The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-20
SHOCKING CATASTROPHE In BROOKLYN.

SHOCKING CATASTROPHE In BROOKLYN.
NNoU~~O~~~o~~O~o>~oo~O~
Destruction OF Public School House-Heart-
rending Calarnity--seven Children safF0-
Gated and Three Seriously Ipjurod-Heroic
Conduct OF the Teachers and others-NobIe
Conduct Of the Boys attached To the School.
About two O'Clock yesterday afternoon fire was disco
vered in the three story brick building situate at the
ner of Concord and Navy Streets occupied public
school. The IRE first discovered in the southwest
extremity Of tho building and before could be checked
spread throughout the building which in short time WAS
entirely destroyed The fire department. police and c
zens were promptly on the spot and rendered every as
sstance possible in the extremity.
THE SCHOOL BUILDING.
The building Of brick about three stories high, ninety
seven feet long on Navy street and ninety Con
cord street. II was in the form Of an "L in the angle
Of which play ground the first floor of the building
ground floor, also occupied o play ground the
remainder upper stories being supported upon arches
On this first floor were besides the play ground vaults for
the deposit of Goals and wood The first oor above this
WAS occupied primary department under the prnci
pal charge Of Mrs S. w. Voorhees, assisted by Misses IT.
A. Anabel, Blake NJ Sherman, L. French T. Rutherford,
Mary Matlock, r. Beebe and Sarah Maeee In this de-
partment about FIVE hundred scholars, from tho
age Of five to zen twelve.
The floor above this was occupied by the grammar de.
partment, consisting Of two hundred scholars, male
and female, of advanced ages-from twelve To
eighteen and twenty-under the principal charge of c.
W. wocott principal Of the school, assisted by Misses
NJ L. Wheeler, s. b. Browne, Jane Farmer, II. Coffin,
c. T. Cushman, A. A. Warner, j. A. Wight, P. A. Bald
win and X. |. hCount These floors divided into
nine class rooms each floor separated by folding doors
There were three modes Of egess by sarcases into the
street. A main door opening Concord street.
Navy at the end of tho building Concord street
and at the end Navy street. Each of the stair
leading to the and third floors four and
half feet in width. The entrance Navy street
used principally by the male department, and the two
Concord street used by the female
gram mar department. The modes Of egress repre-
sented as being ample and in every way calculated TO
avoid accident in cases OF sudden panic.
THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
The schoohouse is heated with patent iues, heaters
running throughout the whole of the building The fire
first discovered by of the female teachers of tho
primary department, Miss Beebe, who the smoke is
suing from of the ventlaors She cautiously stepped
towards the principal of that department Mrs. VOORHEES,
and quietly told her the difficulty, when Mrs. VOORHEES,
turned TO dismiss the school, At the moment
of the smaller children discovered the fire and gave the
alarm. The teachers Immediately took measures to pre-
serve order and regularity in the safe escape of the chill
dren and far succeeded that who left the build
ing by the entrances Concord street the least
injured but readily escaped with their books and outer
clothing. The alarm at spread not only to the
classes that floor but 10 the grammar department
above Tho various classes speedily dismissed and
the teachers and larger children lent their aid
deavorpg regularity and order IN the eess Of
The smaller children Their efforts, so far the two
nently successful Those who sought egress by these
passages got out in safety and by these passages
conveyed the library of the school, well that Of the
Normal school and most Of the furniture in that wing Of
the building.
TIE SCENE OF THE CATASTROPHE.
The place where the great loss Of life occurred was at
the staircase leading 70 the Navy street entrance The
smaller children here rampled upon and sufocatod
by the immense crowd OF children pressing upon them
from above and behind them. Mr. wolcot, the princi
pal stationed himself at the landing and stroye
70 relieve the smaller boys from the pressure above He
handed them over the baustrade to those below and
thus succeeded in rescung them. Above him was pla.
form formed by the landing Of staircase, and here
tha, those who killed received their injuries To
control the Of children above impossible asa
though the fire had not reached that part Of wing OF
the buildng-the smoke, coming in dense and surocang
and mands Of Mr. wolcet and his assistants were
unheeded; each for liberty and in the rush
and crowd children aged from I've TO ten years,
were sufocatcd or tramped 10 death.
MI wolco and his assistants, aided by the citizens
succeeded in clearing tho building Of overy human being
The dead or dying conveyed 10 the neghboring
houses drug stores, and every assistance rendered
them.
The building was about this time enveloped in flames
the side part fronting Concord street and the
flames soon spread TO the wing upon Navy street In
about two hours from ts first discovery the flames had
consumed the entire building, leaving but the first
story walls standing frame building upon Navy street
va somewhat damaged BY water and falling bricks II
was occupied by James Mackay. low frame building
on Concord street, adjoining the school, was slightly in
jured.
DISTRESSING SCENES.
The neishborhood Of the school somewhat den.ely
populated, and nearly every family residing in the
vicinity had children attending the school As Il
became known that the school house Are the pa
rents q The children came from all directions almost
frantic with fear that among those the building were
Of their onspriDg Parents fondy csressng their
children who had escaped; others wildly rushing
amid the crowd, calling aloud for their chdren and chill
dren escaping 10 their homes fear Of the dread event
from which hey bad but just been rescued-as well
the grief o the parents of those children who had been
taken out dead dying, truly narrowing to the
soul The dread event cast gloom over tho whole a.
scmblsgo, and could hardly be witnessed without
ten. II was sorrowul sight 70 witness the sad process
son a. child After child taken from the building and
conveyed 70 some place adjacent where remedies could
be applied for lis relief, II not past all remedy The drug
store Of Dr h. J. stowo, In Nassau street, Navy,
being nearest the OF the catastrophe, made
hospital but hoee who taken there were
dead having died In the school building. This place
vas densely surrounded with persons anxious 10
learn the fate OF those within, and sympa-
thizing with those parents who thus suddenly
had been beren Of their children. Among those
from the building burned the flames not
having reached that wing Of the building until all we're
taken out Of H.
THE DEAD AND WOUNDED.
The names Of the unfortunate children who killed
or wounded follows all being between the ages Of
six and ten yesrs,-
l. Henry Plsss Of Garwood Psss ten years old,
siding In Portland avenue, between Park and Myrtle
THIS child taken out of the building by officer
william Brown. Second prcsnt police, and taken 70 the
ecconu district station house II living when taken
cut but died before n reached the station house The