The Washington times., 1908-07-05

OIL-SOAKED RAGS
FEED THE FLAMES
Two Families Overcome, and Wo-
men and Children Are Car
ried Through Smoke.

NEW YORK, July T. - Staggering
through smoke-hlled halls and down fire
escapes. with the flames pouring from
the windows, within a few feet Of the
lower landing, five hundred persons in
scanty night attire were driven TO the
street early today, when Two incea-
diary fires were started in adjoining
double tenements in South Second
street, Williamsburg.
The first fire was started in the base
ment OF a six-story house at % and
233. A few minutes later a second blaze
was discovered on the second flOO- Of
81 and 229. Both fires wer- started with
Oil-soaked rags, and a large quantity Of
kerosene was poured on the woodwork
and rafters nearby. More than a score
OF persons were carried out unconscious
In the first fire the incendiaries had
started the blaze in a store room in the
cellar. Before the flames were discov-
cred they had eaten along the rafters.
and tongues Of hre were licking the
lower steps Of the hre-escape ladders
In the rear.
Two FaD1ilies Overcome.
The shouts OF those on the lower
floors soon aroused all the tenants and
a rush for the fre-escape was rsade
The first to start down reached the
courtyard in the rear IN safety. but the
heat soon became too great for the
later ones and they were forced %
staEger through the hall. by that time
filled with smoke and 10 the street The
hremen put up ladders and those living
IN the front Of the house were taken
20 safety BY this means.
While the fire was at it's height. the
hremen Of Engine Company No 121
which was the first TO arrive after the
alarm had been scent in. found two
families overcome by smoke on thu
first floor They were carried To thu
street and after being revived gave
their names as Mr.. and Mrs Samue
Levine. and their three children, Clara
eight; Julia three. and Alexander. one
Others rescued from the first foo
/ were Mr.. and Mrs John POkOrky, Wit
! took care Of the house
Women Carried Out.
/ Several women and children were car
/ ried from the upper floor by the fire
men IN a semi-cOnsCious condition. bu
were soon revived by the ambulanc
]
control they spread to the frst floor an
did damage estimated at 3 COO
| Tenements in the adjoining house, ais
a siX-story tenement, were aroused b
their neighbors' cries and watched IN
work Of rescuing from their window:
The smoke. which filled their room.
J they thought came from the other dr
until It was discovered their own hOus
was ablaze.
/ The incendiaries who had started n
first fire had taken advantage OF the -
element following and gone 10 the Sc,
ond floor OF 227 and 229. There the
placed oil-soaked rags and waste again
the doors and stairs, and then pOure
/ kerosene along the han and on Il
wainscoting. The first that was know
OF this fire was when John PeichOTk
who lives in a rear apartment, saw Il
flames
Escape Cut Of.
As escape by way Of the stairs "
soon cut of. the tenants rushed 10 q
front windows and were aided 10 q
street by fremen. Peichorko, his VII
and their six children. Ida, Andres
Robert. Mary. James, and Jacob. ran
=, ing in age from four TO twenty-Ol
years, were all overcome by smoke b
fore they could be rescued by the hr
men.
Mr.. and Mrs Henry OsterweH a
their eight children, and Mr. and Nj
VI. MIchaels and their four cnildr
D were also found unconscious from {
! fumes OF the second floor The FAM
. | Of Michael Manhelmer. consisting OF
: ! husband. his wife. and their two en-
I | dren-Evelyn. age three. and Leon, n
| we're found on the third floor landir
q overcome by the smoke, and were ca
=, ried to the street by the men OF Engi
; Company No III. All were treated
o ! ambulance surgeons and refused 70
e 70 the hospital