The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-05


MILLER, SETTA, So.
MILLER SErTA.7 I,
Unidentified boy, about years old.
Of these Annie, Herman and Sadie Feuer-
berg died in Gouverneur Hospital, and
Philip Kirschner and the unidentified boy
in Bellevue The bodies Of the other nine
we're found in the house. or the injured
all are likely to recover save the fireman,
John Adamosky of Engine II.
The fire itself was under control within
five minutes after the men Of the depart
ment arrived but the ignorance and excite
ment of those who first saw the blaze de-
layed the sending in Of the alarm. and be-
fore the roscuers reached them MIN of those
in the house unable to find their way from
the building, had lost their lives.
The opening prayers for the Jewish New
Year celebration began at l o'clock on
Sunday morning. And that explains why
80 many of the dead were children. The
old folks, for the most part, were all at the
synagogue when the fire began at 2:4o in the
morning.
1t is supposed that a candle. left burning
in the hallway Of the third floor for those
returning from worship, caused the fire.
which quickly mushroomed up the stair
way in the centre Of the house, enveloped
those sleeping in the three upper stories,
and burst out of the roof.
Anna Lipkin Of les Attorney street was
the first ono outside the building to see the
fire. She had returned with her father
and mother from services In Ridge street,
and with them was sitting on the front
steps OF their home
The girl saw the glow of flames reflected
~ 4
and shrieked that there was a fire. Louis
Selkwitz. who lives at North Beach. heard
her cries and ran for a fire box. He did
not know how to turn in an alarm but got
Herman Wasser. proprietor Of a nearby
restaurant, to do it for him.
The fire apparently had been burning
for fifteen minutes when the first engine
came two minutes later By that time
the street was filed with crowd who walled
Jewish lamentations and blocked the way
OF the flremen when they started the work
Of rescue.
Already some OF the tenants had jumped
to the street and they were sure that
many had been left behind. To reach
those imprisoned by the flames it was
necessary to run up ladders to the third
floor. In some casss the firemen had to
chop through toarded windows.
Five firemen, John Adamosky, William
Benesch and John Boight Of Engine II and
Philip Hublitz and Christian Kalbheisch
OF Hook and Ladder 10, climbed up tho
fire escapes in the rear and were helping
the tenants from the windows when the
bolts holding the top OF the fire escape
to the brick wall at the fifth floor pulled out
and the platform, on which were Adamosky,
Benesch and Hublitz fell to the ground
Kabheisch managed to clutch a ladder Of
the fire escape which is attached to the
wall, and saved himself.
A lot Of bedding which the fremen had
pitched out broke the fall OF Benesch and
Hublitz somewhat, but both Adamosky's
legs and one hip were fractured and he re-
ceved internal injuries which, II is thought.
win prove fatal. Boight was standing on
the platform at the fourth floor and was
struck on the shoulder and knocked into
a window.
DR.. Gustav Kornpert, a physician, Of s2l
East Fourth street, who had been doing
volunteer service. treated the firemen and
they we're sent to Gouverneur Hospital.
Later. however. all but Adamosky were
able to return and take part in the work.
which continued all night
DR.. Kompert was going home from visit
10 a patient when he learned Of the fire.
He attended to all rescued as they were
taken to the street and various drug stores
before the ambulances arrived, and aided
the ambulance surgeons afterward.
The excitement at the time the firemen fell
vas at its height A rumor had started
that nineteen persons were still on the top
floor, and as Hublitz staggered out on
Attorney street with his head bleeding
the cry went up that the top floor had fallen
in. The police and ambulance surgeons
stumbled into the dark tunnel under the
building, but found only the other injured
fremen.
One Of those who distinguished himself
at the fire was ten-year-old Abe Fisher, who
rescued his mother. They were sleeping
on the roof and the boy was awakened by |
the heat Then he pushed and dragged
the fear-crazed woman to the roof Of 1872 |
helped to safety.
Harry Needil 10 years old, was asleep in
The front OF the second floor. He awoke |
hi mother, sister and father. and then, as |
the fire escape was gone, he jumped to the |
projecting end Of a supporting beam put |
IN to hold up the building during the altera-
ions Bracing himself on this narrow /
support, he caught each OF the three as
they climed down from above and lowered
them to men below.
motifs Klein, a printer OF 1872 Attorney |
street, saved two women, girl and two men
ny tuting long heavy plank against a