The New York herald., 1876-03-14
THE BURNED ASYLUM.

OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE CAUSE OF
THE FIRE-THE VERDICT OF THE CoRoNER'a
JURY-THE SISTERS CoMPLIMENTED.
Shortly after ten o'clock yesterday forenoon the In.
vestigaton as to which led the late fatal
re the Home the Aged, the charge OF the
Little Sisters OF the Poor commenced the hail
OF the Brooklyn Morgue, before Coroners Nolan and
Simms The victims OF the fire, eighteen in number,
were:-Michael Rely Theodore Chagot, James Ryan,
George Donnely, Herman Englchardt, James Con-
nelly, Daniel German, John Cavanagh, Peter Kelly,
Edward Farrell, Patrick Healy, Conrad Landerman,
Michael Cummins, John Barion, Nicholas PGcr, JohI
conroy, James Moran ana Matthew Breen.
TESTIMONY
The deposition of the two Sisters who had been sub
ponaed as witnesses taken In an antechamber at
the Morguc before the opening of the investigation.
Sister Mary of the Apostles was the first witness
called before the jury and Coroner Smms read hci
written deposition. She said:-l am the Assistant
Mother IN charge of the Home for the Aged of the
Little Sisters OF the Poor this city; about twenty
inmates to four o clock on the morning OF March
heard the cries OF an old man; arose from my bed,
looked the direction of the mems department and
there saw hre at this time Sister Augustine Joseph
gave the alarm oy ringing the bell; directly l. in COM
pany with other Sisters went to the nirmary depart
ment 10 rescue the sick and ntrIn the nhrnary was
located the second floor OF tnat portion OF the build
ing that was burned no portion of the Sisters went
the top floor; II too late alter we had taken out
all could in the inhrnary; when first saw
the flames they were issuing from the rst floor there
were eight persons this oor in the rear who
all saved there two doors to the nrmary depart
ment they not kept locked the doors leading ia
The stairs always lett unlocked there was but one
stairway in the male departments there are four scs
OF sairways In the female department; the male de-
partment unfinished, which accounted Tor there
being but staircase there seventy males
in the building that was destroyed seventeen wero
killed from tho effects OF the smoke and IRE and one by
jumping from tho window; ifty-hve were saved.
Sister Augustine Joseph, being sworn testified
that she retired bed the night of March about
nine O'CLOCK after carefully inspecting all the wards OF
the male department; was not called up during the
nght the cries OF the old men, about four o'clock A.
NJ first attracted her attention TO the fire: witnesi
then opened tue door leading 10 the yard and rang the
alarm bell calling for assistance; she went to the in
Urinary and helped to carry out the men, the building
was heated by furnace In the basement where tho
fire rst discovered there had been re tor three
days before; there Baltimore heater in the din
ing room aud on the first hoor where the men slept;
ali but two whose lives were lost were on the fourth
floor; the hre had not made much headway when wit
ness first discovered IL; witness never saw the men
smoking in violation OF the rules IN the wards.
Patrick f. O'Brien, who built the Home Tor the Aged
called aud described the building and the post
ton of the staircase; he considered h sale building
and adapted the use TO which II had been put; there
lire escapes; he did not deem them necessary
thcre witness did not think that the fourth story
could been made safer TOR cgress on account OF its
height; he did not think people should nave been pu'
on thai door.
john W. Smith, Assistant Engineer OF the Fire De-
parment being duly sworn, says that the alarm fof
Nos Is and alreadyat work on my arrival and
Hook and Ladder Company To- raising their ladder;
| noticed several nremen on the roof and number at
The windows OF the northern portion OF the building;
Engineer Frost at this had gone through the in
terior of the building and gadcd the roof and sue
ceeaed In inducing many OF the inmates to make
their way out by the stairway; after remOv-
inc the persons IRON the roof by the
ladders second alarm sent out;
/ also ordered No Engine and Truck No
D. many of the inmates OF The northern portion OF
the Home after being removed, made thor way bach
again; by half past i've A. 81, the progress OF the
such comp nics could be spared back TO Their quar-
ters body found IN the ruins by Engineer Gun.
mngnam and removed the deadrOom ia the
basement; the witness then detailed at length tho
laOors prlormcd by the various companies OF bremen
among the ruins aud the finding OF the bodies
Daniel Sierey, an inmate OF the Homc Thomas Nc
Cormck a policeman, and John Connolly were exam
lncd, aud, no new facts beng developed the case wal
gwen TO the jury, who returned The following yer
dct:-
"wc. the Jury, nnd that seventeen persons came &c
their death from asphyxia at the Home for the Aged
under TIC charge OF the Little Sisters Poor Bush
wick avenue and Chestnut street, and the jury
paneed TO Inquire into tac death and circumstances
attending this calamity recommend that owing TO the
peculiar construction OF the building, the fourth
nOOr In future should be used as a slcepina do.
partmcnt and that said building connece ed by tee
graph with the nearest station thereto: that
private watchinan be employed during the night pa
troll the buildng; and further from the evidence
given accord great credit to the Sisters In control OF
the premises We also nnd that Michael Cummings
came 10 his death by injuries received by jumping from
athlrd story window"