The Detroit times., 1910-04-19
SIX FAMILIES
HOMELESS BY FIRE
Mysterious Midnight Blaze Damages
House and Flat on Wilkins-st-
Several Have Narrow Escape.

There Is much muttering and shak-
ing of heads among group of home
less Hebrews on Wilkins-st.. who bare
~ escaped with their lives from
mysterious blaze which almost de-
stroyed their homes, shortly after mid
night, Monday.
The fire originated In the attic OF
a frame house al No. 1873 Wilkins-st.,
owned by Jacob Ostrowski, who, with
fis wife, resides In the front portion.
while Reuben Hurewitz. his wife and
four children live in the rear.
The flames leaped across TO the
four-apartment frame building AT No.
143 Wilkins-st, owned by Max VAIN,
and occupied by Vain. Nathan Rich
mond. Louis Weiner, and Sam Captain,
and their families.
Ostrowski was not to be round,
Tuesday morning, but the heads or
the other families were gathered In
Wains little grocery store, built on
the front OF his four-apartment dwell
ing. They shook their heads. shrugged
their shoulders, and rolled their eyes
when asked how the fire started.
The attic of Ostrowski's house
restles close beside the rear windows
o. Nathan Richmond's second-fioo"
apartments at No. l43. For several
rigl<s, recently. Mrs. Richmond had
dreamed of being in a fire, and had
been awakened. with a start. by the
fancied sounds OF fire engine bells.
Shortly after midnight, The heard
the cracking OF flames, and felt sure
that bright, lurid glare was entering
her bedroom. For moment she
thought II was a continuation OF her
persistent dream. Then she realized
that the whole top OF Ostrowski's
house was sheet OF flames, and thai
the blaze was eating its way into her
own home She rushed from ner bed,
screaming. and awakened her husband
and three daughters, Bertha, Bessie
ard Freda. BY this time the apart
ment was In flames. but Bertha ran
through the kitchen. and Founded
Justify on the adjoining door OF the
Captain apartment, where Capian, his
wife and two children were sleeping.
The families downstairs we're also
awakened.
Meanwhile, Reuben HurewitZ at No.
1879 wilkins heard the cracking Of
flames, and saw showers Of sparks
drop from the blazing attic, past the
windows of his home.
Hurewitz awakened his wife and
four children. and then rushed TO the
door of Ostrowskis apartments, and
beat on the door.
II don't know whether they were up
or not" said Hurewitz. but | didn't
want them to be burned
Members of the Hurewitz family
stopped in a frenzied effort to gather
a few belongings. when William Jack
son, a bartender for F. r. Burghardt.
at Wilkins and st. Antoine-sts.,
noticed the flames as he was passing
b., and rushed into the house. carry
ing all of the children from the blaz-
ing building. Then he made his way
upstairs to the Caplan home. and re-
reated his act of rescue. The Rich
mond family made its way to safety,
and Mr.. and Mrs. Weiner were arous-
ed by their fleeing neighbors, and also
escaped. -
The loss will probably not exceed
$4,000, with Max Vain the heaviest
loser with damage OF about $4,000
10 his house and household effects.
About $4,000 will cover the loss at
No. 1879, and the rest OF the damage
was to household effects OF the four
families In No. 143
None OF the places are habitable,
and the heads OF the households were
forced to look for temporary rooms for
their families.