The San Francisco call., 1908-04-28
Many Near Death When
Boy Starts Fire
Fireman's Son Throws Match
Into THrpenfine to See
Engines Put Out Blaze

Fire replete. with thrilling rescues Of
women and helpless old people was
caused yesterday afternoon when 6 year
old Emmett RoebiIng. whose father,
William A. Roebling, Is operator for
Fire Chief Shaughaessy, tossed a burn
ing match into a dish of turpentine left
by painters in the barber shop of VIII
lam Jensen at 1870 Ellis street and
dashed out. shouting gleefully, Ito see
papa come" -.
I Thrilled, boylike, at the prospect Of
the galloping horses and the Changing.
smoke breathing fire engines. he forgot
his small playmate, 6 year old Marga-
ret Kiicoran-of 1866, Ellis street, and
she was saved from burning to death as
the flames played around her tiny. skirts
only by the ready courage of Police
Sergeant John Morrissey. who leaped
through the spreading ring of fire and
carried her to safety. 1t was only the
first of "a series of three other rescues
in quick succession. every one of such
nature as to move the big crowd that
quickly jammed the street, to-spontane-
Gus cheering, stirred deeply by the
bravery of fremen and police.
BOY LEFT ON GUARD
Jensen, the owner OF the barber shop.
had left It for a moment and gave ssma II
Emmett -Roebling 5 cents to- watch
things until he came back. In some
manner the yeungster got heId5of some
matches and. aided by the .carelessness
OF the painters, started a roaring con-
fiagration, 8 thesturpentine caught fire
with. almost explosive violence
Overhead insthe two story. roening Z
house above the barber shop lived Mrs
Maud Riehl, her fatherSand lnother; Mr.
and Mars. l. PlaHondon. her sister. Mar
jorie Plamopdon, aged 10. and her son
by a former marriag ge. IL year old
James. Farmer. With such rapidity fed
by the inflamuable painters material.
did fire leap upward that. their escape
was all but cut OF Saving none. OF
their effects. they ran down the stair
way, choking in Volumes OF thick
smoke Following them was Mrs. NJ
Dougnerty aud Mrs NJ Morse owner OF
the property, with her father and
mother. 81
The minute she was safe herself Mrs
Dougherty became historical and called
the police to save something under.
her pillow. She meant her purse with
all the money she had, but Policeman
Tom O'Connor. in plain clothes, under
stood her to say "her, baby" and with
out word he disappeared through the
fire wreathed doorway. He was no
sooner outsof sight than Mrs. Riehl sud-
denly remembered '.Gyp." her pet fox
room in the scurry to escape. Tearing
herself from those on the sidewalk.
Mrs Riehl. too. ran back into the burn
ing building.
SAVES WOMAN AND DOG
Cropping through the smoke. O'Cennor
had found the purse under the pillow.
when he came across Mrs. Riehl lying
on the floor nearly unconscious after
having tried vain1y to get out by the
rear. with the whimpering dog under
her arm. Lifting the two and tucktng
them under his own strong arms. OF Con-
nor caught his breath. closed his eyes
and darted down the stairway with his
burden. He reached the sidewalk safe
ly. His hair was singed of and he was
severely scorched about the face, Mrs
Riehl was severely but, not seriously
burned. The dog was unhurt.
Next door the fire had already jumped
Continued on Page 4, Column !.