Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-07-29
DIE
IN CRASH Of
BUILDING
EXPLOSION WRECKS NEW
YORK TENEMENT HOUSE
Bodies of Victims Buried in
Vast Pile of Glowing Ashes,
Impossible to Ascertain the
Number of Dead,
IBy Morning journal special Leased wireI


New York, July 2S-An explosion
accompanied by fire shattered an East
side tenement late tonight. and with
the crumbling walls at least fourteen
persons went down TO death. while
twice as many were probably fatally
injured. Fourteen bodies have been
recovered from the ruins.
The wrecked building was at 224
Christie street where six-story tene-
ment rose over the grocery basement
An explosion, yet unaccounted for
tore out the front OF the building
and the fire that followed caught the
twenty families, numbering 100 per-
sons. while most Of them were sound
asleep Not until the ashes have
cooled Will il be possible TO recover
the bodies OF the dead
OF the injured many jumped from
the windows, others We're caught by
falling timbers, many half suffocated
by smoke were dragged from tho hall
ways while others received wounds
during the panic and fight among
each other for an exit.
The tenement was occupied chiefly
by Italians. \ passerby was attracted
by the explosion. which apparently
occurred Ia the basement
Wild Panic Follows Explosion.
As he turned toward the building !
the Whole front, with its flimsy fire /
escapes. fell into the streeteand from /
the sagging floors a score OF half !
awakened persons dropped into the /
street, Many OF these We're badly |
hurt but they proved 10 be the more /
fortunate of the tenants. for In an
other moment the building was wrap
Il FFs fIssa 81 H.tfss H.f
sons burning TO death rent the air
In dhe wild panic that followed I
many received mortal injuries. The
police and firemen who early reached |
the scene, attempted TO take the ten- I
ants from the side and rear wia0ows
hut the few who were free TO act did /
not wait for assistance but jumped
into the streets. Several who sought
escape by rear stairway through the
fire 10 other escapes. but more fell,
overcome in the Railways, TO be drag
yed out insensible.
Victims women and Children.
or he dead and dying a large part
ire women and children. In the
scramble for an exit and safety, the
stronger in most cases survived.
The fire however, was not without
Is acts of heroism.
Heroic Work of Fireman.
when fire patrol No. T arrived upon
he scene. Captain Albert Johnson saw
low he could save some. In sixth
tory window there were hanging "A
.roup of persons, among whom were ,
many children. just across from them /
vas the window on the sixth floor of {
he tenement adjoining
Accompanied by Detective Connors [
Johnson ran TO the top floor There y
vas a small ledge just below the win 9
oW. and on this the captain took his !
tand with Connors behind him. hold
ne him Reaching as far as he could, =
ohnson could just touch the hands 4
( Tomas Gainzeno. who. with his n
hree children and his wife. had fled a
D the window The man was the n
rst saved. The others followed In g
apid succession. LEI
After the family had been saved. s.
he window was cleared for the APP o
roach Of Tereza Coma and her baby
ho were also pulled across fhe gulf
BY this time the entire ucighbor-
God was a lurid glare from the mass
{ fire which, sweeping up stairs, had
cached and burst through the roof
he roar OF the flames was dcafenng
nd the scorching heat drove the
orkers away from the building after
My few seconds of bilstering work.
From the streets around the build
g there came continual chorus Of
roans and screams from those who.
lving been caught when tho blaze 1
arted. had been able 90 escape with
Ieir lives only Mothers called Co
iildren, and little babies ran 10 and
~ under the feet Of the big fire
lrses. The Flames we're not con-
oiled until the building was prac-
'ally in ashes when the search for
e dead began
Fourteen bodies. most 90 them n
irned beyond recognition. we're re-
.g4raH