The Washington times., 1908-02-14
StubbOrnFlameSCauSe
DeSertiOn of New
York Homes.
Six Carried to Hospital
Suffering From
Injuries.

NEW YORK, Feb 1+-Deputy FLe
Chief Charles Kruger was drowned
early today in sax feet of water the de-
partment had poured into the subceuar
OF Fischer & Company's blazing hve-
story factory at 2i7 Canal street
Fireman Tierney and i've others we're
caught IN back-draught and painfully
Injured, and thirty other members Of
the department were overcome by. smoke.
The use Of oxygen was necessary 10
revive them.
After the fire had spread from the
minor factory 10 the adjoining building
occupied By the Archer Barber Sflnr,iy
company Kruger and his driver. Andrew
HergenrOther, descended into the fac
tory cellar TO look after the gas conner-
t!ons, ana IL was while feeling mis- wav
through the darkness that The former
Ieii through a trap door into the sub
cellar.
Attempts to Rescue Chief.
HergeurOther tried TO save him Inn.
Kruger was so heavy that the driver
could not lift him through the small
opening and when help reached them
il was too late.
Fire Chief Croker one OF Kru-er.
closest friends, knelt by the latter's
side IN the street while doctors str7ye
70 revive him. and burst into uncon-
Jrollable grief when told he vsas INST
medical aid.
Inmates of the adjoi ing Harry How
ara Hotel and OF the neighborinE houses
IN Canal. Hester. and Mulberry streetr
were driven cut by the fire. which
threatened for q time to sweep the en-
tire block. The Church Of the Most
Precious Blood was thrown open 10 the
refugees. The IRE loss was about
$75.G GO.
Kruger lost his life through his de-
YouOl 70 duty Chief Croker. realizing
he danger Of gas explosion, had or
deTed the men 10 Tight the fire from out
side the building Kruger believed bet
ever, and asked permission 10 lead si1
Iaen into the cellar.
Send Back Followers.
Volunteers were easily found. but on
entering the Eas-flIed cellar the deputv
chief sent all his followers except Lis
driver back. The danger Of an ex-
plOsion rendered il dangerous to carry
a lantern and, in the darkness, IL was
impossible TO see the open trap door.
Krugefs long absence alarmed the
fiTemen. and rescuCrs entered the cellar
after them. The gas was by this time
so thick thai they began TO fail uncon-
scious at once, and It was necessary 10
send others in TO rescue them At one
tine thirty men lay unconscious in the
cellar.
The gas poured through a large Ulua
and as fast as the men reached the eel
| lar they dropped Unconscious bodies
were piled over one another
Firemen Desert Engines.
Firemen deserted their engines and
rushed 10 the aid of their comrades,
and after most daring work all those
unconscious had been carried out The
men were laid IN a row on the street
and surgeons from St Gregory's Hos
pitaI worked over them for some time.
Lieut.. Reuben McGrath. Timothy
O'DonOhue. Richard Jacobs. Henry
/ Fisher. Frederick hritZler. ard Ter
renee McGrath were in &. bad way Trcu1
the effects Of their fall and gas, and
We're sent to the hospital.
After a while the gas was turned OF.
and q fireman staggered out OF the Gel
lar with the body Of Chief Kruger over
his shoulder The surgeons worked
over him for some time. and finally an
nounceG that he was dead.
Kruger was known as q man who had
absolutely no fear His dissipation was
his work. He seldom toOlz day of
and then he hung around the firehOuse
| His young wife, with two children BY
his first marriage live at Freeport,
/ L. !.
kruger was acting chief OF the de-
paTtment during the Baltimore fire His
| efforts resulted IN checking that great
I cnuf7a era fion