Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-05
19 DEAD IN FIRE
At RESCUE MISSION
Salvation Army's Institution at
Paterson Scene of Fright
full Holocaust.
SEVERAL AGED AND CRIPPLED
Many Others Badly Injured Dur
ing Panic-Stricken Efforts
to Escape.
SEVERAL AGED AND CRIPPLED

PATTERSON. y. j.. November A.
Nineteen men lost their lives to-day at
salvation Army Rescue Mission at AZ
Mill street. Eighteen of the victims
were burned to death before rescuers
could reach them. The other. one Of
fourteen taken to the hospital sue
cumbcd there to his injuries. Many
others were badly injured. either In
the surging mass Of humanity which,
an!c-stricken, stampcded from the
building. or by lcapiag from the win
dowa
Six Of the dead were identified at
the moreue. whittier their charred
bodies were taken after the fire had
been cxtinguishcd They were:
Henry Bowling. Michael Grimes. Fred
Brennan. John Shell. Frank Cost clio
and William 4. McNabe
Most Of. II not all Of. the othc- VIC
Tins are believed TO have been burned
beyond recognition. Some Of the bodies
may never be recovered. over "A score
sustained injuries of a minor character.
These were treated by ambulance sur
geons. OF those who lcapcd from the
windows of the burning huiliing, thir-
teen were so badly hurt that their re-
moval to the hospital was imperative.
Some Of these. 1t was said. may not
recover.
.LICkS UP SIDE OF BUILDING,
WHICH BURNS LIKE TINDER
The fire started among a large stock
OF newspapers and magazines stored
in the rear of the building. 1t spread
rapidly to large pile of kindling
wood in the yard nearby. and lick ed
up the side of the building, which
burned like tinder
There was some confusion in sending
in an alarm. The first alarm was sent
by telephone. That was quickly fol
lowed by the pulling OF several boxes
at different points. The firemen were
delayed several fatal minutes in re-
spending because Of the uncertainty
as to the exact location OF the fire.
When they arrived the building was
doomed.
There were eighty-flve men sleeping
in the building when the fire started.
Some we're old and some crippled. Few
were in the full vigor OF manhood, as
the Rescue Mission was conducted as
n haven for unfortunates who DOS
sessed no home and but little means
of livelihood
folfce squads. under Captain A. J.
Mcbride and Lieutenan, Joseph Mose!cy.
reached the scene before the flremen
arrived. Even then the building was
a roaring furnace. Rut the police.
their forces quickly augmented by a
number OF detectives. addressed them
selves TO the work OF rescuins the in
mates.
Lead them to the hrc escape quick
yeiled captain Mcbride. but II was dis
covered the buildings one fire escape
was AT the rear. Escape by that means
was impossible.
MAD RUSH FOLLOWS
For INTERIOR STAIRWAY
n mad rush for the interior stairway
followed. Choked by smoke, which also
so blinded them that they groped
dazediy while surging toward the
stairs. the crowd of men reached the
only interior means OF egress en- masse.
II was inevitable that some of the crip-
picd and weaker men should go down
in the rush. At least five probably fell
either on the stairway or near It's foot.
Their charred bodies were later d.scoy-
cred huddled in the lower hall. They
had apparently first been trampled and
later burned TO death.
Directly after the fremen arrived a
life net was spread to catch the men
who were jumping from the third and
fourth stories.
Some OF the men, crazed by fear,
sprang from the windows without
waiting for the net. They were badly
injured y few others. even after the
net had been spread. disregarded it. or
failed to see it in their panic, and
lcaped over 1t or to one sidt
Andrew Mcdonald, an aged inmate q
the building, was trapped on the fourth
floor. Crippled by rheumatism. he mar
aged 10 make his way TO the window.
but was unable to pull himself over
the ledge. His white face was seen.
lighted by the flames, at the window.
Long ladders had been fetched by that
time. and one was quickly raised to the
window. Lieutenant Mosciey and two
OF his men scrambled up the ladder at
the imminent risk of their own lives,
for tho flames were even then licking
up the side of the building. Reaching
the window. they drew the crippled
man through. and made as hasty de-
scent as safety permitted. AS they
reached the ground the entire side Of
Ihc building was enveloped by flames.
Patcrson's thirteen fire companies.
under Chief Thomas Coylc. had much
difficulty in preventing the fires
spread.
cTUOCMT ANiAT0P kIJICO