New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-26
LEAP TO STREET ABLAZE
AFTER BIG EXPLOSION
Four Men Injured When Burning
Chemicals Force Them
from Windows.
HORSE BLANKET AS LIFE NET
Staircase Falls with Firemen Co
ing TO Rescue, and One Is
Picked Up Unconscious
Alarm Came Late.

Four tenants in building were in
jured by jumping and a fireman was
hurt by a falling staircase in a fire at
No. 235 Fourth avenue shortly after )
o'clock last night. one Of the injured
men probably will not recover.
The fire started in a dyeing. establish
ment run by Henry verga in the rear
Of the building on the third floor. and
the chemicals soon caused II 10 spread
70 the front OF the loft, which was occu-
pied by Hyman Barber fur dealer.
Verga and his errand boy. Morris
Berlds, Of No. 90 East Sth street were
in the room when the fire started, and
both We're injured by an explosion. Bar
Der and Nathan Magelefski. a helper. Of
No. 20 Norfolk street. were in the front
Of the building on the same floor, ani
Magelefsh was badly burned.
Barber attracted the attention OF Pa
trolman Dempsey. Of the East 22d street
police station. where he climbed out on
the window sill with his clothing ablaze.
He fastened a short rope TO the window
and slid down 70 the second floor lacer-
ating his hands While he dangled there
Dempsey and Daniel Brown. Of No. 223
East 124th street. and Thomas Tuohy, a
cabman. Of Corona Long Island. made
a life net" from Tuohy's horse blanket
and caught him as he dropped.
Magelefsh then staggered 10 the same
window and toppled into the street, car
rying a sign on the front Of the building
with him. His clothing was atiame and
he was unconscious when he was
picked up.
Before the blanket could be stretched
again. Berkis crawled out on the sill OF
the same window and plunged 10 the
street. He is a light youngster and the
rescuers were able TO eaten him in their
arms. His clothing was ablaze from the
chemicals.
Tuobv and Brown then ran with
Denpsev 10 the 18th street side Of the
building and were getting ready to
rescue Verga with a ladder when he
iumped. He struck the sidewalk and
his left leg was broken. He was badly
burned on the face and body and is
nov in Bellevue Hospital where the sur
peons say there is little hope for his
recovery.
While Dempsey and his assistants
we're trying to rescue the occupants Of
the building they shouted continuously
for some one in the crowd 70 send in an
alarm Of fire. but no alarm was sounded
until Brown finished his part OF the res
cuing and sent # in himself.
The men OF Engine Company IA, who
arrived first. started up the stairs Of
the building. and had reached the sec
ond landing when the supports gave way
and they all fell TO the lower floor. Fire
man Arthur Monsees was found uncon-
scious after the crash and was taken to
New York Hospital.
The other injured persons were carried
into the building which now occupies the
site of the Parker Building. which was
burned a few years ago, and there at
tended by Or. Brundage. OF Bellevue
HosnitaI and Or. Orin, Of the New York
Hospital
Perks had severe burns Of the body
and was taken 20 Bellevue in serious
condition. Barber had his wounds
dressed and went home and Magalefsh
was taken to the New York Hospital
suffering from burns on the face. arms
and back. His condition is also serious
Traffic on the Fourth avenue surface
line was blocked for nearly an hour.
After the fire it was found that Tuohy's
hsarke, which had served so we'll as
life net" had been stolen.