Evening star., 1903-07-02
HEARTREND|NG Scene
Little Morris Serrate Burned
.' to Death. 60.
HIS MOTHERS INJURIES
HER CLOTHING IN FLAMES IN
HER EFFORTS TO SAVE HIM.
She is Now at the Emergency Hospital
Sad Results Of Fire on Third
Street Southwest.

Heartrending scenes were witnessed at
fire this morning in the home and business
place of Israel Serrate, 213 Sd street south
west. The fire occurred during Serrates
absence from the house. He returned home
from market more than one hour after the
fire had been extinguished, and was
shocked at the news of the death of his
son, Morris, six years old, and the serious
burning of his wife. The body Of the child
had been removed to the morgue, and his
wife had been taken to the Emergency
Hospital. Mr.. Serrate remained at the
house only a short time before he hurried
to the hospital to inquire about the cond1-
ton of his wife. The fire started from a
gasoline stove in the rear room on the first
floor, in the room adjoining the grocery
store, and the fumes were carried up the
narrow. stairway to the room in which the
little boy was lying on a bed. The stove
was near the bottom of the steps and there
was no avenue of escape left open to the
child except the front window, and the
youth was afraid to make the leap for his
life Mrs. Serrate made a frantic effort to
rescue her child but was unable to reach
the foot of the steps because of the flames.
"save My Child"
Her screams Save my child" attracted
the attention of neighbors to the rear of
the house, while the piteous appeal of the
child from the upper front window of
PLEASE save me- resulted in number Of
persons assembling on the sidewalk. Men,
women and children were among those who
stood there and listened to the childs last
words. Most of them were so much af-
fected that 1t never dawned upon them to
get ladder and attempt to rescue the boy
man named John Conley came along
just about the time the flames reached the
boy. He climbed the awning post in his
efforts to reach the window where the little
fellow was standing Just as he was about
within reach of the window the post broke
loose from the house and he was precipi-
tated to the sidewalk. So much interested
in the sad scene that was being enacted
were the people who assembled In front of
the house that they did not hurry to send
in an alarm. This resulted in q delay in
calling out the fire department and pos
sibly prevented the saving Of the child's
life.
Efforts Of the Firemen.
AS soon as the department reached the
burning frame structure the firemen made
an effort to save the boy before they paid
much attention to the fire. Foreman Hoop
er of Truck was the first member of the
department to ascend a ladder and reach
the room in which little Morris Serrate had
been seen appealing for help. He found the
lifeless body of the boy on the floor near
the foot of the bed. The clothing had been
burned from the body and there was no
sign Of life visible The flames were still
causing destruction in the room and the
fireman's hands were burned in his efforts
to save the life of the little victim He
picked up the charred remains and hurried
to tho window. 1t was seen that life was
extinct and the body was placed on the
parking and covered with a sheet. In a
few minutes the dead wagon from the
morgue arrived and the body was taken
away
The Mother in Flames.
While all this was going on in front OF
the house the mother was attracting at
tention in the alley in rear of her house.
When it was certain that she could not
reach the upper floor of the house and
save Morris from being consumed by the
flames she ran through the back yard, in
tending to go to the front of the house
Her dress was in flames and her loud
screams could be heard a square away.
Her only thought was for her son. Isaac
Berman, the keeper of the store In Willow
Tree alley in rear of the scene Of the fatal
fire grabbed Mrs. Serrate and tore her
clothing from her body. The woman did
her best to release his hold upon her, but
the man realized that quick work was nee
essary and he did not release her until
the last piece of her burning garments had
been removed Then she was taken to the
house of a neighbor and cared for until the
arrival of the fourth precinct patrol wagon.
when she was removed to the Emergency
Hospital.
Mrs. Serrate May Recover.
At the hospital the doctors found that
Mrs Serrate had received severe burns
about her back and side. The prompt work
of Isaac Berman had prevented the flames
from reaching her face. While her condi-
ton is serious, 1t is believed she will re-
cover. Foreman Hooper found it. necessary
to have his hands treated for burns The
damage to the house amounted to about
500. The only room In the house in which
no damage was done by the flames was the
store. Coroner hewitt made an investiga-
ton of the boys death this afternoon and
will probably give a certificate without
holding an inquest.