New-York tribune., 1902-07-27
POLICElfAN'.S BRA We DEED.
HE CRAwLS ALONG LEDGE AND RES
CUES TWO WOMEN AT A FIRE

At fire at No. q East -hundred-and-
twenty-fifth-st. last night Bicycle Policeman w
j. Hanley, attached to the East One-hundred-
and-twenty-sixth-s station. distinguished him
self by rescuing two women whose means of
exit from the burning house had been cut off
by smoke and flame. He cheered by a
large crowd which had gathered, and was forced
to shake may hands. He rode off on his wheel
remarking that "he had done nothing"
Policemen Hanley and Brennan were coming
through one-hundred- and twenty -fifth-st. about
p. m. when they saw smoke coming from the
establishment of Max Daster, the ground
floor of No. p. They found the door locked
and the rear part of the store burning. Bren-
nan ran to the nearest alarm box, while Hanley
ran upstairs. On the third floor lives Rounds
man Milton z. Woodbridge of the Madison-st
station. and his family BY the time HanIey
got to the second floor the Railways were so
filled with smoke that he was forced to retreat
Twice he tried to get up the stairs. and twice
he was driven back Running down the street
he found that crowd had gathered, and was
shouting and pointing up to a window on the
third hoor A woman was at one of the win
dows, so dazed that she apparently did not
know what to do She was shouting "Fire!"
and "Poicei"
Hanley saw that broad ledge of stone
along the building just about a foot below the
next house, No. D. and soon appeared at a
third floor window. He climbed out on the ledge
and worked his way to the roundsmans apart
ments.
In the street by this time the crowd had
grown until streetcar passage was blocked
The crowd shouting suggestions to
the policeman, but when he arrived opposite
the window of No. 81 and climbed in a shout
went up.
In the room the policeman found Mrs. Nellie
T. woodbridge the roundsman's wife, and Mrs.
Ellen Stults. of No. 2423 Second-a The for
mer is in poor health. and the latter her
companion and nurse. Taking Mrs Stults in mis-
arms Hanley opened the door of the room. The
smoke drove him back. Then he tied his hand
kerchief over his mouth and made another dash
out into the hallway. Stumbling, half falling
and almost overcome. he managed to get down
TO the street with his almost unconscious bur-
den. A cheer went up from the crowd but the
policeman hardly taking breath started again
to the room. There five minutes of sus-
pense, in which the crowd remained still and
then Haney appeared at the window, bearing
the form of Mrs. Woodbridge in his arms The
room filling with smoke. and Hanley was
standing uncertain at the window when BattaI-
ion Chief Short and Truck No. IA arrived. Short
called to Hanley to wait, and Immediately the
firemen got their 5O-foot ladder ready Mrs
Woodbridge was unconscious. She had been
found by her rescuer lying the floor with
money and papers tied up in bundle beside
her.
When the ladder was run up Hanley, assisted
by a fireman, carried Mrs. Woodbridge down.
The woman was attended by DR.. Daniel J.
Donovan, of No. 46 East One-hundred- and
twenty-sixth-st., a police surgeon. who
present. She had been slightly burned about the
head and body.
When Mrs. Woodbridge recovered she begged
the firemen TO rescue her pets-a cat and par
rot. A fireman went up and brought them
down. Both We're the worse for
Hanley recently came into public notice by
arresting the driver of Mrs. c. 2. Huntington's
automobile.