The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1924-01-21
II ROOnaers
in
NightAttire
Rooming House Gutted by an
Early Morning Fire-Land-
lady Fails in Attempt to
Rescue ]. Jankowski.
Fnemen Fin d B o d v

JOnQ JankONSEl, - retired ErOceIs
was burned to death in the blaze that
gutted the brick rooming house at
1926 F'arnam street at 5:53 yesterday
morning. His burned body Was
found at the head of the stairs on
the third floor by city firemen who
were examining the building after
the fire.
Jankowski. a resident OF Omaha for
80 years, was one OF the oldest men,
hers of tho Douglas County Pioneers.
He Is survived by his divorced wife,
Katherine, and two daughters and a
son.
Twelve roOrners OF the gutted struc-
ture and inmates OF 2224 Farnam
street. adjoining, were driven out into
the bitter cold in bedroom attire. The
landlady, Miss Dora Fitch and Miss
May Dunn dashed from the flaming
building barefoot and in their night
gowns. Others managed to grab
shoes. a coat or dress as they fed the
house.
Adjoining Flat Threatened.
Believing that the adjacent fat
would be destroyed, the tenants rush
ed into tho smoke filled building and
managed TO collect much Of their be
longings and bear them outside. The
building suffered only from smoke and
water
Miss May Dunn, Who. except for
Jankowski, was the sole inhabitant
Of the third floor OF the building. met
the aged man IN the smoke filed hall
way
Follow me and well get out" she
called to him. attempting 70 lead hun
with her. Confused and panic stricken.
the feeble man shook off her grasp
and disappeared in the dense smoke
Her own safety compelled Miss Dunn
to desert him. Witnesses OF the FIRE
declare they heard the old man
screaming for help sboSe tine crack
/ ling Of flames.
Inmates Are Awakened.
The IRE was discovered by Mrs
Flora Hall. 8. who was awakened
by a loud noise. Thinking IT was a
newsboy calling out his morning pa
pers. she decided 10 go 10 bed again
A few minutes later, she was
awakened by the smell Of smoke. and
rushed to the door only 10 find the
long hall enveloped IN smoke. She
started TO awaken the other men and
women who were asleep on the floor
above.
Mrs. Hall. who lives in ohioss.
Neh.. cams. 10 omaha a Few days sso
for her health.
Firemen Rescue Roemers.
one of the roumers awakened ks
Mrs. Hall was Mrs. e r. Clark. she
awakened her husband. Dr. 9. L.
Clark, and telling him to follow.
grabbed up shoes and stockings an
fed the building. DR. Clark, bscon-
ing confused. was unable TO find the
stairs. He finally broke the bedroom
window and clambered out upon the
siantinr ice -crusted roof Of the porch
from which he vas removed by fire
men. lie was near collapse from IN
haling smoke and required nedics,
attention during the day. The ClarkS
were the only ones TO save their cloth
ing.
Leo aud Charles Wilson. brothers.
were unable TO descend the flaming
stairs and b roke n window on the
second floor and were carried 10
safety by firemen. Charles foot vas
badly cut by glass
Fire Chief Dineen declared that tho
blaze originated from hot ashes in the
ba sement. He declined 10 estimate
the damage but declared the section
Of the building which was Quilted was
worth about Slo.eee. Miss Pora
Fitch. landlady. said that she valued
her furniture. which wss entirely
DESTROYED. At about ss.5ee The build
Ing is owned by the Hansen Invest
ment company.
Shiser i'm Cold.
The ousted tenants. shsVerinx IN
the intense cold, watched the hope of
salvaging their belongings fade snc
then sought shelter In nearby esfab-
lishments
The Delmar hotel sheltered eight ot
the FIRE refugees until they could D..
cate friends. Those Who were sleep
ing In the rooming house at the time.
of the fire arr Mary Dunn. John Jsn,.
kowsld. Or. and MIS- 4 4. Clarl&
Leo and Charles Wilson. Joseph
Shiuk. Flora nau. Mr. and Mrs.
James Bolsu. Charles Green. ehgs-
necr. aud Dora Fitch. lsndladN
Funeral services Tor John lankow.
ski viii bc held Tuesday az the lieafes
& lIeafey mortuary With burial iu
Forest Lawn cemetery.