New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-25
MOTHER AND BABIES
BURNED TO DEATH
Woman Throws Kerosene on Fire
to Accelerate Cooking of
Husbands Dinner.
BUSHES TO STREET ABLAZE
Carries 8-Months- Old Boy with
Her and Leaves Girl Burning
in Crib-Father Finds
Only Shell of Home.

In her haste TO have the evening meal
ready when her husband Benedetto
came home from work last night, Mrs.
Pasqualina Letizia threw some kero-
sene on the smouldering fire in the
kitchen range. An explosion followed
which resulted in the almost immediate
death Of her three-year- daughter
Jennie, and caused injuries from which
the mother and her infant son, Giovan-
nj. eight months old, died a few hours
later.
The explosion also set fire 10 the
apartment which is on the ground floor
of the six story tenement house at No
us East 10th street. and blew out
big plate glass window.
The apartment is divided into two
parts, the rear being used for living pur-
poses and the front as a confectionery
and fruit store. Mrs. Letizia attended
away painting in the neighborhood. and
in order to do this she always kept her
three children with her in the rear OF
the store, bringing them upstairs TO the
third floor. where they have three rooms,
TO sleep a night.
The two younger children were sleep
ing in crib in the back of the store
when the accident occurred. The eldest,
Vincenzo, four years old. was playing
in the street. The explosion set the
q. H. ii
was hurled on the crib where the chill
dren lay in each others arms.
Rescue Came Too Late.
Mrs. Letizia ran to the crib and. seiz-
Ing the boy, ran into the street. the
clothes of both ablaze from head TO feet
Eugenio Bizarre. who was standing I'm
the door Of his wine shop opposite. re-
moved a blanket from horse that stood
near and wrapped IL around the woman
and child. extinguishing the flames.
Save Jennie!" gasped the mother
He's In the little bed in the back Of the
store"
BY this time Patrolmen O'Sullivan
Gossberger and Merckle, Of the East
104th street station. arrived. and while
Bizarre was attending 10 the mother
and child Gossberger turned In an alarm
Of fire and sent i'm hurry call for three
ambulances. O'Sullivan and Merckle ran
into the burning store ard rescued Jcn-
ME, who was still alive. Ambulances
from the Harlem. the Reception and the
Presbyterian Hospital answered the call
The little girl died while pr. Eaton. Of
the Reception Hospital. was bending
over her.
The mother. who had become uncon-
scious. was taken 70 the Harlem Hospi
tai. where she died, but at the sugges-
ton Of a physician the infant which had
been rescued By the mother was left
with it's uncle. " died three hours after
the explosion.
Finds Burned Shell OF Home.
Two hours after the accident the
father came home. He looked surprised
when he saw the front window Of the
little store blown out and the charred
remnants of his children's crib i'm the
gutter. "Pasqualina" he cried. Where
Is my wife? Where are my children?'
Weeping aloud. he ran upstairs To IN"
little apartment where he and his wife
had lived the five years of their married
life. When he opened the door he fell
to the floor in a faint.
The father was revived ana partly
comforted Then he was allowed 10 see
the body Of his little daughter, whose
face had escaped the flames. From the
eoor to the ceiling. Immediately behind
the little body, was a canvas, covering
the wall, on which was depicted angels
Tearing a child aloft.
When he was led To another room by
his brother ne was told that his wife