The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-11-09
new YORK F|REMEN MAKE
MANY BRAVE RESCUES

New York, Nov. 9.--One woman is
dead. man is I'm a hospital suffering
from severe burns, two thousand per-
sons fed from their homes I'm panic and
thousands more passed sleepless
night, as a result of a series OF in
cendiary fires in the two blocks bound
ed by Sixtieth and Sixty y-first and CO.
lumbus and West End early to-
day.
Scores OF persons whose lives were
endangered were rescued by firemen.
Many Of the rescues were of a high
ly sensational order and were
witnessed by thousands VINO crowded
the streets around the burning build
ings. In all there were five fires
every one of them incendiary between
midnight and o'clock this morn
ing.
Mrs. Caroline Swaine, 20 years old. She
lived at 107 West Sixtieth street ad-
joining one OF the buildings which was
fired She died OF heart failure, induced
by fright.
Adrian Tompkins. 40 years old, Of
ITO West SiXtieth street, is in hos
pital with his hands and feet severely
burned as a result OF climbing down
a red hot fire escape. He is i'm a serious
condition.
The rapidly succeeding fires. the crowds
Of evicted tenants. and the terrifying ru-
mors spread through the neighborhood
with the constant appearance and reap
pearance OF tho fire engines. and the big
squad of police raised the people through
out the vicinity to a high pitch Of excite
ment which did not lessen until daylight
brought a measure of assurance that the
incendiarism was stopped for while.
- The excitement spread even To Broad
way and i'm the Marie Antoinette Anso-
a. Dali sT,g, II.
hotels I'm the neighborhood OF Lincoln
Square, the guests We're aroused by the
contagion Of fear and many remained UP
for the rest of the morning. discussing tho
situation. In the St Paul hotel at the
southeast corner Of 6lst street and Co
lumbus avenue and the Hotel Hudson al
62d street. both close 90 the fires. all the
guests were aroused and few slept any
more.
All the houses where the fires occurred
were fiat houses. Three OF them were oc-
cupied by whites and two 10y negroes.
Most OF the tenants were in bed when
the fire broke out and escaped TO tho
streets in the scantiest clothing.
The first fire was in a dve-story
tenement house at 105 West SiXtieth
street, occupied-by five families. all of
which escaped. Mrs. Caroline Swaine.
the woman whose death was induced
by fright I'm the adjoining house, had
been taken by her daughter to win
dow i'm preparation for flight when she
collapsed and died
The fremen were still fghting that
FIRE when the second blaze began at
1871 West SiNtieth street, in lot of
rubbish In the basement. All the ten
ants escaped,
At the third fire. at 21S West Sixtieth
street there were several narrow es-
capes and daring rescues OF tho tenants.
An hour later the fourth fire was dis
covered a block north at 249 West
Sixty-frst street. IL was quickly eX-
tinguished.
The NTH and worst OF tho fires was
discovered at 110 West SiXty-nrst street
at n m while the street was still
thronged with frightened people There
were 20 apartments In the building and
the escape OF the occupants OF the up
per floors was cut OF by blaze in the
lower hall.
The tenants were 50 dazed that they
were I'm danger OF losing their lives when
policemen and fremen went up on the
fire escapes and brought them down.
Adrian Tompkins. who lived on the top
feer- fingered so long that he was pain
fully burned while climbing down tho
fire escape.
In each case the nremen quickly stop
ped the progress Of tho flames. The loss
was about $4,000
Frank Morris OF Boston vaudeville
performer. was arrested on suspicion Of
setting the fires. The police allege that In