Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-14
10 BURNED To DEATH
Another Tenement Fire HOr-
ror in New York.
200 DRIVEN FROM HOME
SMALL DEATH LIST DUE RECk-
LESS BRAVERY OF RESCUERs.
Fire Escapes Filled With Rubbish
Blocked Egress-Skylight Nailed
Victims Died in q Trap.
200 DRIVEN FROM HOME

New York city was the scene OF
another tenement fire horror today,
nineteen persons being burned 20
death and 200 driven from home.
NEW YORK. March 14.-Nineteen per
sons dead. two score injured, some so
seriously that they may die, and nearly
200 persons temporarily homeless is, in
brief. the story of New York's latest fire
horror.
The victims Of today's disaster We're
typical east side people, the scene a typi-
cal east side tenement. and the scenes at
tending il were in many ways peculiar to
that cosmopolitan quarter. To apparently
reckless displays of heroism shown by
firemen. policemen and volunteer rescu-
ers alone is due the fact that the list of
dead is not greater.
Two hundred persons herded in the big
five-story double decker tenement house
We're sleeping early today when flames
from an overturned or exploding kero-
sene lamp in the basement spread
through the structure and wrapped the
entire building in flames almost before
an alarm had been sounded. Even when
the sleepers awoke at he first cry it was
almost too late but hardly more than
moment was necessary to show them
that their troubles had scarcely begun.
Fine Escapes Filled With Rubbish.
The long narrow iron fire escapes which
ran down the building on each of its ex-
posed s.des had been made receptacles for
rubbish Of all descriptions and in many
cases they We're little better than useless
1t was found also that every fire escape
platform OF the building had in it "a blind
f,,i, in. n
the opening through which the ladder
passes in the grated floor. The result of
these obstrucIed fire escapes was evident
when it was found that nearly all of the
dead belonged on the top floors of the
building and were roasted before they were
able to reach the ground
Another case of negligence which was re-
sponsib,e for the loss of some lives was an
immovable skylight at the head of a ladder
leading to the roof. Bolted securely ana
partially covered by ice. this skylight re-
sisted all efforts to force it, and pile CT
the bodies of the dead lay under it when
the horror was over.
Displays of Heroism.
1t was on the hame-swept fire escapes that
the finest displays of heroism We're shown.
Scores of men, women and children, driven
from the rooms by the flames which swept
up through Railways and light shafts, cow
cred high in the air on the hot iron ladders
and platforms, the flames swirling around
them as they waited for help Through the
flames and smoke time after time the fire
men rushed up to their assistance, and every
trip meant a life saved. From the fire es-
cape, too. the men plunged through win
dows belching flames to come Forth mo-
ment later bearing unconscious form to
some place of safety Many of the firemen
and other rescuers suffered severely. but
they continued at their work until it was
finished or until they were incapacitated by
their injuries.
Fire Chiefs Son a Hero.
Lieutenant Bonner, son of the o!d-tme
fire chief. was rescued unconscious from a
fire escape after he had rescued four per-
sons from certain death, and John Dwan.
a patromaH. was taken to a hospital with
a broken shoulder after saving a dozen
more. These We're only two cases among
many.
Fire Chief Edward F. Croker said the loss
Of life was mainly due to delay in giving
the alarm Eight MINUTES. he said elapsed
after the fire started before the alarm was
sounded. He added that the fire escapes
were shamfulIy clogged and that it was the
and the police department to have seen
that the law against fire escape obstruc-
l. ton was enforced
Gained Headway Before Discovered.
At least a score of persons were burned
te. death several were so badly hurt that
they n,Ay die, and forty others received
slighter hurts in a fire that practically de-
stroyed a five-story tenement house in Allen
great headway before it became known to
most OF the tenants and many of them
Were cut off before they could make an at
tempt 10 save themselves. Thrilling rescues
and darirg leaps for life marked the fire.
Scores were carried from the blazing build
Ing. Firemen climbed the walls on their
scaling ladders. braved the flames and
reached the imperiled tenants. OF the
bodies thus far recovered only the follow
ing have been identified:
The Dead
Rachel Solomon, 40 years.
Jacob solomon, 10 years.
Isaac Solomon, Is years.
Jesse Cohen. IL years.
Rose Wiener, 23 years.
Sander Wiener. years.
Ida Muskowiz. 10 years.
Harry Kaufman, 10 years.
Rose Miller, years.
Norris Miller months old
GersnOn Fuchs. 70 years.
Nearly all the bodies taken from the
building were badly burned as to be al
most Uurecognizable.
Fire Escapes Responsible.
Crowded ere escapes In the rear of the
tenement house were largely responsible for
so many dc;ths and injuries among its
populatiCG Thich approached 200 souls.
The scenes about he building after The
fire was over and IN the search for the
dead WAS begun were leartrending. Moth