The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-12-10
FILM
FEEDSSYUD|ObLAZE |
IN MANHATTAN AREA.
Many Leap for Their Lives as
Fire Spreads Quickly in
Three.Story Block
STAGE SET FOR NEW REVIEW
Five Men and Four Women Are
Burned to Death Fleeing
Down Blind Hallway

New York. Dec lO.-tP-Trappec
IN blazing motion picture studio in
upper Manhattan today ncrsons
lost their lives.
Five men and four women. are
known to have been killed and sew
eral others are missing In the fire
which swept three story brick
studio Of the Manhattan Studios, Inc.
and the Pathe Motion Picture ex-
change at Park Avenue and l34th
street.
About IS persons were in the build
Ing when the fire OF undetermined
origin was discovered shortly before
10 o'clock.
Fed BY inflammable film the flames
quickly made an inferno Of the inter-
ior Of the small brick building. Many
barely saved their lives by jumping
from windows.
Four fire alarms brought all avail
able apparatus from upper Manhat-
tan and the Bronx. Several fire
boats played streams on the flaming
building from the nearby Harlem
river.
Located In Harlem
The studios are located on the flats
beside the Harlem river In q district
populated mostly by negroes. Sever
q coal docks are located nearby on
the Harlem and the main lines of the
New York Central railroad. raised on
an elevated structure, run within 100
feet Of the studio.
Several thickly populated five and
SIX story tenement buildings adjoin
the studio.
One woman was seriously injured
and taken away in one of the many
ambulances that responded to calls.
TWO men. burned about the hands
were taken to Harlem hospital.
Stage Set For Shot
Tie stage was set in the rear OF
the first floor of the studio and
Eddie" Elkins, orchestra leader, had
his Il musicians In position to start
the overture for . miniature review.
produced by Harry Delmar. On the
second floor about 80 women, in cos
tune. were In their dressing rooms
awaiting call
With cameras In position, director
ready and cast awaited the call to
Shoot" There was q flash from .
black velvet drop In the rear OF the
stage. Flames followed. The studio
crew. according to reports to the po-
lice. uncoiled line Of hose and start
ed to fight the blaze.
The fire spread with such rapidity.
however. that one Of the studio en-
ployes ran to the street and pulled
an alarm box.
Fire Spread Rapi6ly
BY the time fire engines arrived the
studio building was q mass Of flames
and huge billows Of acrid smoke
poured from the structure.
Deputy Fire Chief Dougherty I'M
mediately sounded second. third and
fourth alarms. bringing apparatus
from the Bronx and many parts Of
Manhattan. Ambulances and police
emergency squads and reserves.
When studio employees realised tl1e
flames were too much for them. they
shouted for everyone to flee. Rer-
formers in the dressing rooms fled
down the stairs and into tho street
where they were given refuge In near
by offices.
Wnen 1Eemen finally were able to
make their way into the building they
came upon the bodies Of the five men
and four women who were trapped.
Ladder Saves Two
John G. Finn. vice president OF the
eathe company. was seated In his
office on the second floor with his
secretary, Frances Walsh, when be
heard the cry Of fire. Opentng the
door he saw carpenters. sceno SHIFT
ers. cameramen, musicians. actogs
and actresses rushing toward the
exits IS the studio filled With flame
and smoke. He escorted Miss Walet
to = balcony on the Park Avenue si6e,
firemen took them down . ladder.
Mr.. Finn said the picture the
BLACK and White Review" was In the
Continued On page ninel