New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-15
FIRE RESCUER KILLED.
PLAYHOUSE RUINED.
Child Dies from His Burns
Health Board May Investigate.

AS the Aremen were about TO rescue him, John
A. Hart. insurance agent. living on the top
floor Of the four story fathouse, at No IS West
Ssth-st which ruined by fire early yesterday
morning was overwhelmed by the flames and
burned TO death. Firemen Keenan, and Okeefe.
OF Engine No. 56, climbed scaling LADDERS 10
the room where Hart was. reached through the
window and seized the bath robe in which ne
was clad when the fall of a burning timber
knocked him from their grasp. The gust OF fame
that followed drove back the fremen and when
tnev could again enter the after the fire was
under control Hart burned to a crisp.
Before his death Hart saved his wife and four
year-old son, Carroll. whom he handed out Of the
front windows 70 the freYnen on that side. In
stead Of following them he seemed to lose his
head and ran back into the flames All of the
other tenants of the house escaped The women
and children were rescued by the men OF the
families and the fremen. Two OF the children
Carroll Hart and John Jordan. were paintuiEy
burned The Jordan boy taken to the J. HOOD
Wright Hospital where he died about midnight
The fire Is believed to have started In the base
ment. possibly from the furnace. which was de-
fective The fire probably burning for sew
eral hours before the tenants became aware OF
IT, It's spread throughout the house was helped by
an elevator shaft in the rear The flames went
up this and "mushroomed' on all the upper floors
The fire was discovered by Mrs. Margaret Healey,
Of No. III Amsterdanl-ave., who does Homework
for the tenants. Mrs. Hea1ey pounded on the
parIor window on the first floor and aroused DR..
and Mrs. Albert E. Meyer who live there. Dr. and
Mrs. Meyer got out unaided, IN scanty clothing.
On the second floor lived Heating Hubert his
wife and his sisters-in-law, the Misses Mary and
Kate Derby. It is a strange coincidence that on
December u last another OF the Derby sisters was
so badly burned in the kitchen OF the apartment
that she died of her injuries.
John Jordan and his wife and their ten-year-old
son lived on the third floor. while the top floor
lived Hart and his wife and child
BY the time the 1reren arrived Hubert had
got his wife and sisters-in-law out of bed, and
down to the first floor. He handed two OF the
women out to the fremen ladders, and they
were taken down 10 the sidewalk safely The last.
Miss Kate Derby was held son the sill by her
brother-in-law awaiting her turn until his
strength failed and he had to let her crop, Four
f1remen caught her in their arms and she was
not hurt. Hubert taken down a ladder.
Jordan took his wife to the front of their apart
ment and handed her out to the fremen- He
called his son to follow. but the boy was fright
Fred Desbrow, driver for Deputy Chler Binns,
climbed into the window and grabbed Johnny out
of his bed in his nightgoWn and rushed pack 70
the ladders Johnny was overcome by the smoke
and burned about his feet and hands that he was
taken to the ]. Hood Wright Hospital for treatment
The Harris, the top floor. were the last TO be
reached by the freme2.
Coroner Shrady informed of Harris death
and made an investigation, together With captain
Farrell OF the West 1O0th-st. station and InspeG-
tor Sweeney. The coroner said he did not think
the furnace in the basement. He said he believed
there defects in this furnace and he fntimaed
that he might present the matter 10 the attention
of the Board of Health. with the view OF securing
lessen the possibility of such fatalities from this