Evening journal., 1914-02-02
FIRE STARTING
in SYNAGOGUE
ROUTS FAMILIES
Blaze Originating IN Aheveth
CheSed Sanctuary De-
StrOyS Structure
WOMEN AND GILL rem
In TENEMENT RESCUED

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Feb. 2.-ln q
wild rush TO safety forty,two families,
numbering about $50 men, women and
children fled down the stairways and
lire-escapes OF the four-stoly apartment.
house. known as the House OF All Ma.
tions when the synagogue OF the Con-
grcgation Aheveth Chesed, S22 Balm
bridge street, adjoining 81, was swep1
by flames shortly before 5 o'clock this
morning.
A lighted candle, blown over by gust
of wind from half-opened window,
caused a lire to start in the sanctuary,
and when Rev. Il. Friedman, the rabbi
OF the synagogue, aroused by "A cry Of
fire from the sexton. entered the edifce
he beheld the sanctuary. with the A. k
of the Covenant, mass Of lames.
4 loss estimated as $4,000 WIS caus-
ed hv the flames before they We're oA-
tinguished. the synagogue being de-
stroyed and the apartment house bad
" damaged
Intense excitement prevailed IN the
neighborhood of the synagogue, one OF
The most thicllly populated sections OF
the city. while the firemen were battl-
Ing with the flames. The streets were
filled with scantily clad men. women
and children while from windows show.
ers of household effects descended until
the sidewalks rapidly assumed the ap-
oearance OF department store ais.es dur
ing a bargain rush."
In the rear of the synagogue ten
two-story dwelling were imperiled by
the flames, and their occupants NOV
ed their belongings as best they
could in the chill morning air until
nearly every room was bare. Furni-
ture and cooking utensile We're heap
ed together on street corners a block
OF more from the scene of the fire,
while kindly householders beyond the
danger zone cared for women and
children as men stood guard over the
heaps of hastily moved effects.
On the floor over the interior Of the
place Of worship of the Congregation
Aheveth Chesed, Joseph Cleyensky.
the janitor Of the synagogue, his wife
and son Samuel we're slumbering
when the blaze started. Clevenskl
was awakened by a cry of Fire "
and found his wife and son and him
self in danger of suffocation from the
dense smoke filling their bedrooms.
His son, who is n years old, joined
with his in assisting Mrs. Clevensky
Gown stairs to the street.
In the meanwhile. Thomas Rourk s,
colored, ianitor of the tenement neX5
door. which bears The title of the Co
lumbia Apartments, started from
floor TO floor, and from room te
room, as he rOusel sleeping men.
women and children. The crowd OF
"Firel" swept through the crowded
tenement even more quickly than he
could. and stairways and fire-escapes
became filled with frightened men.
women and children fleeing ia their
night garments to the street. Moth
GERS became separated from thei.
children. and husbands from .heil
wives. and the babel OF tongues used
hy Italians, Hebrews. Irish English
Germans. and those Of other national
ities. living in the tenement. increas-
"a the confusion which at first ham.
Dsred the firemen.
From room on the third flooI
Mrs. Hannah Mason. an invalid, was
carried down the smoke-filled stair
ways by firemen. while a patrolman
rescued her 7-year-old daughter Nag
gle Other firemen carried out Mrs
Catherine Golden and her 9-year-Old
daughter blanche. after the gin. III
running downstairs with her mother
had tainted. and the mother had
started back after her. only 10 bo
overcome by smoke. Both mother and
daughter were revived after they
we're borne into the street