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 Dc.
partment Are Liable.

partment Are Liable.
In New York on Tu.s sday morn
ing OF last week bcfore daylight nine
teen persons were burned to death IL
fire which destroyed the five story
tenement house at los Allen street
More than 40 we're injured and only q
few OF the sleeping inmates escaped
l!nhurt. Several Of those who per.
ished we're ruasted to death in plain
view Of thousands in the streets.
Coroner Goldenkraus declared after an
investigation that he had reason tc
believe the blaze was the work of an
incenoiary. 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 and 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 dc apartments 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 commissioner.
Or the 10 dead, three bodies those
OF boy and two girls, remain uniden.
'tt1ed. The identified dead are: Ra
chael Solomon, As years; jacob Solo,
mon, 16; Isaac Solomon, Is; Jesse
Cohen, Is; Gershon Fuchs, so; Rose
Wiener, 23: SANGER Wiener, 4; Sarah
Kline, SO; Bella Z>idler, 80; Harry
Zaldl,r, IL; Ida Muskow.z, 10; Harry
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
s souls.
HEARTRENDING SCENES.
The scenes were heartrending. The
fire started in the basement occupied
by Isaac Davis, his wife and three
children. When Davis reached his
home early Tuesoay morning and
went into his store on the same floor
he saw kerosene lamp In the rear
explode. He awCke his wife and both
tried to put out the flaming lamp,
but without success. A policeman
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 II the upper floors awoke to tiLd
themselves confronted by wall Of
flames on nearly every side. Panic
stricken people rushed to the fl re es-
capes only tC find them Uttered with
rubbish. On some Of the escapes the
rubbish was SO c!csaly packed that 1t
became impossible 10 pass certain
points and men, women and children
stood literally roasting to death as
the flames roared through the win.
dows abound them. Oae cf The es-
capes was manned sy Policeman John
j. Dwan, who Lad ran plank across
to the wlndo" OF an Adjoining build
Ing. He rescued nearly dozen per-
sons, but finally fell 20 feet TO the
pavement aud shattered his shoulder.
Deems OF people were taken from the
CROWDED fire escapes and upper win.
dows. BY This time the building was
a furnace aau the IescueS were t fleet.
ed In any cases only through hel oic
efforts OF the fremen Lieutenant
Bonner, son OF the former fire chief,
aslehdeu the now rcd-hot fire escap pes
five times.
MANY HEROIC REsCUEs.
-Four times he brought down q wo-
man or a.ciiild in lis arms. Tie fifth
time he was descending with an un
conscious woman, but staggered and
WAS barely saved from death Once
Bonner rescu; d Il little girl from a
window where She stood surroundt
by flames. She pleaded with him 10
leave her on the escape and so in
after her little brother WHO she said
had fallen unCcEscious. Bonner then
jumped into What looked like fur
mace, found the boy and saved him.
Fire man IIannitan repeated Bon
ners feat on the ihird floor. Death
reaped harvest quickly on the fire
escapes. In the rear two men and
two women were descending, the mel
helping the women to remove heavy
Obstacles from the escapes. Suddenly
flames darted fiom The third floor
windows and the quartet fell anc
roasted to death. Another person
with clothes atire was following but
likewise sank in tie flames. On toy
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 loOl
from the winCowS and tben fall back
IN the burpiag building.
The elder S JlomOn, the husband
and father, was rescued. as the res
Cued recOsnz d tie cbalred bodies 0
tier loved ones they wept and criet
agonizingly. The streets we're tiiiet
with half dressed, weeping, searching
people, implorirg the rescue or those
within the burning structure. Wher
the tenants dashed for tie roof, they
found the door, which should hav,
swung easily open, fastsned down
Unable TO burst IL open, and wedgct