New-York tribune., 1918-01-17
Don't Tell Mother Till You
Have To-" Cries kocher
as He Falls i'm Flames
Cake for Birthday
Was Ready at Home
Brady's Theatrical Store
house Destroyed, With
100000 Loss

flrcmcn OF Engine Company 81 told
huskily last night Of how their mate.
John ". Kocher, went to his death yes
terday afternoon when the fire that
Suttcd the six-story theatrical store
house of William A. Brady at 343 and
3l5 West Thirty y-sixth Street burst
through the flooring beneath his feet.
Their hands and faces were scorched
by the blaze that ate up 100000 worth
of scenery and costumes. Their eyes
were watery. too from the glare and
the smoke, they explained claboratcly
as they told how kochcr, fourteen
months a fireman. met Il freman's end.
The fire started in the basement BY
the time Engine Companies 10 and 81
arrived its crackle had turned into q
roar as it ate its way through painted
canvas and tindcr-dry costumes. The
nromen of 10 and 81 coupled their hose
and breasted the smoke into the first
floor of the warehouse, led by Lieuten-
ant Brady and kochcr.
Choking and gasping, they forced
their way through The ground floor tow
ara where the fire blow was already be-
f!nnlng TO eat its way through the
planhs.
Warns Others to Flee
Suddenly kochcr felt the flooring
sway and buckle beneath him. He must
nave known that he had answered his
last alarm, for the others heard his
voice lifted above the increasing roar
of the flames:
"(,o Il, clo,la.l
Tor Gods sake. while you've got a
chance"
Then as Brady and the others stood
lrresolute there was the splintcring of
nlanking. For second they saw the
iorm of kocher outlined against a
spreading glow that came up from be-
neath Then the floor tilted further.
= he man fell and began to slide down
INTO the fiamc-fillod basement He lift
cd his voice for the last words he was
ever TO speak
"Don't tell my mother until you have
The collapsing flooring tilted further.
! y, ne e. olotted out the place wberc John
Died On His Birthday
The body of kochcr still lies under
the charred wood and ashes that fiji the
easement of the storehouse. The men
OF ms company put off telling his
mother until you have to-" and finally
they begged Father O'Connor. chaplain
OF the FIRE Department, to tell her him
self.
An old woman opened the door of a
'lhy Hat at $50 West l59th Street She
mad a crutch under her arm. She was
Aocher's widowed, crippled mother.
II thought it was ,John,' she said
when she saw the priest "It's his
birthday father and I've made a cake
20 surprise him. I've been waiting for
hlm for an hour"
me death of tbs young fireman was
only the tragic beginning of the fire
mat hlled the brick she'll of the ware
house with flames for four hours be-
TORE 1T could be controlled by the an
paratns summoned by three alarms.
From floor to floor the flames ran
quickly. Costumes and scenery used
during Mr.. Brady's thirty years in the
theatrical business formed ideal fuel
he blaze progressed so rapidly that
ny the time Fire Chief Kcnlon arrived
the building was filled with fire from
roof TO basement.
Traffic on Eighth and Ninth avenues
was ucd up until after 6 o'clock last
night. Police holding the firelinos had
conSiderablc trouble during the carly
hours OF the blaze in holding back
mothers of pupils in Public School 80
opposite the rear Of the burning build
lpg. Chief kenlon refused to order
mat the school be dismissed, for it was
certain that the fire would not spread
and patrolmen had their patience
Soreiy strained for & time to keep
rahtlc women from breaking through
Tho lines. e
Historic Costumes Lost
All of the costumes. scenery and
properties used by Grace George. wife
OF Mr.. Brady, in her earlier plays. were
destroyed in the fire. Four sets fo,
GILBERT and Sullivan operas we're also
consumed The Mikado,' 'paticncc." >"
"finaforc' and "Pirates Of Penzance y
SETS OF other plays. old and middle
aged were also destroyed. These in-
TluHg ral, "rhe !. ...r, Dollar Mark" Jim the
tcnman, Things That Count" "Ove,
light The Gentleman from Nissis-
,,,ppl,' Bought and Paid For" "Way
no"n nl.'So',"n East "Too Many Cooks" and
"lhc Man OF the Hour