Cats in the Mews: February 4, 1897
Stray cat warns of fire, New York Tribune, February 4, 1897
New York Tribune, February 4, 1897

When William P. Davenport took in a stray cat that he found outside his second-floor apartment, he did not know that he had just made one of the best decisions of his life. Not only did the cat save his life, but it also saved the lives of about 150 other people living in the Hermione building at 80 East 116th Street in Harlem.

For those who know popular literature, you might say the stray cat of the Hermione building was a very special wizard. In fact, I think I’ll call him Harry.

According to the New York Tribune, William saw the strange cat in the hallway upon returning home from his night job at 3:30 in the morning. The cat purred and rubbed himself against William’s legs as he pet it. William could tell Harry was very friendly, and he didn’t have the heart to toss him outside. He brought the cat into his apartment and went to bed.

William had just started to fall asleep when he heard a loud howling noise coming from his front door. He endured the noise for a short while, and then decided to get up and let the noisy cat back into the hallway.

New York Sun, February 4, 1897
Stray Cat Saves Lives
New York Sun, February 4, 1897

As he opened the door, he saw that the hall and stairwells were filled with smoke. Bright orange flames were running up the elevator shaft in the center of the hallway. With the door open, Harry the cat made a mad dash to escape.

William shouted to alert the tenants in the 27 other apartments, and then ran back inside to get his family. The Davenport family, including his wife, their infant child, a boarder, and a servant, were all able to make it safely down the smoke-filled stairway. Many of the other Hermione residents on the upper floors were forced to escape via the roof or fire escapes.

George Simms and his wife, who lived on the fourth floor, were two of the people forced to make their way to the roof. Mr. Simms and fifth-floor resident Allen D. Moor broke off a large section of slat flooring used to protect the tar roof, and made a bridge to cross the six-foot chasm over to the neighboring building.

The fire took place in the five-story Hermione building, on the southwest corner of Park Avenue and 116th Street in Harlem.
The fire took place in the five-story Hermione building, on the southwest corner of Park Avenue and 116th Street in Harlem.

When the fire department arrived, the men had to rescue numerous people in various states of dress (and undress) who had crowded onto the fire escapes. The firemen soon had the fire under control, although not before it had caused about $15,000 in damage. An investigation determined that the fire had originated in a basement storeroom.

Everyone who lived in the building agreed they all would have been smothered or burned in bed had it not been for the stray cat. The day after the fire, William headed up a neighborhood hunt to find Harry. The plan was to adopt the cat as the building’s mascot as soon as it was found.

Residents trapped on the roof of the Hermione building created a bridge from some wood slats to cross over to the adjoining building on East 116th Street.
Residents trapped on the roof of the Hermione building created a bridge from some wood slats to cross over to the adjoining building on East 116th Street.
The Hermione Building on Park Avenue
The Hermione--called the most beautiful apartment in Harlem--was constructed sometime around 1891. This advertisement appeared in the New York World that year.
The Hermione–advertised as the most beautiful apartment in Harlem–was constructed sometime around 1891. This advertisement appeared in the New York World that year.
Here's another ad from the New York World, 1893. Note the Hermione building was fire-proof.
Here’s another ad from the New York World in 1893. Note that the ad states the Hermione building was fire-proof.
The Hermione (bottom right), 1897 Bromley map. New York Public Library Digital Collection.
The Hermione (bottom right), 1897 Bromley map. New York Public Library Digital Collection.
The Hermione was constructed on what had once been a large farm owned by Sampson (Samuel) Adolphus Benson.
The Hermione was constructed near the Old Harlem Road on what had once been a large farm owned by Sampson (Samuel) Adolphus Benson. Benson, who owned the parcel until 1826, was the grandson of Samson Benson, who in turn was the great-grandson of Captain Johannes Benson, who settled in Nieuw Haarlem in 1696. For almost 200 years, the heirs of Johannes Benson were among the largest landowners in Harlem. From the Randal Farm Map, 1820.
 This illustration shows present-day Park Avenue between 115th and 116th Streets as it appeared in 1864. Perhaps our hero cat was a descendant of a barn cat on the Benson farm? Museum of the City of New York Collections
This illustration shows Park Avenue between 115th and 116th Streets as it appeared in 1864. The Hermione building was constructed right along the rounded curve of the fence — perhaps our hero cat was a descendant of a barn cat on the old Benson farm? Museum of the City of New York Collections