The New York herald., 1921-04-01
MAN AFRE SAVED
FROM DEATHLEAP
WINTER GARDEN
Crowd Sees Human Torch
Hanging From 5th Floor
as Plunge Is Halted.
NEGRO HOLDS HIS FEET
Fights Flames and Takes
Victim Along Narrow
Ledge to Safety.
THRILLING RESCUE MADE
Matinee Audience Unaware of
Blaze in Drug Store Room
Until Show Ends.
THRILLING RESCUE MADE

William Matthews of 31S West Fifty
sixth street, a clerk employed by the
Winter Garden Drug Company. in the
Winter Garden building. at Broadway
and Fiftieth street, went up to the
storeroom on the fifth floor of the
structure yesterday afternoon to get
some materials for the drug stores
soda fountain. When he did not re-
turn within a few moments Jim. a
negro porter, went UP stairs to find
out what was the matter.
Jim smelled smoke as he walked
along the hallway, even before re
reached the storeroom, which is small.
and facing on F'iftieth street near
Seventh avenue. When he reached the
door the odor of smoke was stronger,
and inside the room he heard some
one crying and threshing about on the
floor. The negro pushed open the
door. The room was in flames from
floor to ceiling. and plunging about on
the floor was Matthews, trying to
smother and beat out the fire that
enveloped him. He was ablaZe from
head to foot
The porter ran to Matthews's assist
ance, but before he could reach him
Matthews leaped to his feet shrieking,
and ran 10 the window. With the flames
shooting from his clothing and hair he
plunged headlong through the window.
evlu trjth
shoulders, but the negro managed to
grab his feet.
The porter struggled with Matthews
for long time on the window sill, the
clerk trying TO free himself and plunge
to the pavement and the negro trying
desperately 70 drag him back into ths
room. Meanwhile on the pavement five
stories below two or three persons saw
the smoke pouring from the window
and the blazing man hanging head down
across the sill. Their shouts and tho
cloud of smoke that rolled around the
corner into Seventh avenue drew a crowd
and in few minutes both Broadway
and Seventh avenue were packed.
So intent was the crowd on the fight
on the window sill that no one thought
to turn In a fire alarm until police
man came along. Then the alarm was
turned in and the clang OF the fire gongs
was added TO the honl<ing OF the auto
mobile horns and the uproar of the
crowd. But during all this time the
porter continued his Efforts to drag
Matthews pack into the room, even
though his own clothing caught fire
several times. Finally the negro grasped
Matthews firmly by one foot and while
the burning man hung over the side and
screamed with pain the negro calmly
beat out the flames with his hat. Vita
the pain relieved somewhat Matthews
regaincd his senses sufficiently TO crawl
back into the room.
The porter beat out the fire on his
own clothing. and then he helped Mat
thews to the window and pushed him
through this time feet first, until he
stood on n two inch ledge on the out
side. The porter followed, and holding
Matthews hand and half carrying him
he made his way along the ledge for
six feet TO another window opening into
another room. Breaking the glass the
porter entered the room and dragged
Matthews with him. Meanwhile other
employees OF the drug store and OF the
X.
and the uproar in the street. hurried up
stairs and cxtinguished the flames be-
fore the fire apparatus arrived.
The porter helped Matthews down the
stairs and into the drug store. where
they met one OF the proprietors, Samuel
Thaw. Matthews's clothing was almost
gone. his hair was burned and his whole
body was blackened by the flames and
smoke He stood for an instant, sway
ing on the porter's arm, and Thaw asked
him what had happ~ned. lie started to
tell, and the porter also started 70 say
something, but neither Of them finished.
They swayed together for an instant
then fell to the floor.
Both of them were unconscious when
Dr. Bonnyman arrived from Flower Hos
.pital. but the porter quickly recovered
and went home. while Matthews was
sent to Bellevue Hospital in serious
condition. The negro was painfully but
not seriously burned. No one last night
knew his address or his last name.
Thaw said he had never known him by
any other name than Jim.
The matinee performance in the Win
ter Garden was almost concluded when
some one told the .stnge manager there
was fire in the building. The usual
encores for tho last two or three mum
bers were omitted, the finale Of the show
was speede1 up, and the theatre was
emptied long before the first wisps
OF smoke began 20 seep into the audi
torium. None Of the persons in the
audience knew there was a fire until
they reached tho street. and then they
iolned the crowd, which became so large
that police reserves had to be called to
IavIfc