Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-02-08
VOL. XIX. NO. 10

Large tenement Destroyed.
Whole Families Burned TO DEATH
Heart-Rending Scenes.
NEW YoRK, Feb 2.
Last evening, between and 8 o'clock,
fire broke out in the basement Of a double
six-story tenement, No. 4O2 Elm street,
The fire originated in bakery. The flames
shot up the stairway with great r.pidity,
and extended to the upper foors, ocsupied
by about twenty families. The moment
the alarm was given the scene OF confusion
that ensued throughout the building was
of the most heart-rendering character. The
stairway was burned away. and Of course
all chance for escape was cut of In that
quarter. Men, women and children could
be seen by the spectators in the inside.
standing in clusters at the window, scream.
ing for assistance, and wringing their
hands in the agony Of despair. Some Of
them, mastering courage enough 10 jump
from the windows, escaped with slight in-
jury.
Mr.. Wise. with his family, consisting Of
his wife and three children, occupied q
portion of the front second floor. Mr.. Wise
escaped, and one child, three years old.
was rescued, but one Of his legs was bro
ken. No particulars could be obtained %
to what became of the rest of the family.
and it is feared they were burned to death.
Isaac White, with his wife and Eve
children, occupied a part Of the second
floor. Mr.. W. escaped, aud also two chill.
dren. Eliza. aged 20 years, and Louis,
aged l L, and Gustsye, aged IL years, were
absent; and Esther. aged ls years, and
Pauline, aged years, were nearly sufo-
Gated. The two last were taken to Tho
mas street hospital. Their injuries are not
very serious.
Geo. Bordner occupied part Of the sec.
ond floor with his wife and two children,
Caroline. aged 4 years, and Henry, aged
l6. Mr.. 3. and the two children escaped
uninjured, but Mrs. B. was badly burned.
She was found nearly dead by Detective
Jeffreys, assisted by several members Of
Engine Co. No. 80. The officer took her
TO the shoe store of Geo. Seheffmercy, No.
l26 Grand street, but the shoemaker inhu.
manly ordered them out but the Police
man pushed him aside, and put the wsman
on a sofa. She afterwards was taken to
the hospital.
Mr.. McCarrick occupied part Of the
third floor. with his wife and two children
all saved.
| A Jewish family, consisting of 3, oecu-
pied portion of the third floor. The on
ly member Of the family that could be
found was a child two aud half years
old. 1t is feared portion Of the family
were burned.
Mr.. Keick's wife and five children ocsu-
pied a portion of the third floor: None OF
them were seen after the ere broke out. II
is feared they were all burned.
Mr. Wallace, his wife and two ehiIdree
occupied portion Of the third noor. No
particulars could be learned Of them, al.
though a diligent search was made among
the crowd to find them, il any wers res
cued.
Mr.. Armstrong, wife and child occupied
a part of the fourth floor. Nothing could
be learned of them after the fire broke out.
Mr.. Rebecco, with his wife and two chill
dren, occupied part of the fourth story.
Nothing could be learned of them.
Mrs. North, widow, occupied q room
on the fifth floor. She was not seen sftsu
the fire broke out
Mr. Vapel and his wife occupied part
of the fifth floor Mr.. ", on the discovery
> of the Gre, and finding that he could moi
|, escape by the stairway. threw q clothes
/, line out Of the window and fastened one
end to the window sill. He let his wifs
partially down, when she slipped and fell
!, on a shed. injuring her severely. He fol
lowed, aud escaped with few slight inju'
rles. Mrs. Vapsl was taken to the hespi-
tai. but her life is despaired of.
F.P. Ysleyer. with wife aud three chill
dren, occupied part Of the fifth floor. He
escaped by jumping out of the window. re-
ceiving severe injury. II is feared his wifs
and children were burned to death.
Owing to the intense excitement that
prevailed the names Of the occupants ofths
. sixth floor could not be ascertained. 1t is
: supposed that The occupants of this door
about dozen in all, were burned to death
LArER.-Thers were 80 inmates, all oI
, whom are saved. excepting s. who doubt.
less perished in the FIRE. Another account
A makes the lost and missing 10. and gives
the details and names.