The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-03-01
sMormERED ~ SMOKE.
Awful Calamity I'm Pennsy Ivania
Orphanage.
RAPID AND RELENTLESS FLAMEs-sEvEN-
TEEN CHILDREN FOUND DEAD IN a DOR
MToRY-IIARRowING AND EXCITING
SCENES

SCRANTON. Pa, February 27.-A terrible
disaster, such a. never before happened IN
this city, took place In 81. Pafritk's Orphan
age, in Hyde Park, about O'Clock tins
evening, when seventeen inmates, fourteen
boys and three eirl., were suifocated. The
Orphanage was situated at the corner Of
Jacks street aud Lincoln avenue, about a
mile from the centre Of the city, and was
under the supervision Of number OF SIS
tiers OF Charity. A large number OF or
phqns belonging TO the parish found shelter
there. The number OF inmates was forty
eighteen OF them boys and twenty-five
girls.
FRANTIC CHILDREN.
Tonight at bali past one OF the Sisters
had taken the children to bed in separate
dormitories on the third floor. She locked
the door ana started 10 descend to her
room on q lower floor. In The second
story, ia the head OF the stairs, she was
startled by sudden outburst OF smoke from
one OF the OOms on that floor, and upon in
yestigation aSceri1iDed that fire was raging
along the ceiling and sides Of TIE apartment.
She rushed back to the floor where the dor
mitores are located and opened the door OF
the girls room. The little ones, who are
all under ten years OF age, had become IRAN
tic on account OF the SIN X that was pour
ing into their room, but the Sister quickly
guided them out, aud they followed her to
the lower floor. The smoke filled the ball
way, and the Sister alarmed the rest OF the
inmates in the house.
Then she hurried back toward the dormi-
tories TO allow the boys TO escape. but hei
passage was blocked by an unknown man,
who declared that all the children had ieft
the room. lie as serted that she would be
I'm danger of her life II she approached the
dormit0ry, and insisted so strongly that al
the boys were out that the Sister believed
him and hurried away. the fire having bro
ken ont with great force in the floor where
she stood.
A HORBIFYING DISCOVERY.
The fllmcs spread through the hOu'c and
enycloped the third floor. \ general alarm
brought four tire companies 10 the scene,
and heavy streams were soon being p0ur' u
into the building. Many OF the thousands
OF spectators who were attracted 10 the
SPOT were OF opinion that some Of the chill
dren were still in the building, but Others
whO were there from the inception oil the
ire were positive that all the inmates bad
escaped. The tremcn, acting upon press
ing desire from the crowd, reached tue
dormitory fl ,or A. quickly As possible and
burst in The door. When the smoke had
cleared away the terrifying discovery was
made that every one Of the children III tne
room was SuhOcatcd. One or two were
slightly burned. They lay at the foot OF
their cots, the three girls among them.
NARROWING EXCITEMENT.
As the extent OF the catastrophe became
known the most intense excitement pre-
vailed. II required the combined efforts Of
the police iorce TO k ep the crowd from en-
tering the building. The children were
finally removed TO the hOu.c OF the priests,
short distance away, where they were
identified. number II mothers who bad
children among the dead manifested their
feelings in exhibitions OF the most harrow
ing grief, and TO witnes. the scene was most
painful to the spectators.
THE CAUSE or THE PlRE UNKNOWN.
Many theories are aii0at Tonight a. to the
cause OF the fire, but no detni conclusion
can he arrived at. At this hour, half'pl>t
II, The streets OF Scranton and Hyde Park
are filled with anxious people, and the oc'
currcnce has given Use to Il feeling OF the