The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-02-09

.-Fearlul Loss Of Life.
Now York, Feb. 3.-Last evening
between = and o'clock, FIRE broke
out in the basement of double six
story tenement house, No. AZ Elm
street. The fire originated in bak-
cry. The flames shot mp the doorway
With great rapidity, and extended to
the upper floors, occupied by about 20
families. The moment the alarm was
given, the scene of confusion that en-
sued throughout the building was of
the most heartrending character
The stairway was burned away and of
course all chances of escape was cut
off in that quarter. Men, women and
children could be seen'by the specta-
tors'on the sidewalk, clustered at the
windows screaming for assistance and
wringing their hands in agony of des-
pair. Some Of them mustered courage
enough to- Jump from the windows, and
escaped with slight injuries. Mr.. Wise,
with his family, consisting of his wife
and three children, occupied a portion
Of the front second floor. Mr.. Wise
escaped, and one child three years old
was rescued, but one of his legs was
broken. No particulars could be OBJ
tanned as to what became Of the rest OF
the family, and it is feared they were
burned to death.
Mr.. Isaac Waite with his wife and
five children, occupied part OF the
second floor, Mr.. and Mrs. w. escap-
ed and also the children. Eliza aged
90 years, and Louis aged IL years, and
Gustave aged II years were absent.
Esther aged lS years was nearly suffo-
Gated. Pauline aged Z years was near
ly suffocated. Injuries are not very
serious. Geo. Broduer occupied part
of the second floor with his wife, Fred
srika and two children Caroline aged
4 years and Henry aged l6 years. Mr..
3. and two children escaped uninjured,
but Mrs. B. was badly bruised. She
was found nearly dead, by Detective
Keefe, and assisted by several mem
bers of the engine No. so. The officer
fooN her to the shoe store of Geo. S.
Cheffinercy, No. 1875, Grand ST.. but
the shoemaker inhumahly ordered them
out. but the policeman pushed him
aside, and put the woman on sofa,
and she was afterwards taken to hos
pital. Mr.. McCarick occupied part
of the third story floor, wife and two
chifdred all saved. A French Family
consisting of eight occupied a portion
of the third floor. The only member
of the family that could be found, was
child two and half years of age.
It is feared portion of the family
were burned.
Mr.. bricks, wife and five children,
occupied a portion of the third floor
None of them were seen after the fire
broke out. 1t is feared that they are
all burned. Mr.. Walks, his wife and
two children, occupied portion of tile
third floor. No. particulars could be
learned of them, although diligent
search was made among the crowd to
find if any were recovered. Mr.. Arm
strong, wife and child, occupied part
Of the fourth floor Nothing could be
learned of them after the fire broke
out. Mr.. Rebecca, wife and two child
rem, occupied a part of the fourth story.
Nothing could be learned of them
Mrs. North, widow, occupied room
on the fifth floor, she was not seen af
ter the fire broke out. Mr.. Vopel and
his wife occupied a part of the fifth
floor. Mr.. Vopel on the discovery Of
the fire, finding that he could not es
cape by the stairway, threw clothes
line out of the window and fastened
it to the window sill. He let his wife
partially down when she slipped and
fell on the shed, injuring her severely.
He followed and escaped with few
slight injuries. Mrs. Vopel was taken
to the Hospital, but her life is despair
ed Of
Francis Pysleyer, with his wife and
three children, occupied part of the
fifth floor. He escaped by jumping
out of the window, butreccived severe
injuries. 1t is feared his wife and
children were burned to death.
Owing to the intense excitement
that prevailed, the names of the occu
pants of the sixth floor could not be
ascertained, and it is supposed that the
occupants of this floor, about dozen
in all, were burned to death.
The building contained 90 inmates
all of whom were saved excepting
eight, who doubtless persisted in the
fire. Another. account makes the lost
and missing So, and gives the details
and names.