Evening journal., 1895-11-04
FIRE 'SFRIGHTFUL WORK
Fatal ConAagration In a New
York Sweatshop.
CHARRBD BODIES IN THE RUINS.
Tho Rapid Progress of the Flames Pre-
vented Occupants From Escaping-Mauy
Disastrous Fires Reported Throughout
the Country-soveraI Lives Lost.

the Country-scyeral Lives Lost.
NEW York, Nov. 4.-Soveral lives were
lost ia the fire yesterday ON the second
floor Of the six story brick building at
Pelham street, owned by We'll 81 Meyer Of
- Chambers street and used as sweat
shop. Three charred and almost unrccog-
nizable bodies were taken from tho ruins
and one man, who jumped to save his life
from tho flames was so injured that he
died in Gouverneur hospital, whittier no
was taken, suffering from fractured
skull. The dead are:
Jacob Shapiro, 80, watchman. having
friends at 1l6 West Nineteenth street.
found in the ruins.
Isaac Pcnson, -, Of 342 Cherry street.
found in the ruins.
Unknown man, found in the ruins.
Morris Dirschauer, 40, who jumped
from a second story window, and died in
Gouverneur hospital Of a fractured skull.
The Gre originated from some unknown
cause on tho second floor of No. 2 and
spread with great rapidity through that
building and those Immediately adioin-
ing. Five alarms wero sent in, and al
though a large number Of engines were
playing on the flames for hours nothing
could be done to save the structures them
selves and the buildings numbered 3, 3,
and 9 were completely destroyed.
The fire caused terror in the thiokly
populated neiRhborhood and people ran
out of their houses into the streets in
multitudes to escape the impending de-
struction Of their homes, as they feared.
The buildings burned were filed with
swoatshops, and several watchmen and 9TH
ers slept there. How many cannot be told
as yet. Two of these were Dirschauer,
who died in Gouverneur hospital, and
Samuel Ischowitz. ianitor Of No. z, who
jumped from windows to save them
selves. Ischowitz is still in the hospital,
with both legs broken.
Removing tho Chnrred Bodies.
After the flames had been extnguished,
because there was little more to burn, n
search was begun for the dead, for it was
believed that many might bo in the ruins
The first body, a totally unrocognizable
mass of charrod flesh and bones, found
in the doorway Of No z, was so burned
that it was at first supposed to have been
, Newfoundland dog which was kept
about the place. hut doctor from Gouver-
neur hospital declared it to be the remains
of a man.
A second body was discovered on the
third floor Of No. T. This too, was prac-
tically unrecognizable, but was identified
as that of Jacob Shapiro by relatives Lat
er still another charred form, Of immense
stature, was found. This proved to be the
remains of Isaac Penson, who was feet 4
inches tall in life, and was identified by
his son, Jacob Penson, Of 342 Cherry
street
The burned buildings were owned by
We'll & Meyer and Morris Levy, and were
used wholly as sweatshops, each room or
set Of rooms being leased to different in
dividuals or concerns. The loss on each
building is estimated at s15, 600, while tho
loss to the different tenants is Thought to
be about $500 each, making a total Of
about S75. 600.
Several Of the buildings in the immodi-
ate vicinity were somewhat damaged by
the heat Of the flames, but the losses in
no case wero serious. It'll said that Levy s
shop has taken fire twice within the past