New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-05
Mrs. Tag Saved, Daughter
Was Lost Attempting
Second Rescue.
BRIDAL GIFTS BLAZED
IN HEROINE'S PYRE
Wire Defects Blamed for $780,
900 Fire in Home Of Brook
Ign Bankers Widow.

The scorched. smoke blackened she'll
Of handsome brownstone house at
2i3 Hancock Street, Brooklyn, stood as
monument to tragedy yesterday
Before dawn the edifce was the pyre
Of six women. They DEED in the flames
while baffled Fire Department beat
helplessly against triple locked doors,
barred windows and mass Of flames
that seemed TO feed upon the water
poured into the building.
Residents OF the broad sidewalked,
tree lined thoroughfare who paused
before tho ruined structure during the
day spoke softly the name Of Caroline
Tag, youngest daughter Of Casimir
Tag. a Brooklyn banker, who died
three years ago. leaving fortune OF
million and a half Caroline, who was
twenty-five years old, lost her life in
the fire while attempting to rescue her
lame sister, Helen.
Through the smoke filed halls OF
the third floor she had led her hysteri-
cal mother to the roof Of rear wing Of
the building, from which rescuing hands
took her safely 10 the adjoining house.
Then she turned back into the blazing
structure. Three hours later her
charred body was found in the ruins.
Those who persisted in the catas-
- l.. t,,in in
fective electric wiring in the wall OF
the dining room, were:
Caroline Tag, twenty-five years old;
Helen Tag, thIrty-fve; Isabella Fran
ces Stedman, twenty-five, a trained
nurse; Mrs. Hannah +. Snevely, sixty
eight, cousin of Mrs. Tag; Anna
Cain. ffty-two, a maid; Lizzie Cain,
fortyfve. a maid.
Invitations were out for the wed
ding Of Caroline Tag, who was to be
married TO Carl Harrison Zinn, Of
Brooklyn. on February Is. Thursday
night Mrs. Tag and her daughters
stayed up late, planning details of the
event. On the second floor Of the
house were numerous wedding gifts,
all Of which were destroyed.
About 3 O'Clock smoke awakened the
younger daughter. She rushed 10 the
telephone and called the number Of
her brother. DR.. Charles II. Tag, who
lives at 248 Jefferson Avenue, imme-
diate!y a. he rear c: tho Tag home.
Smoke Ends Call for Help.
He was slow in responding. so Car
oline summoned the central operator
and called the Brooklyn Police Head
quarters.
"Send the engines the house is on
fire quick l am choking" The
words d ed out in spasm of cough
ing.
As Miss Tag failed to give the police
her address. delay was experienced In
retracing the call. When the engines
arrived the blaze was beyond hope of
immediate control. Three burglar
proof locks on the front door. which
guarded the rare rugs, paintings and
art objects, were partly responsible for
the headway the fire gained after the
arrival of the riremen.
Coupled with the name of Caroline
Tag As hero by the Tags neighoors
was that of Patrolman Friel, OF the
Gates Avenue station. He climbed from
a window Of the house next door
u stand
in on the roof of the extension OF
hor home. Flames which gushed from
the window were forcing her nearer
and nearer the edge OF the roof.
What went on inside the building
during the fire could only be connect
urcd bv the positions in which the
hodies Of the six dead women were
found. Caroline's efforts TO save her
sister were in vain. Their burned
bodies were found beneath the Sill,
locked in d close embrace.
Attempt at Rescue Fails.
Mira. Snevely was discovered in her
bodroom on the third floor Beside her
u,as the body OF Miss Stedman. the nurse,
,yho came 10 the Tag household when
Tho elderly womans illness became Sc
ions Mrs. Snevely had been carried
toward the door before smoke oyercame
the nurse. Miss Stedman lived al lOO
Penn Street, Williamsburg. Dr. lag
urged her repeatedly to nurse MIS-.
Snevely before she consented TO take
the case.
Anna and Lizzie Cain, the maids, who
we're stepsisters, had no chance for
their lives. The fire spread through
The entire building in a few minutes,
mushroomed over the top moor ana
burned them TO death.
Della Varney. for ten years COOK
the Tags. did something she never IA
before on Thursday night, and o"ed
her life 10 her venture. she went 20
the theatre. then spent the night Win
friends
The ire is lieved by the polio. 70
have begun in the dinino room wall
through defective insulation. h: 100
Ockarstausen, "A brother Of Mrs. Tag
who is an electrical contractor, mad MS
,yorkmen wire the house year ag'.
The damage is estimated at soO'oVO.
Casimir Tag died on Septembe Il,
1913. He was formerly president OF
tho German American Bank, at 10
BROAD street. and was heavily inter
.csted in the tobacco industry. His
widow was declared the wealthiest
woman in Brooklyn AT the last assess
ment. There IS a third daughter Mrs.