The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-03-24
A FATAL FIRE.
Nineteen People Burned to Death
and Forty Injured
IN EAST NEW YORK.
Many Acts of Bravery Performed by the
Firemen and Others. Fire Chief
Croker Asserts that the Police
and Tenement House De.
..-I..-l
partment Are Liable.

dno tenement House DE.
partment Are Liable.
In New York on Tuesday morn.
Ing OF last week before daylight nine.
teen persons were burned to death in
q fire which destroyed the five story
tenement house at 1O5 Allen street.
More than 40 we're injured and only a
few OF the sleeping inmates escaped
unhurt. Several of those who per-
ished we're roasted to death in plain
view Of thousands in the streets.
Coroner Goldenkrans declared after an
investigation that he had reason to
believe the blaze was the work of an
inCen1iary. The fire started In the
basement and spread with frightful
rapidlty to the roof. The victims
we're caught in traps of flames, the
halls and exits being rendered impas-
sable In few minutes after the blaze
started.
The tu.lding was one of the usual
crowded teLements ard the disaster
was the worst in the history of the
East Side. The district attorneys Of
flee has begun an inv, stigation to
place the blame for the great loss of
life. Chief Croker Of the fire depart
ment asserts that the police and the
tenement house departments are to
blame for the violations Of the fire
escape law. The tenement house de-
partment officials, however, say that
the blame Is on the shoulders Of the
fire comm issioner
OF the 10 dead, three bodies, those
OF a boy ano two girls, remain uniden-
tilted. The identified dead are: Ra
chael Solomon, As years; jacob Solo,
mon, 16; Isaac Solomon, IS; Jesse
Cohen, l5; Gershon Fuchs, 80; Rose
Wiener, %: Sanoer Wiener, 4; Sarah
Kline, 60; Bella Zeidler, 80; Harry
Zaidltr, IL; Ida Muskowz, 10; Harr,
kaufman, 10; Rose MI Ter, 4; Morris
Miller, five months old. Crowded fire
escapes in the rear of tie tenement
house we're largely responsible for SO
many deaths and injuries among its
population, which approached 200
= souls.
HEARTRENDING SCENES.
The scenes were heartrending The
lire started in the basement occupied
by Isaac Davis, his wife and three
children. When Davis reached his
home early Tuescay morning and
went into his store on the same floor
he saw a kerosene lamp in the rear
explode. He awcke his wife and both
tried to put out the flaming lamp,
but without success. A poiicen an
who heard the cry OF alarm rushed to
the scene and every effort was made
to rouse the sleeping people.
Meantime the flames had spread
with startling rapicity and the occu-
pants Of the upper floors awoke to ill d
themselves confronted by wall Of
flames on nearly every side. Panic
stricken people rushed to the ire es-
capes only tG find them Uttered with
rubbish. On some of the escapes the
rubbish was So c.Csaly packed that IT.
became impossible 10 pass certain
points and men, women and children
STOOD literally roasting to death as
Cnt lanes rOarcC through the win.
doWs around them. One cf The es.
capes was manned by Policeman John
.. D"an, who Lad ran plank across
TO the window OF an Adjoining build
Ing. He rescued nearly dozen per.
sons, but finally fell 20 feet 10 the
pavement aud shattered his shoulder.
Deems OF people were taken from the
CROWDED lire escapes and upper win
doWs. BY This time the building was
furnace aad the rescues were fleet
ed IN Il any cases only through hel oic
efforts OF the tiremen. Lieutenant
Bonner, son OF the former fire chief,
aseendeu the now red-hct fire escapes
five times.
MANY HEROIC REsCUEs.
-Four Times lie brought down wo-
man or a.ciilld in lis arms. The fifth
time he was descending with an un
conscious woman, bnt staggered and
WAS barely saved from death. Ones
Bonner rescu, d little girl from a
window where she stood surround, d
by flames. She pleaded with him 10
leave her on the escape and so in
after her little brother WHO she said
had fallen unccrscip us. Bonner then
jumped into what looked like fur
mace, found the boy and saved him.
Fire man Hannilan repeated Bon
ner's feat on the third floor. Death
reaped harvest quickly ON the fire
escapes. In the rear two men and
two women were descending, the men
helping the "Om.n to remove heavy
Obstacles from the escapes. Suddenly
flames darted from he third floor
windows and the quartet fell and
roasted to death. Another person
with clothes aiire was following but
likewise sank in tie llames. On top
OF one fire escape lay three bodies,
Mrs. Solomon and her two sons. Isaac
and Ja lob. They had been overcome
by the flames. Two others OF the
Solomon family were seer to look
from the Win0oWS aud then fall back
In the burDiag building.
The elder SJlonon, the husband
and father, was rescued. AS the res.
Cued recognz d tie cbaIred bodies o.
their loved ones they wept and cried
agoniZinRly The streets we're filed
with half dressed, weeping, searching
people, implorirg the rescue or those
within the burning structure. When
the tenants dasned for tie roof, they
found the door, which should have
swung easily Open, fa9tSned down