The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-23
FIVE PERISH IN FIRE
IN ROOMING HOUSE
Broadway Crowds See Thrill
ing Rescues-One Victim
Jumps to Death.
MANY ASLEEP IN PERIL

Five lives were tho toll OF a fire
which yesterday morning destroyed the
Colonial restaurant and theatrical ROOM
ing house at 1866 West Forty fourth
street. Just Of Broadway. One Of the
victims was killed when he plunged In
fear from a 9th story window. Three
other mon and Q m were sufocated
by the clouds Of smoke which filled the
house.
Penlous climbing along narrow lodges
saved many Of no stage people who
lived In the building. Huge crowds from
Broadway and from n~eighboring hotels
witnessed tho escapes People thronged
to tho scene In such numbers that II
was necessary to call out the reserves
from tho West Forty-seventh street po-
lice station. Fire Ines were placed al
the Criterion Theatre.
All Who lost their lives had rooms on
the top floor and with n exception. one
Of the %proprietors Of the restaurant. all
were employees In the building.
The man who .leaped from the hfth
story window was almost decap,tated
when his neck struck an electric sign
As he hurtled through the air. When
the blaze started almost all Of the twenty
tenants Of the house were sleeping
soundly.
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xE ERsiAcTrHas '' THOMAS. So year, old. on. 0,
the proprictors Of the restaurant.
Arthur Nelson. an actor. was badly
burned about the face. arm and feet and
was taken to tire Polytechnic Hospita, IN
u critical condition.
According TO Fire Marshal Johr
Priai. his assistant. William Turnbeck
and Detectives Cooney and Dietcl,, who
took part in All investigation Of the
cause Of the tragedy. the flames orig
mated in the basement kitchen. probabl,
from n pot ~ burning grease. The rrs
spread swiftly up the wooden dumb
waiter shaft and set fire to the entire
| house. which vns lined with woodwork
| Almost instantly roaring flames blocked
the stairway. the only means Of escaps
from the upper floors. and envelopct
the windows.
Swirling flames met Harry krono'
BLOB n james Toralius. employee,
Of the restaurant. As they stepped from
the dining room into the kitchen shortl.
after I o'clock. one OF the waters RAJ
into the restaurant next door and shouted
Fire :" to the manager. Max Hollender
who dashed TO the fire box at Broadwa.
and Forty-fourth street and sent IL
what he thought WIS All alarm. In his
excitement he didn't; pull the lever hard
| enough to sound the he'll in the IRE
house. Five minutes later Albert Gordon
a chauffeur. gave the alarm which called
the fremen. ny this time a mass OF ir
and smoke was bursting into the dining
room on the ftoor above and cracking
through the whole house.
As the engines arrived a man. scream
ing In terror. poised a second on the sill
Of "a NTH story window. then plunged
with n Wild cry TO his death.
Philip Mathews and his wife. Ethel
| who occupied "A room IN The NTH foor
! front. escaped by a ledge. less han a
foot In width and running along above
the windows Of the fourth floor. The,
were followed by Mary smith. Eliza
beth Montgomery and Ethel Mason
Matthews Iurchcd along the narrow
! ledge in sight Of tho gasping crowd In
the street. and led IN" three wornen whr
! were half rhoked by tn" smoke issuing
| from the windows. To safety.
one az "A tim. II" half dragged. halt
carried them along IN" sill and lot then
, into the arms Of rescucrs leaning from
the window OF 4 house next door. Kris.
tina Peterson. a charity worker. cs'
capped In tho same manner. 'ons,antii
karetsky got gu, Of the building 10y let
ting himself down on a rope from thu
window of his room in the rear of tbs
top floor.
Fire chief Kcnlon estimated tn" prop
erty damage At S:o.oo0. The Fire IL,
partment had the blaze under contro
before Q o'clock.