The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1904-09-07
FIERY DEkTH-TRh
Takes Lives of FourteenPeo-
pie in New York City.
MANY WERE LITTLE ONES
HELPLESS Victims Cut OFF BY Roaring
Flames In Five-Story Double
Tenement--Fire Escapes =
\, Had Been Removed.

Fourteen persons were killed and
nearly score injured in fire in
fiye-story double tenement in New
York at an early hour Sunday morn
ing. It was one of the worst fires
in the loss Or human lives that has
occurred on the east side in several
years, although the property loss was
sI.gnt.
The dead include four women, one
man and nine children, ranging IN age
from 8 months to II years.
Many of the injured were taken to
hospitals, and it is thought that sew
eral will die. Among the injured'were
five firemen, who were on the fourth
floor balcony when it fell with them.
The small number of men among
the killed and injured was due to the
fact that most of the men who hVed
in the building, following the custom
of the locality in hot weather, were
asleep o nthe roof, while few women
and children were there. Those on
the roof were unable to escape by
descending through the burning bulid-
ing, and made their way to safety
over neighboring roofs. MeanWhae
the members of their families who
had remained in their rooms SOON
found escape cut off and panic Reign
ed throughout the structure.
Delay in Sending Alarm.
The fire started about o'clock in
the morning and there was consider
able delay in sending in an alarm, al
though the district is one of the most
thickly populated in the crowded east
side of New York. When the tirernen
reached the scene some of the ten
ants were jumping from the windows
and from the ends of fire escapes that
reached only to the second floor 9th
ers were crouching in the smaller
rooms and narrow halls. Several am
balances were called and the surgeons
were kept busy caring for the injured
A number of daring rescues were
made by firemen and police, and the
conditions under which they worked
we're unusual and difficult.
The loss of life was due to the fact
that alterations were being made In
the tenement building. The basement
and the first floor, the latter about six
feet above the sidewalk level had both
been cut through the front and rear
walls having been removed and the
upper floors being supported by steel
beams. The exit from the upper floors
was by way of small step ladder.
Twelve families lived in the house
and it is said that the tearing away Of
the lower part was done so quickly
that certain of the tenants who wish
ed to move from the building were I'M
able to get their furniture out and
thus were compelled to remain.
Fire Escapes Removed.
The work of alteration had necessi-
tated the partial removal OF the Ere
escapes, and when the fir ebegan the
panic-stricken tenants found fire es-
escapes, and when the fie began the
no further.
The work of the firemen was great
ly hindered, but over twenty persons
were rescued by them from the fourth
and fifth floors.
Many persons received injuries by
Jumping to the sidewalk and to the
stone paved court from the ends OF
the cutoff fire escapes.
The fire is supposed to have been
caused by the explosion Of lamp that
had been left to light the hall on the
second floor and the sleeping tenants
were not aroused until the hallway
was ablaze and escape through the
building cut off.
The fire was soon extinguished and
the search for the dead began. Most
of the bodies were found on the two
upper floors.