Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-05
TRAP SIX
TN DOOMED HOUSE
Son Returning From Work
Finds Family Burned
to Death
WIND FANS FIERCE FIRE
Musician, Reaching Home at
Fifth and Green Streets,
Wild With Grief
WIND FANS FIERCE FIRE

flames whipped by high wind. swept
southeast corner of Fifth and Green streets.
shortly before o'clock this morning.
The dead are Max Pomerantz, forty seven
years old Mrs. Pomerantz, forty-three, and
four Of their Ave children. Meyer. nineteen
Samuel, eighteen; Benjamin, thirteen, and
Esther, eleven. They were trapped while
asleep and had no chance to escape.
When the sole remaining member OF the
family, Jacob Pomerantz, returned home
and discovered what had happened he went
wild with grief and refused to be COM
forted by neighbors His ability as a mu-
sician saved him from the same fate as
Nis parents and brothers and sisters, as he
was called to play at concert last night.
Recovery of the bodies after the flames
had ceased licking their way through the
four-story brick building, on the first floor Of
which Pomerantz had Photographic shop.
showed that warning of the proximity OF
the flames had come too late. The children
had awakened IN time to see their escape
cut off the suffering they endured before
the end was plS! 'ly evidenced on their
faces. Both of little Esther's arms were
burnt off, while Benjamin was cutching
his hair
x. PARENTS SUFFoCATED
The father and mother had apparently
died from suffocation. They were found
dead locked in each others arms
While the fire was at its height. 200
persons reveling at wedding next door,
667 North Fifth street. suddenly became
aware of the danger from the fire and
started to run for the street. Several wo-
men tainted and excitement spread with
the addit.o .onal trouble.
The fire was discovered at 80 by Leon
savrin, of SOC Green street, and Morris
Kret, of 3252 Germantown avenue. They
were going home from a dance and had
gone to Fifth street for car. They noticed
n picture frame burning in the shop on the
first floor and rushed back to a saloon two
squares away, where they telephoned for
fremen.
The high wind that swept through the
narrow street fed the flames TO such an
extent that when Engine Company No. 21
ella stered in front of the house. the second
ard third stories were ablaze, while the
first floor was cauldron of jumping
Games.
FIREMEN ENTER HOUSE
Battering their way with ladders that
were swept down by the gale, the firemen
finally shot a sufficient stream Of water
through the upper stories to allow them to
enter the house through perilous climbing
from adjoining houses. Narrow lodges
that led to the spot for rescue were used by
Knowles, Jones and Tort, of the engine
company, in getting In the house.
There they found the charred bodies, the
children in the front of the third story, the
parents in the rear. Hasty examination
proved them all dead, and with difficulty
the firemen succeeded in handing down the
bodies to the street, whence they were
taken to the Hahnemann Hospital.
As the bodies were ceing lowered, Jacob
Pomerantz was Just returning home. He
watched the fire from the opposite side OF
the street calmly. thinking that his family
had been rescued
'who are they?" he inquired of neigh
bor
"Oh, some fremen," he was told.
But shortly after another neighbor, COM
ing from a store. told him exactly what
had happened. Jacob stood there duly
for a while as though he could not COM
prehend, and then raved like a man gone
wild. He disappeared but whether he is
now in the Roosevelt Hospital, as was
stated or with friends, Is not known.
Pomerantz was well known among Jews
of this city, having been ethe photographer
for thousands of that faith. He formerly
conducted a studio at Fifth and South
streets, but had been located at the Green
street address for some time.
The buildings interior was destroyed. but
a shell standing when the flames were
checked.
Fire department men started an investi-
cation today to ascertain the origin of the
IRE. The damage is placed at $4,000.