Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-24
FIREMAN A REAL HERO
Member of Truck Company e.
fects Thrilling Rescue.
SAVES WOMAN FROM DEATH
Poises on Swinging Ladder and
Dives Through Flames.
|SUSTAINS PAINFUL BURNS
Early Morning Confagration in New
York City Fraught With
Excitement.
SAVES WOMAN FROM DEATH
AIMS PAINFUL BURNS


ed to and fro like giant pendulum. him
self enveloped in flames and the woman
swung across his shoulders all ablaze
Fireman Daniel Mullen effected a rescue
this morning from the fifth floor of a
burning apartment house at 1.2 West
121th street that is likely to go down in
the annals of the municipality as one that
has never been surpassed in the history
Of the fire department. The roar OF
praise from the crowd that witnessed the
feat was heard for blocks above the
noise Of the engines and the wild shrieks
of excited tenants fleeing in panic to the
street.
There was one death in the fire, but
had it not been for the bravery of men
like Mullen there would have been many
others.
The dead man is supposed to be Daniel
Frizzell. thirty-five years old, an cleo
trician, who lived on the top floor.
The injured are Mrs. Alice LOCKER,
forty-f1ve, who occupied apartments on
the top floor. burned from head to foot.
Charles LOCKER. son of Mrs LOCKER. five
years old, burns about the head face
and arms.
Daniel Mullen. the fireman. burned
about the head and face.
Ten Families in Building.
Ten families occupied apartments in the
building at No. 122. In the basemen,
lived the janitor, Thomas Brennan and
his family. About 2:45 o'clock Brennan
was awakened by a smell of smoke and
cracking of flames. The blaze, which haG
started either on the first floor or in the
basement, had already found it's way tc
the air shaft and dumb-waiter shaft
Brennan got his own family out. and ther
called to some passing citizens to sound
the alarm, after which he ran through the
building, arousing the tenants. The fame.
gained headway SO rapidly that ever
those who lived on the lower floors es
capped with difficulty, and many OF those
In the upper stories had TO depend on tn.
fifemen to save them. There were many
rescues of the kind that make the firemer
popular heroes, but Mul!ens feat was eX
traordinary.
Mrs. Lockers rooms were entirely CT
off from the stairways by flames, and hel
two sons were unable to reach her. They
descended by the rear fire escape. one be
ing SO severely burned that lie had to b
taken to hospital. Mrs. LOCKER ran tC
front window. where she stood scream
ing.
The man who had turned in the alarm
for the engines had failed to do mere thar
open the alarm box signal door. He hat
not turned the crank on the inside. The
engines did not come. but neighbOrs cam'
from the houses on all sides and stoo,
watching the frantic woman in the fifth
story window.
Mullen Arrives on Scene.
When the alarm was given at last, hool
and ladder company No. Is came gal
Looping up. On the truck was Mullen, {
fireman who has not been in the service
long.
He is an athletic. muscular fellow. anC
his comrades say he hasn't met any
thing of which he Is afraid up to this
time
window where Mrs. LOCKER stood. The
flames were all about her. and now and
again her hair which was long and
hanging loose, caught fire. The tiremer
acted quickly. They brought forth ar
extension ladder and stood at the front
of the house. AS they began to unscreW
the extension the raised ladder wavered
and the flames from the windows
scorched it.
Then Mullen shot from a crowd Of his
companions. No one gave him orders
He acted on his own Initiative. He
sion. The ladder swayed and more thar
once Mullen seemed enveloped in flames
but he covered his face with loose enc
OF his coat and kept on. When the lad
der was in place ii was at a window ter
feet removed from where the fire-impris
Oned woman was screaming. Out OF tbs
window flames and smoke were pouring
Dives Into Window.
Mullen dived into the window like q
swimmer into water just Mrs. Lookel
with a piercing scream fell back uncon-
sc.ous.
A moment later Mullen appeared will
Mrs. LOCKER in his arms and his Owl
coat wrapped about her. He CARRIED he
TO the top of the ladder. smothering GU
The flames in her night clothing and IL
her hair with his bare hands. He strad
dled the outer edge OF the ladder. in th'
way all firemen are taught, and began nj!
descent.
He came through the flames. shooting
from the fourth story window, and III
was still beating the fire about the clothe:
and hair of the woman in his arms. Ther
he slid through the flames from the thire
story. then to the second and then Et
landed. still using his free hand to ex
tinguish the fire.
Men crowded about him and wanted t(
shake his hand now blistered and black
His clothes were almost burned from hi:
body.
Goes to Hospital.
Mrs LOCKER was unconscious. She wa:
nut into an ambulance and DIR. Bennett
insisted on taking Mullen. too Muller
aid he would be all right soon, and wher
le was bandaged up left for quarters
A second ambulance brought Charles
LOCKER.
When the firemen could enter the build.
ing they found the body OF II man burned
edly the body of Daniel FriZZel a nephew
II Mrs.. LOCKER.
The damage to the building was about
$4,000.
Voliva Tries to Restore Zion.