escape on which Mrs. Cohen stood with
her children. Reynolds, driver for Chief Guerin.
took a scaling ladder and tried 10 reach the fire
escape which the woman stood. but he could
do so. AS she was slowly burned to death
her screams could be heard all over the neigh
borhood
The damage Sc placed at $4,000 The building
is owned by Philip Levy. Of No. 210 East One
Observation-Disclosures The cause Of the fire is
unknown.