New-York tribune., 1914-11-23
Blazes in East Side and
West Side Houses Owned
by Same Firm.
DEMAND FOR $1,000
PRECEDES HOLOCAUST
Six of Family Lost in the
FIameS-WOman Dies
from Exposure.


East 29th st.. opposite Bellevue Hos
pital Another body was found in the
ruins later in the day, and a woman,
who had been rescued. died from n
heart attack caused by shock and ex-
posure. making the total number o.
victims eight.
Several tenants were injured, only
one Of them seriously. it is believed.
Two fire captains were bruised when a
stairway gave way and dropped them
fifteen feet into the ruins.
The building is owned by Gordon,
Levy e. Co., 230 Grand ST., whicn had
10 significance al the time, but later
in the day gave the police and the Fire
Marshal another clcw to work or III
their investigation. This was after the
report came in on n fire at 407 West
SD ST. II developed that this building
was also owned by the Grand ST. CON
cern and that most Of its tenants were
italian families.
After the early blaze was under con
troll Inspector Eagan, Of the Bureau OF
Combustibles. recognized a man in the
street as one who had complained
about a year ago that he had received
Black Hand threats. Later he ad-
mittej that he had received similar
letters recently, and as he lived on the
third floor of the building, where the
FIRE started. thorough investigation
was ordered.
Phone Mystery in Case.
Eagan first heard Of the FIRE through
an anonymous telephone message,
which conveyed the information that
an explosion had preceded the starting
Of the FIRE. He went right down TO
East 29th ST., without any order from
Headquarters. and while walking about
outside the building waiting for the
fremen to complete their work he rec
cgnized a familiar face.
you are the man talked TO about
year ago. when you received Black
Hand letters, aren't you?" Eagan asked.
The man. Gaetano Shambri, who lived
on the third floor OF the burned build
ing, admitted only that he recalled the
incident, but readily consented to go to
the district detective bureau. There
the records vindicated the inspector,
and Shambri then admitted that he had
received many letters recently. Last
Friday. he added. he had been ordered
By telephone TO go to Avenue B and
1lth ST. with $1,000.
lie did not recognize the voice. he
said, but he knew that failure to com
ply with the order meant that his life
was in danger He paid no attention
TO the threat. however. That is why
the police will run down the clew that
extortionists may have stated the fire
TO get even with Shambri
He lived at 443 East 18th st. when
he made his original complaint 10 the
police. After he went TO East 10Th st.
he was not bothered until recently.
He wasn't worrying, he said. even after
the phone threat, until he opened the
door yesterday morning, after being
reused from sleep by the smoke that
was penetrating his fiat.
Outside the door he saw flames burn
ing briskly. and to him II seemed as
if they had started right there in the
hallway adjoining his fiat. Before es-
cape was cut off he led his wife and
two children TO the fire escape at the
rear. and all four we're soon safe.
Back in the fiat, however. 800 and
several checks belonging to Shambri
went up in smoke,
The seven victims Of the fire all
lived on the third floor, but their
bodies were found in the hall Of the
fifth and top floor near a stairway
leading to the roof. Marino Rosata,
sixty wears old, piano maker, was
the head of the family which was all
but wiped out With him died his
wife. Lisa. ffty-hve; their two daugh-
ters. wilma, eighteen, end Antoipette,
seventeen. and their nieces, Wilma
Carstanova, twenty-siX, and her sister,
Marina. twenty-four. Gasparo Rosata,
n son. escaped because he elected to
try the fire escape instead of the hall
way.
Also on the top floor was found the
body of Joseph Poladiri. Tbe other
victim was Mrs. Annie Cataldo. She
was rescued from the second floor by
Patrolman Kane, of the East 35th ST.
station. became hysterical and walked
the streets for hours until friends
found her and took her to the home Of
her brother, block from the fire. Al
the dinner table she suddenly collapsed
and died. O.,
the only one whose condition IS grave,
He appeared al window on the third
floor and was about to jump when
Patrolman Kane shouted for him TO
remain where he was. Kane then
went TO The adjoining building and
climbed along the ledge 70 the window
where Coppello had been seen. He
found the man badly burned, lying
across the sill. They returned to the
street the way the patrolman had come.
Other victims who were taken TO
Relleyue were John Coppello, Charles
Callina, Mrs. Frances Urso, Frank and
Crisano and their baby, a
month old; Captain Daniel f. Dawson,
Of Engine ). and Captain William II.
Cozine. of Hook and Ladder "a.
Children Thrown to Crowd.
Several others had narrow escapes.
Mary and Luigi Rose, sister and broth
er. Jumped from the second floor, and
were able 70 limp away. Philip Solo
mono and his wife. Josephine, helped
their two children down the back fire
escape 10 the second floor and jumped,
lantinued an maze IL. column