FIRE HEROISM.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9641, 16 January 1903, Page 3

FIRE HEROISM.

A 310THEIVS SACRIFICE. LONDON, December 6. Of Hie fiiv.s which, unfortunately, have ' been prevalent to an extraordinary extent this week end, none have presented 'more dramatic features than that which, at v. quarter to 10 on Saturday morning, broke out m a barber's shop at 72 Koyal Mint street, Minories. This neighborhood is a deiusely-popu-lated Jewish quarter, and the fire, which resulted m the death of three people, broke out at a house which sheltered the 33 persons, a circumstance "which is significant m view of tlie fact that the place was gutted m no fewer than 10 minutes. The lire originated on the first floor, and spread so rapidly tliat m five minutes the ivhole building was enveloped m flames, so tliat wliile the ground floor tenants escaped by tlie door, those above found their means of escape cut off. Thrilling scenes of rescue- thereupon ensued, but none is more touchiug than the magnificent heroism of Mrs Yablonka, who laid down her life m an unsuccessful attempt to save her children, who were on the second iloor, and who attempted, like otlipr.teuents, who were successful, to escape through tlie trap-door to Ihe roof. To this means of escape there wus a fearful rush, and the ensuing scenes were heartrending. Seldom has a single fire been more prolific m acts of heroism. Tabulated, they are as follows: — ' ""Mrs Yablonka died m an unsuccessful Attempt to save her two children. This

young mother— she was but 27— made a. desperate effort to escape with the little ones, seven and four respectively. Her husband led the way up the ladder, but just after ho had escaped there, was an overpowering burst of flame and smoke ; and the heroic mother and her two little cues f«» back insensible, and we.re never seen alive again. "Three children of Mrs Goldstein were .saved by Mrs Solomon Marks, who lifter emerging from the fuming ruins „ third tamo with hair and clothing singed even went, back a fourth time nnr l draped out a. box. which she found too heavy to lift. J . "A fireman gallantly rescued Mrs Schwartz from the first floor. "A man. whose name has not been given,, brought a woman and two children from the first floor, when the flames had driven I hem back • from tlie window to what seemed certain death."