New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-09-14
FIREMEN RESCUE MANY
BRIDGE AREA TO SAVE.
Cdrry Women Across Narro1o Plank
-Four Stories High.

Many daring rescues were made yesterday
| afternoon by fremen at a fire in the fve-story
| building at No. 26O West 125th street Although
many Of the women in the building suffered
! from shock and four firemen were overcome by
smoke no one was seriously injured. The fire
was of unknown origin. and started in the hat
| store Of the Kaufman Company. total loss
| of $4,000 was caused. The fremen battled for
more than hours with the flames and pre-
vented them from spreading above the first floor
and basement.
Smoke was first seen issuing from the rear OF
| the hat store. An alarm Immediately sent
in. For some reason those on the upper floors
paid little heed to the smoke. They were warnsd
to get out. but fingered, thinking there was lit
tie danger.
The first floor of the building is occupied by
the hat store a store of the United Cigar Stores
Company and a Frazn & Oppenheim shoe store.
The second floor is occupied by dental parlor
and the third by an ostrich feather company.
The two upper floors are fats. all occupied.
The smoke suddenly became dense and filed
the upper halls rapidly that few could get
out that way. and many escaped by the hre
escapes. But panic took possession OF the situa-
ton. The windows the fourth and fifth floors
were thrown open and women screamed for help.
Three men and one woman made their way to
the roof and were unable either 10 get back into
the house or of the roof. The crowds in the
street shouted TO them 10 try TO get back INTO
the house. but they would not leave the roof.
Captain Lawlor Of Hook and Ladder Company
Il with two OF his men went to the roof. They
had great dificulty getting through the smoke
They found the four on the roof huddled to-
gether in one corner. away from the smoke.
Captain Lawlor picked up the woman and car
ried her down through the smoke filed halls.
The two other firemen led out the three men
MIS- J. Gallagher and her daughter were on
the second floor. in the dental parlors. with
William Gallagher. manager OF the establish
ment They stopped to save some dental instru-
ments and were cut off. James Clifford. an ex-
captain Of the fire department, saw them at the
window He called 10 one Of the fremen 10 help
him and soon had a ladder UP. Captain Lawlor
and the ex-captain mounted the ladder and sent
two frenen up the stairs. The captain and Clif-
ford carried them down the ladder. They were
unconscious.
George W. Aron. manager OF shoe store at
Eo $50 West 125th street. who was standing in
.ba street saw a woman with baby in her
arms M a window on the third floor. He hurried
into the building after wrapping handkerchief
over his face. The firemen had put ladder up
10 the window and he passed the woman out TO
them Taking the baby in his arms. he himself
went down the ladder
One of the most exciting rescues was per
formed bv ROXDy ana NeuulChs VI
Engine Company 50. Three women and one
man were penned in on the fourth floor. One OF
the women. Mrs. Prapi. who had been I'll for
several weeks. was unable TO get down the fire
escane The others would not leave her. They
we're Mrs Mary and Miss Minnie Walsh and
James Walsh.
Roxby and Weddick tried 10 mount the fre
escanp They found, however. that IL had been
blocked by furniture and clothing thrown out OF
the windows They hurried into the adjoining
building and went TO the fourth floor There Is
n six-fOot space between the buildings They
carried a thick plank with them Placing II in
the window. they bridged the space. Roxby
crossed the narrow plank bridge and carried
Mrs Prapi back IN his arms The fremen then
carried the Walsh women over the narrow plank
and assisted James Walsh 10 get into the ad-
Joining building.
the streets and when Walsh was safely landed
an the adjoining building they cheered.
After the fire had been controlled Captain
Iawlor found that four of his men were missing
He learned that they had gone TO the basement
90 the building Some of his men went down
ana found the four unconscious, having been
ovsrcome py the smoke. They were carried out
and quickly revived. Two OF them were Roxby
and Weddick, who carried the women across the