New-York tribune., 1876-03-08
nFr.us OF THE DISASTER.


Ac5 conducted by the Little Sisters of the Poor-a
Roman Catholic charitable sisterhOOd-at Bushwick-
ave and Chestnut-st., Brooklyn. The main build
ing was of brick and about 100 feet long by 90 feet
deep. In the center was chapel with wings on
itber aide three stories in hight. The western wing
was occupied by infrm women, the eastern by aged
and iufrm men. whose ages ranged from Sixty 10
ninety years, and a large number OF whom were
paralvhcs and bed-ridden. The fire was discovered
in the lower part of the eastern wing and the ONLY
avenue of escape for the inmates was single stair
way. which was soon filed with flames. The Old
men above. half-stihed with smoke and suddenly
awakened from sleep, did not comprehend fully
their danger in time OF on account of their feeble
ness were unable to fee from it, and nearly all of
them would have been destroyed but for the efforts
of the Sisters and the assistance which was tardlly
obtained.
On Monday night the inmates of the institution
numbered 204, Of whom 73 were aged and infrm
men. The latter went to their rooms at $50 p. H.,
and half an hour later Sister Maxellande inspected
their apartments and saw most of them sleeping.
At p. m. all the lights were eXtinguished. The
fire was first seen by the Assistant Mother, Sister
Mary of the Apostles, who awOke about $3.50 a. m.
yesterday looked from her window near the chapel,
and discovered light in the basement of the east
wing. which she was satisfied could not be from
lamp she DuTTleu TO tue pace duu louuu thd1 tiN
building was on fire. Flames were issuing from the
southeast corner, while the smoke was pouring in
dense volumes up the stairs and into the apartments
of the old men. She at once gave the alarm
10 the other Sisters, who Immediately forced their
way through the binding smoke to the apart
ments occupied by their patients, and did their
utmost to assist them in escaping. Sisters Augustine
Joseph and Columbian took in their arms some of
the feeblest old men and carried them down stairs.
The Sisters did not give up their efforts until driven
away by the smoke and flames, and then they sank
10 the ground rom sheer exhaustion. Their absorb
ing work Of saving lives seems to have rendered
them forgetful Of the necessity of sending for
assistance There was no fire alarm in the building,
and it was full half an hour after the flames had
gained headway before the knowledge that there
was a fire came to any person outside the building.
While the Sisters were engaged III the work OF
rescue the flames gathering force from the light
woodwork in the interior, shot from the basement
to the first floor and assembled from story 10 story
At 43O a. M they burst forth from the first story
windows and Int up the neighbOThOOd with lurid
glare.
This was the first intmatiOn TO the outside world
of the terrible peril 10 the inmates of the Home.
The flames were seen by the students and priests OF
St. Johns College, who fastened to the scene and
assisted in the work of saving the inmates The
served the fire and Immediately gave the alarm.
The men Of Engine No. II, on DeKalb-aye heard
the alarm, but by some error in transmission were
sent off in the wrong direction and lost time When
they arrived at the scene of the cOnfagratOn they
worked with courage and energy, but the entire
eastern wing had become wrapped in flames,
which burst forth from all the windows
and rose above the roof. Five more engines
were upon the spot, and ladders were raised to
save the old men. some of whom, driven by the heat
TO forget their pains, had crawled to the windows
and waved their arms for the assistance which could
not reach them, as the flames were pouring from
windows, roof and doors. The scene that con-
frOnted the iiremen appalling, and when above
the roaring of the flames piercing shrek from some
bed-Tidden old man reached them, they became al
most unneryed. But, recovering themselves they
redoubled their Efforts and approached so near the
burning building that their leather caps were
scorehed and shrveled with the heat. Finally they
succeeded in confning the fire to the eastern wing
which became mass of ruins.
Many pathetic and impressive incidents occurred
while the building was burning and its inmates
were suffering the terrors of death from fire. Be
fore the hremen had reached the place William
DonOhue, who lived near at hand, placed ladder
against the burning building IL reached only to
the second story. AT window on the floor above
stood Michael Cummins, one Of the inmates with
his white hair streaming in the wind. He was cry
ing out Save me for the love Of God. save me!
I'm burning mp" and he beat the air with his
hands Get a sheet and tie it to your
window and lower yourself to the ladder"
shouted DOnohue, but for heavens sake don't
jump" The old man turned and snatched sheet
nom his bed and knotted it to the bedstead. Then
ne eswung himself from the window, holding the
sheet with the strength Of despair. He lowered
himself to the end and was then IL feet from the
TOP Of the ladder. "Fall into my arms" shouted
Donahue, and he stood ready to receive the inn
periled man. The latter gave himself a swing and
released his hold Of the knotted and twisted sheet
but as he fell his right foot only gazed the side Of
me ladder. He turned complete somersault as he
descended to the ground, where he struck upon the
stone pavement, a mass of bruised and battered
nesl and broken bones. His death was almost in
Santaneous. jeremiah Sullivan, whose bed was
IN the second story of the building and
who was considered an incurable paralytic, found
ms way 70 the window of his room, and obtaining
strength from fear mounted the sill and leaped to
The pavement below, breaking leg aud sustaining
Injuries which will probably prove fatal. few
minutes before the roof fell the fremen and
Police reached IL by means Of the chapel. and
rescued q number Of aged persons who had fed
70 the roof for safety. Exactly at 8 o'clock
The roof Of the east wing fell carrying in it's descent
the eharred floors. When the smoke cleared away,
the aremsn saw that the effort they had made to
ave the building had resulted successfully. They