Evening star., 1944-12-07
Three Die, 50 Injured
When Flames Sweep
Baltimore Church Hall
BY the Associated Press.

1's tiie haSoSiattu cas
BALTIMORE, Dec. IA bill
lowing ceiling fire which sped
with lightning rapidity through
a Catholic parish hall left at
least three woman patrons of a
church card party dead today
and more than so injured.
A fourth person died of a heart
attack while watching the spectacu-
lar blaze which sent some 200 per-
sons scrambling for exits from the
old frame hall at St. Ambrose s
Catholic Church, Park Heights and
Wylie avenues, last night
The tragedy raised Baltimore S
fire-death toll to nine persons in
one day. The sixth victim of resi-
dence fire which wiped out an entire
family died last night in the hos
pital. She was Mrs. Agnes M. Sands
30, whose husband and four chill
dren, two of them infants, perished
in the flames which swept their
four room home early yesterday.
Two of the victims of the church
hall fire, at first believed to be q
man and a woman, remained uni
Identified until today. when relatives
said the charred bodies were those
of Mrs. Emma Sachs, 40, and Mrs
Rosa Poessnecker, "a.
Mrs. Ada Nixon, So, Of Baltimore
who was burned about the face and
head and crushed in the rush for
the doors, died shortly after mid
night at Union Memorial Hospital.
Crowd Jams Doorway.
Mrs. Mary A. Wise, IS. who suf-
fered heart attack while watching
| the flames, died at her home a few
minutes later.
OF the injured, more than 80 re-
quired hospital care. Many were
treated at drug stores in the neigh
borhood, and by nearby physicians.
Seventeen persons still were pa
tients at hospitals today and three
of them were reported to be in
critical condition. The condition Of
fourth was described as serious
Persons for several blocks around
said they heard the screams of per.
sons jammed in the main doorway
where parish officials estimated that
more than 100 fought their way. OF
were pulled, through by persons out
side. The other two victims were
found just inside the door.
Firemen removed dozens of pairs
OF shoes, sweaters, coats and stock
ings from the doorway.
Parish officials also said that there
were nine exits to the building, and
that all of them were open. However
a number of persons escaped by
jumping through windows.
William ]. Cordle, who was in
charge of the sale of tickets, said he
saw the fire when it was only a
small blaze in the ceiling of the
stage at the rear of the hall.
Priest Rescues Groups.
Il ran to the kitchen to tell the
ladies who were helping out with
the party that there was a fire and
then ran to the front again." he re-
| lated.
LAS I was grabbing my coat and
cash box, 1 saw the crowd make a
concerted rush for the front en-
trance, although there were five OF
six other exits to the place.
II ran to side door and smashed
it open with my shoulder. The fire
travelled so fast that before I got
out the back of my head was singed.'
Four alarms were sounded for the
fire, which could be seen over a
great portion of Baltimore.
Among the injured was one of the
parish priests, Father Stephen Bla-
zucki. Another priest said Father
Blazucki helped several women and
children through windows before he
was overcome.
Four of those hurt were Balti-
more firemen.