The New York herald., 1920-01-22
RESCUE TWO WOMEN
TRAPPED BY FLAMES
Forty Flee from Brooklyn
Building Before Invalids
Are Missed.
SCANTILY CLAD IN COLD
Firemen Garry Mother and Daughter
from Second Floor Wrapped
in Blankets.

Two invalids. a mother and dauehter
who for time had been forgotten. were
rescued by two firemen from the second
floor of the burning apartment house at
No. S53 Adelphi street. Brooklyn. at eleven
o'clock last night.
Three alarms had been sent In. Chief
Smoky Joe" Martin responded to tho
third alarm and took charge of the fight
to confine the flames to the building. A
row OF dozen frame houses adjoining
the burned building were In danger.
The blaze was said by the firemen to
be one of the fastest and fiercest they
had encountered in many months Within
two minutes after the discovery of the
flames by Fl. B. Titus. who occupied an
apartment on the second floor. the flames
had swept up through the four story
brick building and were making theii
way into the eight apartments.
With the exception Of the two in
valids. Mrs. Georgia W. johnson and
her daughter, Miss Gertrude, all of the
forty persons in the house escaped
without difficulty, although several OF
the men in the house Jwho took time to
gather up insurance papers and val
uables had narrow escapes.
Many we're scantily clad. Needless OF
the weather they took only time to pick
up blanket or wrap before they, Joined
in the rush to the sire and safety
They were Immediately taken into the
homes Of neighbofs.
Flames In Hallway.
The hook and ladder company and the
engine companies which responded to the
from the front hallway as though from a
funnel The fire started in the cellar evil
IDENTITY and, rushing up the back stairs,
worked it's way through the entire house
Doors left open by the escaping tenants
afforded ready access to the apartments or
either side of the hallway.
Flames were darting from the ground
floor windows when an excited young
woman, who later it was found was Miss
Ida johnson. rushed through the crowd
and seized Captain Michael Harley, of En-
CINE Company No. 105, by the arm.
'I1as every one escaped?" she asked.
| Captain Harley assured her that every
one was out and she replied. II am sc
relieved. NV mother and sister are in
valids and cannot leave their beds unas-
sisted. We live on the second floor, al
the right
Firemen William G. Miller of Hool,
McCauley. Of Hook and Ladder Company
No. 1O5. overheard her. They knew nc
one had been carried from the building
so. shielding their faces with their fire
hats, they rushed in through the ground
floor entrance, but the flames and heat
hurled them back.
Firemen Also Saved.
A ladder was raised to the second floor
windows, and as they ran up the ladder
the front room of the apartment was al
ready abaZe They worked their way
into the next room and found the mother
and daughter both unconscious. Wrap
ping ti.em in the bed clothing, they rushed
back to the window. climbed out and were
,.ided to tie ground with their burdens.
| Twenty minutes later Firemen Will
lam Heffernan and Captain McAuley
were missed. They had been seen to
enter the burning building Immediately
after the rescue of the mother and
daughter. The ladder was again raised
against the building and Calvin and
Fleming went up.
They searched the third floor and in
the extreme rear found the two men
hudded in heap. They were uncon-
smoke. The rescuers carried them through
way down the ladder with them. They
were revived after ten minutes hard work
and taken to their homes.
The combined force brought by the
three alarms was obliged to fight for
nearly an hour before the fire was brought
under control. The damage is estimated
at $1,000. The building was flame swept
and charred from cellar to roof. The cause
Of the fire has not been determined.