Poughkeepsie, New York, USA
1935 - Swift Fire Kills 5 in Poughkeepsie Building; 3 Boys Confess Setting It While Playing

POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y., May 3 — Five persons were trapped and burned to death this afternoon in a fire which destroyed a three-story building at 411 Main Street. Starting in a rear stairway from kerosene or gasoline ignited by children at play, the flames swept through the structure with such rapidity that the victims could not be reached by firemen and could not escape to the street.

The dead are C. Edward Seifts, 34; his wife, Mary Decker Seifts, about 30; their two children, Rosemary, 1, and Joanna, 3, and Shirley Elmore, 7, daughter of another tenant in the building.

The bodies were found on the third floor of the building in the apartment occupied by the Seifts family. Doctors said the five had
been overcome by smoke before they had a chance to escape from the burning rooms.

Seifts was not at home when the fire started, but reached there a
few minutes after the alarm had been turned in by a passer-by. He
ran into the building and attempted to aid his wife and children to the street, but succumbed with them.

Three children of Clifford Elmore were rescued from the second floor rear by George Way and Fred Hadley, the first firemen to reach the building. Their mother, Mrs. Elmore, was able to reach the street by a fire-escape. Fireman Way later was overcome by smoke. Two other tenants were injured in escaping. Mrs. Edward Mahoney was overcome by smoke in the hall and dragged to safety by firemen. George Sherow was burned about the face and hands as he made his way to the street. Several other firemen were treated for minor injuries. District Attorney John R. Schwartz began an immediate investigation. The building had been listed as a fire trap by the Emergency Relief Bureau of the city, and families had been advised against moving into apartments in the building.

The Associated Press.
POUGHKEEPSIE, May 3.— Captain Joseph V. Shelley of the Poughkeepsie police said late tonight three small boys had confessed setting the fire which swept through an apartment house this afternoon. He refused to reveal the names of the boys, saying they were from 5 to 7 years old. They admitted, he said, starting the blaze while playing near the staircase of the apartment.

The New York Times
New York, New York
May 4, 1935

Visit Poughkeepsie, New York, USA
Discover the people who lived there, the places they visited and the stories they shared.