The New York herald., 1876-03-09
THE BURNED ASYLUM.
Impressive Scenes at the Flu
nerals Of the Victims.
NOBLE DEVOTION OF THE SISTERS
No More Bodies Found, but Three
Old Men Yet Missing.

The sad calamity that occurred at the Roman
Catholic Home for the Aged, corner OF Bushwick
boulevard and Chestnut street. full details OF which
appeared IN yesterdays HERALD still continues to be
the exciting theme across the river Before Is the
Beecher and Bowen controversy pales and all classes
OF the community read the narrowing details of the
burning Of eighteen aged and inhrm with feelings
of horror Public sentiment agrees that there has been
great fault perpetrated by who should be
held responsible for the fearful holocaust that has
red grief and terror many household. Just where
this responsibility at this stage OF the inquiry it
is impossible to determine; but the public look the
Fire Marshal and the Coroner make such searching
inquiries will settle the responsibility beyond all pos
sble cavil
The Home yesterday the
INCIDENTS
between the preparation Of the crisped and charred
bodies for burial the removal of the properly of the
institution from the grounds TO which IL carried
by the police and the remen during the exciting events
ofTuesday morning, back to the dormItores, and the
reception of the aged inmates who returned to the in
stituton. The Little Sisters OF the Poor had
all they could do Yet amid all the tumult and
confusion that resulted from these of excite
Sister Mary OF the Apostle and her.
cates found time all queries from curious
people and receive the hundreds Of ladies and gentle
who to sympathize and show their apprecia-
tion OF the Little Sisters by the deposit OF generous
offerings The funeral services, which fully de-
scrbed elsewhere of very simple but impressive
character. The authorities satisfied that all
the bodies have been recovered, and that the total
deaths are but eighteen
ABOUT THE HOME YESTERDAY.
Threatening as was the weather yesterday morning
at early hour hundreds of men and women-some
search OF friends and others attracted there by i'm
pulses OF curiosity merely-gahered about the gate
way the Chestnut street side, where an officer, de-
tailed by Acting Captain Dunn OF the Ninth sub pre-
cnct guarded the entrance supported by the Captain
and several patromen distributed about institution
and grounds. At the gateway poor box,
which painted Remember the Aged" Into this
box scores who had read Of the seEsacrihces Of
Little Sisters, deposited their offerings In the crowd
that clamored for admission number OF fashion
ably dressed ladies', some of whom had left their
carriages the Bushwck boulevard They came, not
seekers after notorety but deposit their
offerings in behalf of the institution that had passed
through double baptism OF fire and water.
Parts OF the floors had fallen through into the cellar
carrying with them portions OF the roof and such fur
niture had not fallen during the fire. The walls and
charred fragments of flooring dripping with water
and large pool had formed IN the cellar About the
yard numerous articles OF household furniture and
kitchen utensils lay in the mud number OF
Sisters were busy engaged in removing the beds and
other articles of furniture to that part OF the Home
that had escaped the flood and flame.
Many men and women Knocked at the gate and asked
for missing friends and they were generally overjoycd
safe Those who had lost friends went mournfully
away TO prepare forthe funeral
RETURN or THE INMATES.
Many OF the aged inmates returned yesterday after
noon, and among them were several who supposed
TO among the dead The Sister Superioress received
them most kindly aud anxiously inquired as to their
welfare. 'Where did you stay last night 7" she asked
OF an aged man named Wilder, 'Oh, stopped with
my sister down in De Kalb avenue replied the man.
who was little old fellow. with wonderfully bright
eyes. Il thought you might think me dead, and SO
came back to tell you that wasn't" The old
assigned
of the building.
None Of the Sisters partook OF much rest since the
exciting scenes OF Tuesday until yesterday morning
again yesterday and when the HERALD reporter
strollcd through the drenched and burned apart
every one Of these little toilers in the
OF charity silently at work repairing the damages,
washing the bedding mailing up cloths over broken
window panes or repairing the torn garments OF the
worthy women never lost single moment from some
useful work. proving that their selfpossesson had
been gained by long continuance in habits of INDUS
try ruPalty and thrift The reporter cast his eyes
down into the basement the wing yesterday
Gregory busiy at work amid the debris Of ashes,
beams iron COTS half burned bedding and furniture.
With shovel the little sister was turning over the
debris, carefully examining every piece OF burned
clothing in earnest effort to discover something
long sought after. Looking down upon her
as she moved about cautiously were many
spectators and close the two pretty and
iashionably dressed ladies' One expressed her fear
that bricks might fall the devoted toer in the
black pr OF death and after scanning the Sister
some ume turned away, remarkng III have begged
for every cause but shall beg the Little
sisters OF the Poor Never before did know that
members Of my labored like this" Speaking OF
the Little Sisters 1t proper say that all the work
OF the institution is performed by the Sisters them
selves They are only fifteen IN number. but they
have divided their duties with such excellent system
that they never lind them oppressive.
sister Mary of ST. Peter, the Mother OF the Order.
who has been in New Orleans yesterday ,elegraphed
her departure for Brooklyn Upon her return, and as
soon the insuranccs settled the work OF repair
ing the burned institution will be commenced To put
the Home IN good order II before the FIRE will
nccessnate the expenditure OF about s25 600,
The walls are very thick and strong, and will not
put In and the roof must be replaced
VICTIMS
Its now verv satisfactorily settled that there
more bodies IN the RUNS and that the total number OF
victims rs but eighteen. The fremen who removed the
bodies from the debris all declare that the
most thoroughly raked and that IL Is impossible that
other bodies be there. reporter OF the
HERALD yesterday went the list Published in
yesterdays HERALD OF the supposed dead missing
and made corrections Sister Mary learned from
the reporter that Jerry sullivan, hitherto
ported among the recoguzd is alive and in the hos.
pilal as stated Yesterdays HERALD The Sister,
therefore believes that the following is full list Of the
dead and missing
Dead-Mchae Kelley, Theodore Chagnot James
Ryan, George Donnoy, Fredenck Elcghard, James
Connolly Daniel German, Jonn Cavanaugh Peter Kelly,
Roger Farrell, Peter Hayes, Patrick Heay, Conrad
'laudemaun Michael Cummings, John Barroden, James
Neon and Michael Pfeiier hertofore given Michael
up total Of seventeen known to be
among the dead. Among the missing TO be accounted
Tor are John kgneN, John MatternOn ana an unknown
German Sister Mary thinks that OF these three
ing inmates is the eighteenth person among the dead,
and expresses the belief that the other two missing will
be heard from IN due time John Costin, reported in
the HERALD among the missing, and IN all the Brooklyn
papers OF yesterday among the dead, is alive and
we'll Fireman Keigher, OF Enpne No. Is which par
ticipated In tue suppression OF the Gre Is sonnlaw
OF Mr. Costn. he stated yesterday 10 he wrer that
his father-in-law escaped unhurt, and now at Mr..
keghier's residence.
GScipENrs or rHg
During the Afternoon Johr Garrahcr, aged seventy
six years, who has long been inmate OF the Home
appeared aud asked tho Little Sisters TO assist
him In hnding his prayer book. A search Of the
chapel where the wafer had made sad havoc discov-
cred the sacred relic, and when handed TO nim
he moved Oh, remarking Thank God IFS saved al
though wet but can dry H. | have had II forty
yoars
A heartronding scene was witnessed whom Mrs Cum
miugs almost forced her the chapter room