GIRLS KISS RESCUER AT FIRE

Elevator Boy Got Them All Down Safely and He Was Their Hero.

Report published in The New York Times / April 18, 1909

Some one dropped a cigar or a cigarette into a box of feathers in the establishment of Kavolitz & Co., on the ground floor of the Empire Building, at 640 Broadway, yesterday afternoon, and after every one in the place had gone home the feathers began to smolder. Presently smoke began to fill the building, and a girl on the tenth floor shouted "Fire!"

A hundred other girls took up the cry, and there was a dash for the elevator. The stairs were almost concealed by smoke, and a few ventured to try to descend them. Tony Sarino, the elevator boy, ran his car to the tenth floor and the girls tried to crowd into it. Tony had to throw some out before he could close the door and drop to the ground floor. He made six trips and finally got all the girls out.

On the sidewalk a score or more of the girls swooned, but those who recovered their composure rushed at Tony. "You here," shouted one girl, and grabbing the astonished Tony around the neck, kissed him. Two other girls followed suit and several were prepared to do likewise when Tony fled.

The fire was put out by one high pressure stream and was confined to the Kavolitz place, where it did $500 damage.