Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-05-17
FIRE AND FLAMES.
Destruction of st. Agnes (CathOlic) Acad.
envy, on Vance Street-Total Loss,
Thirty Thousand DOllars-In-
surance, Twenty-Five
Thousand Dollars.
The Canse Of the Fire-1ts Progress and
SuppressiOn-Acciden to Firemen
While Fighting the Fire
King in his Lair.

At six o'clock yesterday morning st.
Agnes female academy, located in the beau
tiful grove on Vance street, east of Orleans,
accidentally caught FIRE and was soon reduced
to ashes, only the walls of the extensive
building being left. The fire originated In
the trunk-room, and was first discovered issu-
ing through the roof over the children's de-
partnent, on the second floor in the center of
the main building. The Sisters were at
prayers in the chapel at the time, and the
pupils, those who boarded at the academy,
were dressing themselves. A few, not ex-
ceeding three or four, had descended to the
grounds when the dire alarm was given that
the building was on fire. The Sisters sue
ceeded in securing the safety of the young
ladies and children, who were in the dormi-
tories when the alarm was given. DIR. d. I.
Porter and other citizens residing near by,
hastened to the academy and worked earn
estly in saving property.
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE BUILDING.
By this time the flames had full possession
| of the upper stories of the frame building,
and nothing could save it. The fire depart
ment was soon on the ground, and streams
| of water were thrown into the burning build
| ing. This checked the flames somewhat, but
| did not prevent the destruction of the main
| building. A considerable portion of the fur
niture was saved. Ten pianos, on the lower
|
| ton. The elegant and valuable library, con-
sisting of three thousand volumes, was de-
| stroyed, as were also the trunks and clothing
of the Sisters and pupils. The only portion
| of the academy saved was the brick L., south
| west of the main structure.
THE INSURANCE AND LOSS.
The policies issued to Mother Superior
Marie Louise, president of st. Agnes acad
envy, were as follows: Twenty thousand dol
lars on the two-story frame building with
two-story brick addition In the rear; $1,000
on the school, household and kitchen furni-
ture, carpets, beds, bedding, crockery and
queensware; $4,000 on the ten pianos, being
5000 on each instruments 500 on the organ.
The above amounts were insured in the fol-
lowing companies: Planters, of Memphis,
| $5oO0 Fireman s Fund, of California, $500;
ley, of Memphis, $2500; Phoenix, of Mem
phis, $250O; Bluff City, of Memphis, $2500;
Memphis City fire and general insurance
company, $500; State insurance company,
of Nashville. $500; Continental, of New
York, $4,000. The total loss will not fall short
of $4,000; the insured loss will amount to
probably $4,000, or about forty per cent. of
the amount of insurance.
THE BUILDING AND GROUNDS.
The building was a two story frame, one
hundred and eleven feet in length, to which
an L, extending about seventy-6ve feet, had
been added. This L is of brick, and was
not destroyed, although the ceilings were
damaged by water. The academy was in the
center of beautiful lot, of about nine acres,
situated on Vance street, east of Orleans.
The grounds have been highly ornamented,
and presented a most inviting appearance to
the passer-by. Large walks with beds of
rare flowers greeted the eyes of the visitor,
and made the scene appear as almost fairy
land. The annual exhibition of the pupils
was to have taken place on the twentieth of
June, and already preparations had been COM
menced looking toward the event, which
never fails to draw large attendance of our
citizens.
ST. AGNES ACADEMY
was instituted as school of learning in Jam
uary, 1851, by Rev. Father Grace, then pas
tor of st. Peters church, in this city. Since
that period it has been in charge of the Sis
tiers of the order of st. Dominic, and has
earned the enviable reputation OF being the
leading institution of learning In our city.
Pupils from adjoining States, as well as from
our city, have been received at the academy,
and many have graduated with the highest
honors. Al the time of Its destruction
there were exceeding fifty pupils in at
tendance, forty five of whom boarded at
the academy. st. Agnes was in charge of
Mother Superior Alphonsa. Sisters Louisa,
Mary Pious, Mary Thomas, Vincintia, Aus
Veronica, Josephia, Burnedine, Theresa,
Catharine, Dolora, and Ann were also on du-
ty at the time of the fire. The pupils
who were boarding at the academy, and
who lost all of their effects, were Misses
Mary Coyne, Mary Cobb, Eva Semmes, Sallle
Kate Green, Vally Smith, Lizzie Morgan,
Fannie Jeffrles, Fannie Holland, Lucy Rut-
land, Jessie Robinson, Nancy Wainwright,
Jeffie Heron, Molhe Whitley, Mamie M Fee
ley, Louisa Cain, Alice Higgins, Josephine
Rennehap, Josephine Monahan, Bette Bur-
gett, Ida Burgett, Mamie Southworth, Frances
Paradise, Hortense Dickens, Emma Ewing,
Dena ledger, Theresa Cohn, Annie Rice, Vlr-
ginia Ebeler, Ernestine Ebeler, Mamie Park,
Mamie Haley, Willie Connolly, Cora Wilson,
Lizzie Bergman, Laura Eckerly, Clara An
derson, Leila Gray, Molie johnson and Rosa
Lunn.
ACCIDENTS TO FIREMEN.
Joseph Luccarini. a member of Captain Pat
Haley's hook and ladder company, needless
of danger, but while actively engaged In the
discharge of his duty, was struck by the fall
ing roof and narrowly escaped death. His
hand, eyes and face were severely burned
The injured fireman was placed in We
hicle and carried to his residence, at No.
80 fernando street, where he was at
tended by DIR. Sim. Chief M'Fadden was
struck on the back and slightly injured by |
failing UlhUeTSs anu Was buAHCo dDOuO ohO |
neck and hands. Both men made narrow |
escape, a portion of the burning building fall |
ing upon them while they were at work on |
the second floor.
THE PROPERTY.
Recently, owing to Indebtedness, it had |
been concluded to sell the property, and for |
this purpose draughtsman was employed to |
make map of the grounds, showing the |
number and size of the lots, the park and |
fountain in the center, etc. The price OF fifty |
dollars front-foot was asked for these very |
valuable lots and the property was placed In |
the hands of real estate agent for sale. 1t |
was the intention of those controlling the |
property to sell it and purchase more suitable |
property some few miles out In the country, |
and thereon erect fine school-bullding for |
the use of the Sisters and pupils. This pro- |
posal may yet be carried out, but it's rumored |
that an effort will now be made to relieve the |
property of its Indebtedness and erect on the |
grounds fine building of brick or stone. |
Recently there have been in attendance at the |
institution over fifty boarders and about forty |
day scholars. These, in the meanwhile, will |
be furnished suitable instruction at LaSalette |
academy, situated on Third street, near Pop
lar. Mr.. John G. Lonsdale, Jr., secretery |
of the Planters insurance company, in /
formed the Mother Superior yesterday that |
he would advance all money needed for the |
immediate wants of the school, and that the
losses would be paid without delay. The |
destruction of st. Agnes academy is truly
public calamity, and the universal hope is
that the building will be rebuilt, and the
good Sisters with renewed earnestness again
resume their labors of love and usefulness.