New-York tribune., 1907-01-08
ALIVE BENEATH RUINS.
BURIED FIREMAN SAVED.
Supposed Victim of SUNDAYS Blaze
Entombed for a Dag.

wreck Sunday night was rescued shortly
after / o'clock this morning He was not badly
injured, and he is not expected to suffer any
I'll results from his terrible experience. He was
hurried to the Hudson Street Hospital
Like Lindsay R. Hicks the California miner,
who was buried for nearly sixteen days and re-
ceived his only nourishment through pipe
seventy feet long. Seufert received whskey.
brandy and beef tea last night and early this
morning through short rubber hose. The
cases except for the extent of time. were nearly
parallel. Both men made their presence known
bv tapping, and both helped their rescuers by
directing them where to pick and dig.
Acting Chief Binns and Chief Guerin We're the
first persons TO reach Seufert- The former
pulled him out through hole just large enough
for his body to pass DR.. Beeuwkes. Of the
Hudson Street Hospital, made hasty examina-
ton. He found that Seufert had received
slight abrasion his back and one on his left
knee; otherwise he not seriously injured.
Dr. Duncan, OF ST Gregory's Hospital. said that
he regarded Seufert's survival of the experience
miracle. he had been treated at the hos
pital only three days ago for slight curvature
of the spine and stomach trouble Fire Chap
lain Smith accompanied him TO the hospital in
the ambulance
At the hospital Seufert described his expert
ences to reporter.
Il was on the fourth floor" he said, when
heard a great crash I instinctively jumped be-
tween two large bales of paper. The whole fioor
sank. and I went down with II, but the bales
acted as protectors of me. The next thing
knew was down on the first floor entirely COW
cred with paper and rubbish. My legs were
cramped, but could use my arms. could hear
voices outside and above me. but raped and
raped for what seemed years without getting
any reply pounded on rafter but one
heard me. Then 1 rested while, and wondered
that was still alive. ! started pounding again
At last they heard me. My strength began TO
give way when knew that there was chance
Of my getting out. l was wet 20 the skin, cold
and hungry. but never gave up hope. Godl
but It was good to hear the voices of the boys
after they found me- feel ft ever now"
Seufert showed that he was still alive by
rapping on beam when he heard the workers
over his head. Fireman Decker. Deputy Chief
Guerin's driver and Fred Walker. of the Elmer
gency Corps. heard the rapping They thought
before they were merely to find two bodies and
as they were in great danger from the possi-
biiity OF more falling walls and the slipping OF
the debris. went about their work in a half
hearted spirit But when they knew that one of
the victims at least was alive they redoubled
their efforts with Joyful alacrity
Who's there?" called Decker.
Hello, boys" came back voice. feeble and
muffied but which Decker, who knew the buried
man. could recognize at Seufert's we're alive
down here"
When the news spread among the workers
and back TO the street that Seufert's voice had
been heard Henry Mills. of No. 800 President
street Brooklyn, next door neighbor of Seu-
fert. who was waiting in the crowd. expecting
TO hear that the fremans body had been dug
out. rushed forward the place where Seu-
fert's voice could be heard. His wife had sent
him there TO learn the worst. and TO tell her
so that she could break the expected conirma-
ton of Seufert's death 20 Seufert's young wife.
who had been lying i'll in her home at No 297
President street. believing her husband dead.
Mills called through the debris. but with
fear that there might have been mistake.
Who's there?"
Seufert recognized his voice, and his reply
came back, cheery:
''Hulo Harry; this is Jack.
Mills was overjoyed. He ran TO nearby drug
store. got To the telephone and called up his
wife to tell her to give the news to Mrs
Seufert
There was a sadder outcome. however. for
ex-PoIice Sergeant Campbell. uncle of Fire
man Campbell, who outside the building
awaiting to hear of the discovery of his nephew's
body He heard the news OF Seufert's discovery,
and 1t was at first supposed that Campbell was
also alive. But It developed that Campbell was
probably dead and the old ex-policeman's JOY
and hope quickly dashed down.
AS quickly possible after Seuferts voice
was heard. ambulance. with DR.. Beeuwkes,
was called from the Hudson Street Hospital
A rubber hose three feet long and half An inch
in diameter. with funnel arrangement at one
end such as is used I'm the hospitals as a stom-
ach pump. was introduced into a hole In the
debris, which the workers made, and lowered so
that Seufert could apply his mouth to it. He
asked his rescuers for a bail" and two stiff
drinks OF whiskey poured down the tube to
him. and afterward two cups of strong, hot
coffee After receiving this stimulant. Seufert
said he felt better, and could await with patience
until his got him out.
Father Rafferty,. of ST. James's Church. ami
Father Smith the Fire Department chaplain
were called to the building after Seufert's
voice heard.
In spite OF the hopes of the rescuers that they
might get the man out alive. the situation was
so bad that the priest deemed 1t fitting to hear
Seufert's confession in case the walls should
fall or the debris slip and Seufert be buried.
The west wall of the ruined building tot
tering and threatened to fall at any moment.
Had it fallen the two priests and the group of
rescuers would probably have been killed, but
they did not finch from their task.
Fire Commissl ner Lantry appeared at the
building soon after he heard that Seufert
alive and also had a talk with the fireman.
When he called down to Seufcrt the buried man
asked:
who are you?''