New-York tribune., 1876-03-08
AFTER THE CALAMITY.

SCENES IN AND ABOUT THE HOME FOR TIRE AGED
CHASTITY APPEARANCE or THE DFAD-QUrs-
TONS OF PERSONS ANXIOUS CONCERNING TIE
FATE OF RELATIVES.
Commissioners of Charities Raber and Norris
came to the Home little before noon, aud at or
dered the removal OF. the inmates 10 Flat5ush
The fright INTO which the inmates were thrown
rendered IL somewhat difficult for the Sisters
TO persuade many OF them 10 20. They will be kept In
the County Almshouse and Hospital until the Home Is
repaired About % left In the wOmens quarters,
ana these crippled persons who refused to
depart As soon II known that the male depart
ment Ind destroyed many Of the neghbors offered
to receive several Of the old men,
The ruins visited yesterday by large number OF
pcople Almost the whole Of the eastern wing from the
roof the basement burned out only Few chaffcd
beams On the floor and burned fragments pro
ecng FROM the walls indicating where floors had been
The basement was filed with heaps Of cbarred wood
mingled with remains OF bedding aud furniture and some
iron bedsteads twisted by the fierce heat The part of
the piazza that along the front OF the building was
consumed as far the chapel The interior Of the chapel
was not injured by the fire. but was flooded with water
which drpped from the ceiling and oozed through the
gallery floor. The altar ornaments taken away,
but statues OF ST. Mary and 81. Joseph, both
Of which stood in inches, were left I'm their
places The church Is damaged 800 by water
The ground front OF the building presented scene OF
confusion and ruin Mattresses OF straw and feather'
some half burned and ohers tramped In the mud lay
scattered about aud each gust Of wind sent clouds OF
feathers nyng through the building Furniture, bed
steads bedcothing and kitchen utensils also lay scat
tered over the grounds as they been huedy taken
out Of the building.
In the basement beneath the chapel and female depart
ent the bodies Of the dead had been temporarily placed
In one room adjoining the laundry were ten bodies h
row. covered with blankets Here and there raised leg
or bent knee or partly extended were poiruding
aIo tIe
powered By the smoke aud flames Nearly ali the bodies
here were beyond any possibility OF recognition Upon
some the flesh OF the face and head had been com
pletely consumed, leaving only eharred skulls
and black sockets from which In some cases
an eve glared hideously. The remains OF one person
were gathered into blanket, confused and chared
mass and fragments in some parts burned entirely to tho
bone the head was not to be In another blanket
was half body. and the remainder burned ana oroken
into pieces was laid In the same blanket Remnants OF
clothing clingng to the blackened hesh ana parts OF
shoes ON the skeleton feet Of OF the victims showed
that they had partially dressed themselves, and were
not thoroughly aware OF the extent OF the danger IN
another small room we're two bodies Of them that OF
Michael Cummins, who was killed hy Jumping from tho
third story window. This body showed no oher marks
Of fire than slight singeing Of the whskers near tine
ear The presented expression OF terror but not
Of physical suffering the shock occasioned by his fall
having probably instantly killed him. In third room
were the bodies OF the OF the victims, or ess
consumed and distorted.
INQUIRIES or FRIENDS.
The Sisters after o'clock. when the alarm given,
took no rest They entered this burning and led
or carried ont the feeble and crippled in their arm
and only abandoned their efforts when driven away by
the fire. They attended to the wants Of the sufferers,
ed the furniture and answered the questions OF the
numerous visitors relatives OF inmates and reporters
beside attending routine work Of the house. with
remarkable calmBcss and comDosurs. The Assistant
Superior, who was in charge, was almost eI-
hausted with fatigue, but would not retire for
rest Outside the building was crowd OF
curiostyseekers but two officers stationed at the gate
admitted only few besides those who had come on
matters of importance. The inside the building
were very sad friends inquired after the fate OF In
mates The OF the Sisters was often, I'VE think
he IL dead" "He s dead" This reply brought tears
TO the eyes Of the women, while the mon wrung their
hands. theirs TO ghom the answer Wac Eiven lie Ia
alive and WE'LL" could refrain their tears ~ they
claimed, "Thank God for His mercy" and eagerly In