The evening world., 1903-12-07
Men In Street Rescued Children
Dropped by Their Mother
from Window OF Burning
Hotel on Ninth avenue.
MANY THRILLING RESCUES
AND NARROW ESCAPES.
Firemen Garry Frantic Women
Down Ladders to Safety
Firefighters Overcome by Gas
and Smoke.

Thrilling rescues and narrow escapes
from death marked the fire which de-
stroyed the wyanoke Hotel, at Ninth
avenue and Ffty-third' street. early to-
day. Children were dropped from the
windows info the arms OF men in the
street below. men n women were
carried unconscious from the burning
structure and firemen were overcome by
escaping gas.
The building Is a ~nve-story structure.
In which about nifty families lived In
small apartments OF from one to three
rooms. All were asleep when the blaze
started In h basement and all. I'M
conscious OF the danger until the fire
gained great Roadway.
The shrlll whistle OF the ~ road
train attracted the attention of men at
the car barns a block away. and word
was sent to Battalion Chiefs Callahan
and Duane. who were at a small fire in
Fifty-third street, a little more than q
block away. Duane. with a part of the
apparatus, hurried to the scene.
Thomas Lee. the night foreman of the
car barns. and John Foster were tho
irst to reach the FIRE. Frenzied men
and women, awakened by the whistle
OF the train, appeared at the windows
and on the horoscopes. On the ledge
Of a window on the second floor a wom-
an stood ready to leap with her two
children.
prouped children Into Arms or
Men.
The shouts of Lee and Foster reas-
sured her. and she motioned to them
to take the children. First one and
then the other. she lowered as far as
she could and dropped them into tho
waiting arms Of the men below. She
herself came down a ladder. which was
brought from the car barns, and draw
ing her children close to her she hur-
ried away. after thanking the rescuer.
In the window Of the fourth floor. far
from a ire-escape, Mrs. George w.
Runyon stood transfixed by fear. In
her arms she clasped her fve-year-old
daughter. The flames ,mushroomed out
on the fourth and nth floors and the
bright glow could be seen behind the
mother and child. They had to be saved
quickly or not at ALL
The nearest fire-escape was fully six
feet from the window. 1t was quickly
cleared and McGann clambered up until
he was even with the woman n child.
Twisting his legs In the Iron bars OF
the fire-escape he leaned his body far
out toward the window.
Mrs. Runyon wung h child out and
McGann seized her and passed her to
Ganter. who had followed him up.
Again the fireman leaned over toward
woman threw herself in his arms.
Many Rescues by Ladders.
On the same floor James McCauiey.
oned. This woman and children were
clrr1ed down the ladders. while Nc.
Cauley made his escape.
The 1remen found Margaret. Bertha
their apartment on the third floor.
Wrapping them In the bed clothing. the
hremen passed them down the ladder.
Once In he fresh air thew were quickly
While these thrilling rescues were
taking place on the Fifty-third street
side Of the burning building hremen
ROLAND Burr. The %1anitor. n his wife.
who lived In the basement,
When they were awakened they found
their windows were latticed. with heavy
iron, bars, Burr worked with .despera-
ton. his wife meanwhile calling for help.
put It was long before the trsmsr FOUND
heavy Iron bars were pried away and
the couple escaped.
Philip Seberker a found unconscious
on the fourth floor. He a carried to
Roosevelt Hospital. where he Is still
being cared for.
Three alarms were sent in and the fire.
men mac a stubborn fight. On the fourth
and the rooms were filled with gas.
Capt. Hanley and Foreman McManus
were overcome and had to be carried
outside. When revived Capt. Hanley or
dcred the men to work inside, In shifts.