The Washington times., 1905-03-14

The FIRE was discovered shortly before
4 o'clock In paint shop on the ground
floor
The tenement was a deu1le-decked
structure with two apartments in the
front and two apartments in the rear.
Twenty families of 40 persons lived III
the building.
The store adjoining the paint shop
was occupied by a grape juice company.
Isadore Davis occupied a cot in the
grape juice store. While retiring at an
early hour this morning he noticed
flames in the rear of the paint shop
The fire spread like a fash Of light
ming in the store. which was soon
mass of flames. Davis rushed out on
the street and met Policeman Staubitz,
who turned in the alarm.
Quick Spread of Fire.
In ten minutes the fire department was
on the scene. When the engines arrived
The flames had eaten through the
stairways and all five floors were burn
ing. The fire escapes. being clogged with
bedding and boxes, were swarning with
Panic and terror stricken people.
While the ladders were being raised
to effect rescue. a blast Of wind from
the west sprang up and the flames
poured out of the front windows onto
the people on the fire escapes.
Men and women jumped to the side
walk and some were caught in the
arms of the flremen. Women hurled their
ba bies to the street and Ieaped after
them.
The wind fell away again, and then
came from the east. driving the fire out
of the rear windows There many were
cnnging, awaiting help. on the rear fire
T1sa1 To
and were injured.
Deeds of Heroism.
Heroes there were and many OF them
Lieutenant Bonner son of former Fire
Chief Bonner, scaled the red-hot fire
escape five times. Each time he brought
down woman and a child.
| The last time his strength gave way.
He and his charges would have
| plunged to the sidewalk had they not
! been caught BY other firemen.
| Bonrer fell against the fire escape He
would have been roasted IL death had
not some iiremen scaled Il ladder and
| brought him down.
| human chain was formed by Lieu
| tenant Harnigan and F'1remen McGratn
and Walsh, of Holland ladder coupany
| No g. together with FTremen Pogg1e. OF
Iengine company No. 90 and Special Po-
! more were rescued.
Roasted on Fire Escapes.
Those who were clinging on the fire
| escapes on the top floors and did no;
jump were slowly roasted. Their cries
were horrible to hear They could not
descend because the fire escapes were
| cIogged with furniture and ash cans,
which had been left there by tenants in
! violation of the law.
y mother threw her babe at Policeman
WartaIsky. He caught it She then
plunged after it and fell upon MARITAL
| sky's head. He was knocked uncon-
scious The woman was slightly burn
ed but otherwise she and her baby es-
capped unhurt.
In the rear scaling ladders We're rur
! up. Many We're taken down III the fact
! OF the greatest danger from the fla fsle
| " hich came out from the windows il
! angry tongues. The firemen and th'
police, with faces and hands burned
| stood to their work. and many time!
| Were forced to descend when then
clothing caught fire.
Fate of One Woman
One woman. with night attire flaming
was seen 10 crawl from out the fame:
and smoke on the top floor and star
to Greer down the fire escape. Th,
hot iron of the escape blistercd ans