New-York tribune., 1900-01-14
FIRE HEROINE THANKED.
,,,Ss sw.pTs REFUSES PURSE OFFERED
TO HER By Mr. scANNELL.

-. e-s +he eizhteen-yesr-old heroine
- = = - 9S and 80 West Fifty-ninth-st.
- TE-ez-aesav where 50 many nrenleh We're over
come vas publicly thanked oy oeer scan
neu and FIRE Chief Croker a. r re f1ea0qoarters
yesterday afternoon -...a- ,-..-..,-.-.
= - - fsr uarents AT No GIL East Ninth-st.
. - -,,-n.ng Of the FIRE she was going uptown
: ,-eva- an advertisement Ie-aAaNe 70 eieflcal
- ,riss swar1s while declining 10 say much
shou- herssf said that she neeoeo WoTh aho oe-
- .,s-fosl work II she could get such employ
- - - : modest about her actions at the fire,
- s.s-.es 10 dislike the notoriety caused
- ~ +he car when It WIS stopped by the
-. he3-c stretched across the track and reached
-..-s of the fire just as the hremen were being
ne - So raok in the situation a glance,
.z F--o 81 -neizhboring grocery store and bought
-, a milk she had this heated, and then
-, = 70 rhe exhausted hremen. she went into
- =-ors with benjamin Stern, whom she ordered
- assist her Stern lives a NJ ~ "eSN
,5-- -r-eu.y-secCud-sI-
~ svarts went into the burning building and
lsfned The fremen IL every way she could she
1s-a5 her handkerchief over the mouth OF one fire.
-rsn v-ho was beng badly overcome by the smoke
g. -sf--fa9 over fence and with an axe made an
- FOR -be fremen 10 drag in their hose. But
-, 49, signal achievement her saving the
49, ~ t7-a men. They had slipped into open
t,- and were n danger Of falling into the cellar.
-, vrrs sIleE with wafer. Miss Swarts arrived
q
- -t- -rriI other frennen 10 their rescue.
= -en.sired at the FIRE helping those who had
s,ss- orercoule by the smoke until she too was
overcome.
r-,-s- since that tine the members OF the Fire De-
-.e--7,e7r from Chief Croker down, have been
- he n-stses of Miss Swarts. Members Of
- seoarr1enr wrote letters 70 Commissioner
ca-7eu calling lis attention 10 the heroism Of Miss
- Commissioner Scanneu such i'm
sz -l,s- he sent for her 10 come his Office
he Snr he
.r,ez sva-ts appeared at the Fire Headquarters
,,-f.zsre Al a little after O'Clock When the fire
-,a7 saw her they gathered IN knot and cheered.
seal men rushed 10 open the door for her, and
sh- was escorted 10 the Office OF Commissioner
eos1Beu Chief Croker was talking with Commits
s5one- scanneu when Miss Swarts timidy entered
Is Commissioner ScanneU here?'' she asked
why here is our heroine said Chief Croker.
b advanced and he'd out his hands TO Miss swarts.
I've are glad 70 see you'
Mss Swarts was seated. Commissioner Scannen
expressed himself delighted with meeting the
young woman After she had been seated he said:
Il IS very unusual for TO send for any one 70
thank them for q public service We are deeply
sensible q your disinIerestsd work al the fire
Every man II the Department IS pTaising your
heroic conduct Ne all fee that We are deeply in
men you assisted and whose lives you were in
E-1Tnen-al IN saving feel that nothing can reward
,-5u for Wilac you have done for them
Now. We are the kind Of men who believe that
word q mouth We desire 10 give something SUP
E-auL1ai- something bT means Of which you viii
have aUse 70 remember that the men OF this De-
2 far--nent appreciate your good work
Commissioner Scanneu opened a drawer in his
desk and took therefrom purse that appeared to
Be stuffed with bank notes. He handed it 10 Miss
swarrs. saying;
We hope you VIII accept this small token Of our
regard and We wish that Il was good deal
larger"
Tears came 10 the eyes Of Miss swarts. Several
tines she tried speak. but failed. She placed her
handkerchief 70 her eyes. and then said with con-
sidera bic emotion:
No no: cannot take the money. I simply did
what thought was my duty 10 do. I want work,
bit 1 cannot take money Tor that
Mss STarLs. noticing the look Of disappointment
or the faces OF Commissioner Scanneu and Chief
Croker. said:
7 beg Of you do not be offended do not mean
70 be rude n refusing your Kindness assure you
appreciate your kindness. but really cannot take
money
Commissioner Scarnel then spoke kindly 10 her.
saying
We 90 not mean 10 offend you by offering money.
= L vas possible for 70 make place for you II
this Department I would DO II once, but the
member that II OF any member Of this Department
czz serve yo1 IN any way by getting place We
VIII 60 II Every member OF the Department viii
strive be Of assistance 10 you Your action at
the f-e serves 70 show that the women Of New
YORK have the welfare Of the hrenen at heart and
vow conduct has served give the hren1en in
ceuIive 70 deserve the good opinions Of the women
O this city
Miss swa-ts was asked Il she would accept
resolution OF thanks. and she signihed
her willingness 70 do 50.