Shocking Scene at a Fire

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 91, 19 January 1888, Page 3

Shocking Scene at a Fire

A terrible scene was witnessed recently at a fire in Chicago. A three story house in ArcheY avenue was discovered to be on fire about three o'clock in the morning. A number of people 7 living in the building were rescued either dead or dying from the effects of smoke and flames. It was supposed for a time that no cne remained in the burning building; but | it was found that in the confusiou Mrs F Trugo, wife of one of the tenants, aad her two-year-old child, had been overlooked. Finding herself in danger, and being unable to descend the stairway, the woman ran to a front window with her child in her arms, and. cried for help". A fireman at once rushed -up the flaming stairs. By the time he reached them, all escape by the stairway withsuch a burden as the woman and her child was impossible. Then the fireman thought of a bed cord, and tearing it out bound the woman and her baby With it and pushed them through the window. He played out the rope until from the heat and smoke he was ready to fall to the floor, and then he fastened the end to the bed post and fled. The rope was too short, and instead of droppingthe woman and child to the ground, or within reach of those below, he had suspended them in front of a' first-floor window, from which the fire was poured as from- a furnace door. There the woman and child swung, ten or twelve feet from the ground, writhing, shrieking, struggling, as the fire swept over them. But singularly," the flames which we're burning the woman and child left, the rope intacti Captain William H. Cowan thereupon seizing a ladder, threw it up to the blazing window, and with an axe mounted and stood on an upper rung, which was soon in flames. He had deliberately entered •the flames, and as they encircled him from -heimit to boots he struck at the rope. He could not. see, and struck with inaccurate aim. Once, twice, as the clothing began to fall from him he struck in Tain. At the third stroke the blade cut the rope. Simultaneous the. burning ladder broke, and the three human beings fell to the ground. The baby was already dead, the mother died a few hours later, and the captain was, it is feared, fatally injured. Jamb? Surra, of the Wholesale Fam* ilj Drapery Warehouse, Te Aro House, Wellington, will send all patterns tree Impost,, ;_ ..-. . ; ... : • ..•:■'■■,■ ,;; _ ..-. Wjutb for patterns of our Washing Press Fabrics, a large t ariety. sod extraordinary cheap at Te Aro House, WellinjjlpjVj;.':.^^ - „-,,■■■.: '.-■'. : .-..- ■.?.,' . t ■. Wbits for patterns of Flannels, Oali* coe» r Sheeting, Linens,: &c., and yon will set them all for wholesale price* at Te Aro House, Wellington; . ' ■ Wbitk for any sort of patterns required, and. they shall be forwarded? at once fr^ o^rwft from Te Aro House, Wellington. '' • , "f' v 'f ;• V . Wbitk for pattenisjclf. Tweeds. ahoV we. will show you the' quality of whioTi we make Men's Suits for -43/-, 60/-V 60/., 70/-, 80/". at Te Aro House, Wellington. 1 W-siTB — if yon wa*nt a'Suft made— for Self Measurement Charts, and they shall ! b^- forwarded without delay from Te Aro House, Wellington. Wbitb your correct Meafturements on the Chart, and we wjll guarantee perfect ftttine and stylish -Suits, afc Te Aro Houm, Wellington. W Wts for Self Meaannment Ghartc, •»d y«ar dr*at#« wiU b« as well made and perf<*tly fitting** thtmghj In ealW I . pw-^onatlr at Je Aro Hou"ae 4 Wellington. "Wktb for pattern aI Sutoaawr Proet fit^isSiflJioioß._new,*j*d th«largeii(> stock to th# Uty-at Te A|p Hou»e, W»UiDato».