New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-15
MISS SCHWARTZ WANTS WORK.
YOUNG FIRE HEROINE TELLS WHY SHE
COULD NOT TAKE FIREMENs
MONEY.

Miss Minnie Schwartz. the heroine OF the West
Fifty-ninth-st. fire. who was publicly thanked on
Saturday by Commissioner Scanneu and Fire ChieI
Croker at Fire Headquarters for the aid she hao
given to the hremen. two OF whose lives she was
instrumental in saving. lives In modest nome a
No 81 East Nlnth-st. with her parents Two
younger sisters and little brother. Her refusal 70
accept purse offered by Commissioner Scannen, to
whom she said she could not take money for doing
what she thought was her duty, and that she woulo
like to have work, appears all the more praise
worthy when IT IS known that the Schwartz FANNY
Of six are at present dependent on the small earn
ings of her young sister Sadie
Henry Schwartz, the father. IS a clothing cutter
and has been out OF employment for month
Minnie Schwartz has been employed IN department
stores. hut at the last place she was laid on AFTER
the holidays although. she says. she made the
largest sales in her department. The family Is now
supported by her young sister Sadie. who Is
cashier in the East Side branch OF he Metropolitan
Tobacco Company. No. 2ss East houston-st. and
was formerly employed in a sub-station OF the
New-York Postofice. The other sister and brother
so to school
Miss Schwartz was seen by Tribune reporter
last evening at her home. where she was showing
to admlring girl friends the newspaper stories in
English and German of her reception at Fire Head
quarters She laughingly declared that she would
get a big scrapbook and preserve all the kind
things the papers had said about her but that she
was getting tired Of reading much praise Of her
self. She had obtained any employment yet
It that Commissioner Scauneu had given
a letter Of recommendation 10 a member OF the
firm Of department store. but she had been 10 the
same store on Saturday morning and was told
there was work there for her, and she would
rever make another application where she had once
been refused. Moreover. she had received such
poor pay after faithful service in the department
stores she had worked in that she preferred other
employment. where there was some chance Of ad-
hrO'
for instance.
III was very kind OF the hremen to offer the
money" said Miss Schwartz, and money would
certainly be welcome in our home just now, but
could not take it from them. They have wives and
children TO support. II the city or a nurnoer OF
wealthy business men had offered it it would be
the poor hrernen; Besides, DO not want 20 take
morey except when I earn it, and l did not feel
that had done anything great. only my duty
work"
Schwartz said that soon after it broke out there
was big crowd Of men there, and not one Of them
the effects Of the severe strain. After she had
taken milk TO a tenement house near by, had
heated it herself and given It TO the hremen. the
police tried 70 keep her outside the fire lines but
men and gave orders that she should remain in
In the rear Of the building was fence. and she
broke out piece so they could run hose through
When she helped the doctor revive some OF the IN
conscious men he complimented her by saying she
was "a second Helen Gould he asked her TO lTr
the eyelds Of the unconscious fremen and blow at
the sides OF their eyes 70 revive them. and when
she did so. and they came TO, they laughed at her
They all. however appreciated what she was able
TO do for them but she felt she had only done what
she ought to have done in the circumstances. She
added that she should watch for the letter carrier
this morning with keen interest, hoping some offer
of employment would come.
Miss Schwartz has something Of a reputation as a
peaCeuaker among the warning youngsters OF the
neIghbOrhOOd. Whenever she sees two or more boys.
or even men, fighting she starts in. regardless Of
consequences, and by judicious use of force and
persuasion. manages 10 get the COmbatanrs apart,
and often puts end 70 the disturbance.