The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-26
Heroism of the Good Sisters in the
Rescue of the Inmates.
TIE BUILDING ENTIRELY DESTROYED
History of the Origin and Progress
of the Institution.

The female department. OF the Catholic Pr0tectory
Is In ruins This splendid edi6ce was utterly con-
snmed by Dire at an early hour yesterday morning
yet, thanks to benencent Providence, one of
the youthful inmates persisted in the flames The
PrOtectory is situate near the village of West
Farms, Westchester, and IN close proximity to the
male depaI tment Of the Protect0ry. The fire was
first discovered about quarter TO one, at which
hour nearly i've hundred and eighty-one children
together with thirteen sisters who in charge
OF them, were
PEACEFULLY SLEEPING.
The remainder OF the Sisters connected with the
establishment were at the Mount st. Vincent an
nual retreat. The night-watchman noticing the
fire gave the alarm, and the custodians OF the chill
dren, assisted by the brothers from the adjacent
institution aud the workmen from the buildings
near at hand, succeeded in safely removing all the
little inmates, though the time between the alarm
being given and that at which the building was
ENvELoPED IN FLAMES
was brief indeed. The fire broke out upon the
second door, and as no lights or fires were then in
use within the Protectory, it is ut present impOss-
bic even to surmise how the con1agratOn origina-
ted. The Westminster fire engine the one belong
ing to West Farms ana also two nom Morrisania
were speedily upon the ground, and the workers
of them certainly rendered most efficient service.
But these engines are only worked by manual power,
and, though the men attached to them did their
utmost to quell tho advance OF the fire fend, their
efforts were unavailing-the building being doomed
to destruction
On first discovering the fire, the Waterman, who
was promenading one Of the piazzas. raped ana
haaoed Justify, awakening the Sisters from their
sweet repose. At first these ladies did not deem
the incident of such consequence as proved to be,
and as one of the Sisters expressed herself to a
HERALD reporter, ~ only
GENTLY AROUSED THE CHILDREN
and told them not to be frightcnd; that there was
a fire, but did not think it would amount to any
thing serious"
But, in less time than the recital Of 1t occupies,
1t became palpably evident that human agency
could save the edifce from total immolation. The
Aoors were OF pine, the partitions dry as finder,
and great waves Of flame came sweeping down,
the torrent tapping up with greedy tongue every
thing infammable that essayed to arrest its prog
ress. 1t was at this epoch that the herosm nhe-
rent in the nature of womankind displayed itself
to It's fullest advantage. In the hospital were thirty
little ones
SICK AND PHOSPHATE
Their devoted custodians needed not the risk they
ran, but willing to yield up their lives If necessary
In fulfilling the sacred trust reposed in them,
dashed through the scOrchng heat, the flames
kissing and glowing about their sombre robes, and
rescued from an awful fate the timid innocents.
The Brothers, workmen and larger boys from the
adjacent Institute, were quickly upon the spot OF
the disaster, and lent valuable aid as life savers
The task imposed upon all was o .hcrculean one,
but it was bravey completed and the painful record
OF the disaster Is rendered less dark by the fact
that there was no loss OF life True to her faith,
ready for q dreadful martyrdOm, If 1t was Gods
good WILL one OF the sisters, even at this hour OF
dire peril remembered the holy sacrament in the
chapel and rushed forward to preserve 1t from the
pOlluting touch of the sacrilegious names. II
an undertaking accompanied by no small amount
OF DANGER but 1t was
CALAMITY ACCOMPLISHED,
as was also the rescue of a very valuable painting
prese nted to the institution by Dr. Anderson The
sewing machines were also preserved from the
isteiy Impossible to save any Of the ' fur
niture or effects either OF the Sisters
the children. Had the SHOWS OF winter mantled
the earth, or the chilly winds OF March been blow
ing, the calamity would have been augmented
to frlghtful extent: but the wind was tempered
to the shorn lambs, and though nearly naked and
homeless, they were not subjected to the pains and
privations Indictment weather would have pro-
duced.
caught lire several times; but the remen, by great
exertlons, managed TO extinguish the flames and
'N ' THE DEvouRrNa ELEMENT.
These budings-wooden edlhces, mostly-now
provide temporary nome, nome t or sne sisters e. ana
to maintain. The floors OF the Protectory were
OF pne- and the fire swept over these with wonder
full rapidty, consuming the partitions and furni-
ture, turning In feXuous folds around the middle
tower, enwrapping everything eager to cause
The scene presented by the burning eddce was
grand but painful to behold. High towards the
star-spanged sky flashed crimson forks OF flame,
while showers OF glowing sparks scattered them
selves around, soaring the gnarled trunks OF the
virent trees In the orchard near at nand blighting
the fruit penslle from the moss-clad branches and
whiting the pinnate leaves which empowered II.
silently and the one sEs
ton OF the building would create terror in the
minds of
whom their angelic clorts had rescued from the
flames, and shrilly shrleks OF fear and dsmay
would fiji the cad air. The spire and cross upon
the fine square tower soon toppled and fell;
the plazzas were swept away In whirlwind OF
flame, and an clubhouse, In which were stored 800
tons OF coal was abaze before the fire engines
reached the spot To any one used to witness the
rapid progress lire makes when it has once OBJ
tanned full Roadway, 1t was by that time clearly ap-
parent that no human exertions could save the
stately pile from complete demolition. Work
yastatng element had the upper hand, and
held supremacy until It wancd and died for lack Of
there is no doubt that the magnificent building
occupied by the Brothers, and connected with the
same frotectory, would have been demolished
THE WATER
used IN the endeavors to check and que the flames
mud held out capitally; but hand pumps do not
force water very far. and this fact, added to the
combustible nature Of the building, accounts in
edifce. ~ '~'"0" u 'n0
Wnen the ldSt lamDent Sneet OF name had WaDed
and faded from sheer inaniton, and only the smoke
issuing from some portions or the debris tainted
the air, the Sisters gathered In little throngs and
discussed the events Of the past night 1t had been
night OF trouble and woe most direful TO the
pure and tender hearted woman there Ia sound
more painful than the wailing Of
HORROR STRICKEN CHILD.
Hut these Sisters had strong hearts, and were will
fng To run any risk for the salvation OF the little
conhded to their care From the moment the first
alarm was given until all hope or chance OF saving
anything beyond the articles above mentioned was
gone they abored hard and well, and then, I'M
mindful o.! sleep or rest, busted themselves in max
ing provision for the little frightened ones whom
they shielded beneath their Minns of hniinoas