Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-03-14
MANY DIE in
FIRE TRAP
Burning of a New York Tene-
ment House Causes Horri-
bic Loss of Life
FIRE ESCAPES DEATH TRAPS
Heroic Work Of tho Firemen POLICE
men and Volunteers Prevents Much
Creator Loss Of Life-Firo Escapes
Filled With Rubbish Proven. Vic.
Tins From Reaching Safety.

| New York, March 14.-At least
scorc of nersons we're burned to death,
several so badly hurt they may die,
and forty others received sllghter
hurts. in n fire that practically de-
stroyed five story tenement house
| In Allen street early today. The fire
gained such headway that many ten
ants were cut off before they could
make an attempt to save themselves.
Thrilling rescles and daring leaps for
| life marked the fire. Scores were car
ried from the blazing building by the
fireman. or the bodies recovered only
the following were identified:
Rachel Solomon, As; Jacon Solomon,
| 10; Abraham Solomon, 90.
Bodies were Identified this afternoon
as follows:
Jessie Cohen, aged 10.
Rose Wiener, aged %.
Sander Wiener, aged 4.
Ida Muslsowitz, aged 10.
Harry Kaufman, aged 10.
Rose Miller, aged 4.
Morris Miller, infant.
The crowded fire escapes In the rear
of the tenement were largely respon-
sible for so many casualties. The fire
started in the basement, occupied by
Isaac Davis, his wife and three chill
dren. Davis had been out last night
and returning home early this morn
ling went into the store on the same
floor Just in time to see q kerosene
lamp In the rear explode. He awoke
his wife and both tried to put out the.
flaming lamp. but without success.
Then they gave all their attention to
getting their children out Of the build
ing. A policeman who heard the cry
of alarm rushed to the scene and ev-
cry effort was made to rouse the Sleep
ing persons in the house.
In the meantime the flames had
spread with startling rapidity and
wnen those who had been alseep on
the upper floors awoke they found
themselves confronted by wall OF
flames on nearly every side. Scenes
Of the widest description followed,
with the panic stricken people fighting
for their lives. Many, rushed to the
fire escapes only to find them Uttered
with rubbish of all descriptions and
almost impossible. Down thru this
cluttered narrow passageway flowed a
stream of humanity. On some of the
escapes the rubbish was so closely
packed that 1t became impossible to
pass certain points and men, women
and children stood literally roasting to
death, as the flames roared thru the
windows around them. One of the es-
capes, which ended near the roof Of the
shed about twenty feet above the
ground, had been manned by Policeman
John j. Dwan, who had run a plank
across to the window of the adjoining
building. Nearly dozen persons had
been carried across this narrow bridge
by the policeman when the flames be-
gan to sweep around the lower fire
escape.
Rushing into the fire the policeman
seized little child. and started on his
| last return trip across to a place of
Il fafx II ho nn1v half tho
distance when the plank. burned more
| than half thru, broke and rescuer and
rescued fell to the ground twenty feet
below. The policeman's shoulder was
shattered by the fall. The child was
uninjured. In the meantime firemen
had run up ladders at other points a.
round the building and dozens of peo-
pie were being taken from the crowded
| fire escapes and upper windows. BY
| and rescues were effected in many
cases only after the greatest show of
! bravery on the part of the firenen.
Lieut.. Bonner, son of the former fire
chief, ascended a now red hot fire
escape five times. Four times he came
| down with woman or child in his
arms. The fifth time he was making
for the street with an unconscious wo-
man when his strength gave way and
he staggered and would have fallen
had not comrade come to his assist
ance. There We're many other similar
heroic rescues.
The victims of today's disaster were
typical east side peoeple. To the APP
parently reckless displays of heroism
shown by the firemen, policemen and
volunteer rescuers alone is due the
fact that the list Of dead is not greater.