Evening journal., 1901-04-03
HEROIC RESCUE
OF TWO WOMEN
Fire in The Smith Building
This Morning
SMOKE WAS SUFFOCATING
Spontaneous Combustion Of Tobacco
Bales Supposed to be Cause
Of Blaze

Had it not been for the prompt and
efficient work of the Fire Department
a serious fire would have occurred in
the Smith building, 61O and 612 Market
street, at 9.15 o'clock this morning.
The flames originated in the cellar
beneath the cigar manufacturing store
OF Samuel Hawkins, on the lower floor
Of the building, and directly under the
room where employees were engaged in
making cigars A smlsll OF smoke was
noticed by Samuel Hawkins Jr., who
was at work in the factory. He at once
made an investigated and found that
there was fire in the cellar He ran
to box No. u, in front Of the City Hall,
and sent in an alarm. The district com
panies were on the scene in a few mo-
ments and began playing water upon
the flames, although the smoke was
sufIocating and greatly hindc-ed their
work.
ONE WOMAN TAINTED.
In Mr.. Hawkins factory five young
women were employed, and as soon as
II became known they at cnce made a
rush for the door and escaped in safety.
Upon reaching the Market street side
walk Miss Dolly McCaulley, of Fifth
and Searles streets, who is employed
in the establishment, fell in a faint.
Before she touched the pavement, how
ever, shs was caught by Police Cap
tain Black and carried to an adjoining
store. Later she was taken to the pO-
lice station and placed in care of Ma
tron Wogan. After recovering suffi-
GENTLY she was sent home in a cab.
HEROIC RESCUE OF WOMEN.
In the meantime dense volumes of
smoke were pouring from the windows
in tho upper stories, and, although all
the file was in the basement, many per-
sons were of the opinion that II had
spread to the floors above.
The second story is occupied by the
B American Dental Company and the
a Prudential Life Insurance Company. In
& the latter offices G. j. Buchler, local su-
E perntendent of the company and two
young woman, Miss Edith Parmley and
Miss Edith SapleT, were at work As
soon as Mr.. Buchler detected smoke he
went into the hallway and discovered
that the building was on fire. He at
once hurried back to the offices and
told the young women the circum-
stances, and directed them to lock the
safe and gather up all money and pa
pers.
This they did at once and, led by
Mr.. Bucher proceeded to the hallway.
Upon reaching the head of the stair
way thay found the smoke so dense
that it was impossibhe to fight their
way through IL to the door balOw. 5ir.
Buchler was almost overcome in his
efforts to lead the women to safety
Hurrying back to the office they
found the latch had dropped on tho
door, locking it. Mr.. Buchlcr pro-
duced his key ard entered the Office.
Forgetting there was a iine escape at
the rear OF the hallway Nh. Buchler,
Miss Parmley and Miss Stap,cr ran to
a back window. Directly beneath this
is a shed, about four feet b'alow the
roof, which has slope of about forty
five degrees. Although the roof was
slippery and wet, Mr.. Buchler climbed
out the window, and upon reaching
the roof braced himself and helpsd the
women to get out. On the south side
of the roof is another ff-building, To-
Gated about six feet lower down. Drop
ping upon this Mr. Buchler stcadied
himself and, in a few moments, both
Miss Parmley and Miss Stapler fol-
lowed. From here they reached the
ground by means of a ladder placed
by firemen and escaped in safety. Mr.
Buchler's brave actions and the wo-
MEMS cOOlness were much admired
by those who witnessed them.
The third and fourth stories Of the
building are occupied as lodge
rooms, but they, as well as the Ameri-
can Dental Company's and bhe Pru-
Dental Co.'S rooms, escaped damage
either by smoke, fire cr water.
Scott & Co., brokers' occupy the store
adjoining Mr. Hawkins, but suffered nc
loss. In speaking of the fire Mr. Scod
said BIZ had never seen a fire better
handled.
After one and a-half hours hard
work the flames were under control
s The blaze is supposed to have. Origi
mated from spontaneous combustion o.
bass wood. which is usl,d in wrappinl
Havana tobacco bales, and which wer,
stored in Mr.. Hawkins cellar Mr.
Hawkins is the only loser. and, as yet
he cannot estimate the damage. He j,
insured in the Royal. After the fire wa,
subdued, Internal Revenue Inspectu
Daniel Burton was sent fer and CAV,
Mr. Hawkins permission to remove sucl
tobacco. if any. that was uninjursd
The building is Owncd by Charles A
Sparks, and is insured with the Phil
adelphia Fire Association. of Philadel
s phia. This is the fourth fire that hal
occurred in the Smith build ng since it
erection.