The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-04
FIRE IN a PUBLIC SCHOOL.
More than 5000 Pupils Marching Out in
Order from The HurnIna nnIIdIng.

Order from the Burning Building.
A fire was discovered shortly before II
O'Clock yesterday morning in the primary room
OF Grammar School II. in Forty-seventh street.
near Eighth avenue. Prompt action on the
part Of the teachers and perfect obedience by
tho pupils prevented n panic. Tho fire was
confined to the rear Of the primary room. Not
ono OF the children was injured. Tho outer
garments Of somo ninety children. that were
hanging in the apartment where tho fro was,
were burned. and the building was cons idcrably
damaged. Chief Bates estimates the total loss
at g.. 900.
When the fire was discovered there were over
two thousand pupils in tho building, which is
large. three-story brick structure. The first
story is occupied by the primary department,
in which there are over 1900 small chill
dren. The grammar department Is in the sec
ond and third stories, and there are $50 pupils
principal oi the entire school and Mrs. McClos-
key has charge 81 tho primary room. In the
with raised benches on an inclined noor. These
are used rs class rooms. Underneath mis- noor
and above the main floor is space used ns
ment. When tho fire broke out. Miss MacGnire
and Miss Byrne were hearing clnsses IN the
"gaeries" IA the alcoves pre called. A volume
Of smoke burst IN from tho cloak room. nlling
the galleries. so that tho faces OF tho pupils
were hardly distineMshabi,9. Miss Mac Vac
was sitting on tho raised platform at tho
further end OF tho large assembly room. Orders
wore quickly given for the pupils to stand up,
followed Immediately nv orders 10 PASS out OF
the building In accordance with the drlll prnc-
tised for such an emergency. The tcuchcrs say
all terribly frightened. moved ont Of the proper
order when the Inst OF tho pupils were quit
ting the alcOves the flames were bursting
through the floor almost Mt tho children feet
The smell OF burning wood and the frat warn
ing Of smoke creeping through the floors
renclpI the next above about tho time the
lanitors boy got there with the word sent by
Mra. McCloskey. and the pupils In this story and
In the third we're dismissed In the same man
nor ~ were those in the primary department
One Of the teachers SAYS that the pupils even
waited for two lame children to go out ahead.
! lest they should be either injured or left boz
hind.
| Tho children that first reached the sidewalk
| raised the cry Of flre. This brought Battalion
| Chief Campbell from his quarters, near 10y. On
the opposite side of tho street. and he gave the
| alarm. The police from the ueighborng sta
| tho process of clearing the building was well
| along. They guarded the doors md kent out
! the many women wild with anxiety Tor the
! safety " their children, who had rushed to the
| schoolhnusc doors.
| Tho fire was so threatening that a second
| was given. Engines ~. &c and 2. and hook and
ladder companies and responded to tho lrst
/ call: and the second was answered by engines
| "a. 40. 10, 8. and |. and hook and ladder cOm-
! pnnies 10 and I. The three lines OF hose put
/ into tn" building BY engines 70, 70. ana 2soon
suhducd the Are
Four pipes. used to convey steam from the
| cellar where the furnaces are. pass up through
! the cloak room close to dry timbers. II Is sup.
! posed that the fire originated there.