The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-08-08

Their devoted custodians needed not the
risk they ran, but, willing to yield up
their own lives, if necessary, in fulfilling
the sacred trust reposed in them, dashed
through the scorching heat, the flames
kissing and glowing about their sombre
robes, and rescued from an awful fate the
innocents. The brothers, workmen and
larger boys from the adjacent institute
We're quickly on the spot, and lent valua-
BILE aid as lite-savers. The task imposed
upon all was Il herculean one. but it was
bravely completed, and the painful record
Of the disaster is less dark by the tact that
there was no loss Of life. True to her
faith, ready for dreadful martyrdom if
it should be Gods good will, one of the Sis
tiers, even at this hour of dire peril, remem-
bercd the holy sacrament in the chapel
and rushed forward to preserve it from
the pollutin% touch of the flames. 1t was
an undertaking accompanied by no small
amount of danger; but it was calamity
accomplished, as was also the rescue Of a
very valuable painting presented to the
institution by DR.. Anderson.
The sewing machines were also pre-
served from the general wreck but it
was found absolutely impossible to save
any of the furniture or effects. either OF
the sisters or the children. Had the
SHOWS of winter mantled the earth. or
the chilly winds OF March been blowing.
the calamity would have been augmented
to trightiul extent; but the wind was
tempered to the shern lambs, and. though
nearly naked and homeless. they were
not subjected to the pains and priyations
Indictment weather would have produced
Tho llnr h,illip.rc in N ,,tt II.
main one caught fire several times but
she tiremen by great eNertions. managed
TO eXtnguish the flames and retard the
advance Of the devouring element. These
buildings wooden editices, mostly-now
provide a temporary home for the sisters
and a few the little ones whom the So
cielv is obliged to maintain The floors
of the protectory were of pine, and the
fire swept over these with wonderful rap
idity, consuming the partitions and furni-
ture, turning in folds around the mid
die tower, enwrappinS everything The
scene presented by the burning edice
was grand but painful to behold. High
towards the sky flashed crimson forks OF
flame, while showers Of glowing sparks
scattered themselves around, soaring the
guarded trunks of the trees in the chard
near at hand. blightin@ the fruit and wilt
ing the leaves which empowered it. 81
lently and energetically the good sisters
worked, but ever and anon the fall OF
some ponderous portion of the buildino
would create terror in the minds of the
little ones whom their efforts had rescued
from the flames. and shrill shrieks of feal
and dismay would fill the air The spire
and cross upon the fine square tower soon
| ,l,l t,l1 a.,
away in a whirlwind of flame, and an out
house in which were stored 800 tons OF
coal, was ablaze before the fire engines
reached the spot To any one used to wit
ness the rapid progress fire makes when
it has once obtained full Roadway, it was
10y that time clearly apparent that 10 hui
man exertions could save the stately pile
from complete demolition. Work hard
and pluckily rs they would, the devastat-
ing element had the upper hand, and held
supremacy until it waned and died fol
lack of further fuel Fortunately the
night was calm, OF there is no doubt that
the magnificent building occupied by the
brothers, and connected with the same
protectory, would have been demolished.
l he water used in the endeavors to
check and quell the flames was procured
from wells. The supply Of fluid held out
capitally; but hand pumps do not fore,
water very far and this fact added to the
combuslible nature OF the building. ac-
counts in great measure for the total
demolition of the editice. When the last
sheet of flame had waned and faded from
sheer hamilton, and only the smoke ssu
ing from some portions of the debris
tainted the air, the sisters gathered in
lite throngs and discussed the events OF
the past night. 1t had been night OF
trouble and woe most dircfu. To the
pure and tender hearted woman there is
no sound more painful than the waiine
OF horror-stricken child. But these sis
tiers had strong hearts. and were Willing
to run any risk for the salvation of tho
little ones coniidcd to their care From
the moment the first alarm was given
until all hope or chance Of saving any
thing beyond the articles mentioned was
gone, they labored hard and WELL and
then, unmindtnl of sleep or rest, busted
themselves lin making provisions for The
frightened little ones.