Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-06
Officer Burke Of Maiden
Saves a Little Girl.
Jas. Simmons Risks Life to
Save wife and Daughter.
N. MuIhoIland, Roxbury, Burned
While Saving Daughter.

Poston, Jan. o.-RiSking his life 10
save that OF :-year-old Sadie Fucker
man, Patrolman James X. Burke OF inc
Maiden police force leaped from
second-story window Of burning ten
ement house, g. Suffolk street, NAL
den, with the child in his arms late
yesterday afternoon. The child was
overcome by smoke, and the officer es-
capped with a broken right ankle.
Another notable rescue was per-
formed by James Simmons, who, when
the alarm of fire came, snatched up MS
Swear old daughter Lillian and carried
her from the burning building. He az
terward returned and saved his Wlfe,
both jumping from a secondstory Win
dow.
The fire started shortly after )
O'Clock In the downstairs tenement Of
Israel Crossman, probably from an
overheated stove. Mrs. Crossman'S H.
year-old son Charles was in the house
at the time, and he notified his moth
err, who was visiting the home of
James Simmons, who occupies the up
per tenement.
Mrs. Crosslnan found that her apart
ment was In flames. Patrolman Burke
of the local force was passing by at
the time and saw flames shooting out
of the kitchen window on the ground
floor. After having the fire alarm
sound, Burke went into the house and
succeeded in having the Crossmans re-
moved to place of safety.
He then ran upstairs to the home of
James Simmons, and on his way dis
covered 3-year-old Sadie Zuckerman
in an unconscious condition on the
stairway, she being overcome by the
smoke.
Grabbing her up in his arms. he went
into the kitchen. Here he was met by
the flames and had a difficult time,
with the child in his arms, to beat his
way through. Before he was abba to
open the window his clothes caught
fire. Finally opening 1t he jumped from
the second story to the ground
In the mean time Simmons was doing
heroic work. He succeeded in getting
his 3-year-old daughter Lillian to a
place of safety.
Returning to the burning tenement he
reached his wife. who was nearly over.
come by the flames in the dining room Of
the house. He raised up Il window and
she Jumped to the ground. He followed
Both escaped injury. but Simmons was
burned about the head.
Before the arrival of the fire,oen the
IRE had gained considerable Roadway
but in about an hour was under control
me house was ruined by the flames
and the loss will exceed 5000. The fur
nftnfe and pianos in the Crossman and
Simmons homes were DESTROYED. the fire
Wining out everything. The loss on the
household effects of the Simmons and the
Crosslnans will exceed 1880 each.
Patrolman Burke was taken to his
home, Clinton street, where his frac.
tured ankle was dressed by DR.. Plummer
lie modestly refused to say anything
about the affair. His face and hands
were burned. and it will be some time
before he will be able to perform any
work.
James Simmons. who also rished his
life to save his wife and daughter, In
speaking to n reporter seid: TT was a
difficult task to fight my way through to
reach my daughter Lillian and my wife
and 1 hope that never again will I wit.
ness such terrible night"
>'SAc'AAiu'i ouTRe IS one OIL
the most efficient officers on the Maiden
force He was appointed to duty ove. Il
years ago and has an excellent record
He is married and has several children
He resides at Clinton street
With her body covered with a mass O,
burns. little Mary Mulholland, Il years
OLD. of 60 Terrace street. Roxbury, wa.
placed upon the dangerous list at the CITY
hospital yesterday afternoon, after hay.
ing been saved from a fearful death BY
her father. Michael Mulholland.
While small chances are held out 70,
the recovery of the girl by the hospital
authorities. 1t is plainly evident that nc
more heroic attempt at rescue could be
made than that attempted by the father
IRE young girl. it seems. was working
about the stove in tho kitchen, and from
Some unaccountable cause her clothing
caught fire.
Rushing from the kitchen into the front
room, with her arms outstretched and he,
clothing ablaze. her cries aroused he,
father. WHO was asleep
Jumping nr. he grasped his overcoa,
and managed to put out the fire, after
Sc
varely burned.
A passerby, hearing the commotion. al
once notified the police. who sent the un.
conscious girl to the hospital
The father, despite the burns that he
received. refused to be treated at the
hospital. saying that it was his duty to
be at his home when his wife should ar
rive. so that he himself might acquain,
her with the facts.
When later told of the affair by the
weeping father. the mother of the cir,
swooned and the father was helpless to
aid her with his burned and swollen
hands.
Neighbors living or the floors above
were quick to respond to the cries 70,
assistance Of the grieving parent and die
what they could to comfort the couple.