The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-01
TENEMENTS FIRE KILLS NINE
tNCENDIARY BLAZE PROBABLY
STARTED BY BLACKM Alters.
More Than q Score We're Injured and Half
q Hundred Rescued Mothers Threw
Children From Windows-F1ve story
Tenement Sheltered More Than 100.

Nine persons were killed and more
than a score injured at an %incendiary
fire at 81 Spring street at 2;30 O'Clock yes
terday morning. Many owe their lives
to the efforts Of the fremen and police,
who made at least half a hundred rescues.
There were over a hundred persons asleep
in the five story tenement house at The
time the fire was discovered. The police
believe that blackmaiIers who had failed
to get money from Joseph Bruck, one of
whose string Of grocery stores was on the
ground floor. kindled the fire. Several
oil cans were found in the Railways. and
because Of the rapid spread OF the fire
there was no doubt as to its origin.
Six of the nine killed were children.
The names Of the dead we're Luigi Bellez-
ria, I years; Stefano Bellezzia. 2 years:
Antoinette Carioro, 5 years; Matteo Cha
pima. 80 years. laborer; Frank de Bonis.
two years; Antoinette de Bonis, Z years:
Domenico Puzzelli. % years, laborer:
Concettina P%iccina. 20 years. and Camelia
Carreri, 1 year old, who died after being
taken to hospital.
Those most seriously injured are Sal
vatore Carreri, IS years. laborer. ribs
fractured and injured internally, and
Mrs. Jamima Stab. so years, burned about
the face, will lose one eye.
Most Of the fatalities and injuries were
among those persons who lived on the
third and fourth floors and whose means
OF escape were cut of by the fire. which
gained great Roadway on the lower floors
before it was discovered. Two children
were killed by their own mothers, who in
their excitement threw them into the
street before the fremen could spread
their nets. Only one member of the De
Bonis family, on the fourth floor. escaped
live. and the Gentilli family, on the same
floor. had very narrow escapes. all being
overcome and taken from the building
unconscious. Those who got out Of the
building alive did 70 from the front and
rear fire escapes There was no getting
away owe the roof to adjoining buildings
because the building the fire was in stood
three stories above it's neighbors.
The fire was seen first by Policeman
Fhrens nj the Mulberry street station
and he pulled the alarm at the corner
Of Spring and Mott streets, Then he
went to the police station and called out
the reserves. 1t took less than three
minutes, but the fire had gained great
Roadway in that time, and when the po-
licemen arrived they found the entrance
blocked. The tenants had been aroused
and were swarming on to .he fire ESCAPES.
the men not waiting to give the women
and children a chance.
Going to the yard in the rear SerGt.
O'Reardon and Patroln'an Kirk found
Mrs. Maria Belez2ia trying to get down
from the third floor with her three months
old baby. She WAS taken down and
then her husband was rescued from the
FIRE ESCAPE balcony. where in his excite.
n,ent he had caught his foot and could
not get away. After that rescues came
so fast that there was no keeping track
OF them.
Patrick Garghan Of Truck . was the
first fireman to enter the building. He
got in a fourth noor window by
OF a ladder and there. overcome by smoke.
he found the entire Gentilli family. Tho
fire was under control coon after the I'M
conscious ones were found and after the
fire was out they were taken down by
the stairway.
Policeman Brossner OF the Mulberry
street station, while irving to calm women
on a from: fire escape, saw a woman iift
her baby az though she were about To
throw il into the street. He H.otioned
10 her not to do 80, but the woman dropped
the child and Brosser, as best he could,
extended his arms and broke the child's
fall. Other women. seeing that the child
had not been killed. threw their babies
down, until five had been thrown down.
When Rrossner let tw OF them go through
his arms tire women realized that il was
dangerous business and uuit tossing
their children to the street.
After the fire was out the firenlen got
into the roons that had been occupied
t.y the DeRonis family. All were dead
except one, who was overcome by smoke
and taken TO st. Vincent's Hospital.
Only one alarm was sent in. Tho
money loss at the fire will not exceed
sto pnO