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or you can get all of History Daily plus other fantastic history podcasts at IntoH38 a.m. on June 15, 1897, on Ellis Island in New York.

Night watchman William Gaines wanders the paths of the island's immigration station,

following a route that takes

them through each building once every 20 minutes. It's a tedious but simple job. There are more

than 200 immigrants on Ellis Island, but they're all fast asleep behind locked doors. And even if they

could get out, nobody would dare leave the dormitories after dark, because breaking curfew might

mean their

application to enter the United States would be turned down.

But tonight is different.

William's senses are on alert as the distinct smell of smoke drifts through the air.

His concern grows when he catches a glimpse of a flickering orange light reflected in an office window.

He rushes over and peers through

the glass. Flames have taken hold of the office furniture and are licking the ceiling. William opens

the door to the office, but he's forced back by the heat of the flames. He retreats to a nearby

kitchen and fills a bucket with water. He returns to the office to throw water over the blaze,

but the fire is too large.

A few seconds later, a glass window explodes in the heat.

And William decides he could do nothing but run.

He can't stop the fire from spreading.

...