The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-02-22


| tie girl lying on the floor he gave way to
the most intense grief. Falling on his
knees he picked up the child in his arms.
and, pressing the corpse to his Losom. he
kissed the cold features and burst out into
uncomfortable grief. He begged piteously
to be permitted to carry the child home,
and would not surrender the body TO the
police, who desired to send il 10 his home
in an ambulance. The room was filed
with strong men--policemcn and other Off
GERS familiar with scenes OF suffering and
woe-but all wept at the sight OF this
fathers grief.
A SISTERS STATEMENT.
Sister Augustine said that she had in.
yestigated the cause OF the accident, and
could not find any blame for any OF the
Sisters. She was positive that when the
neighbors heard Of the fire many OF them,
prompted by the best OF motives, rushed
into the school, and many OF them went in
by the western entrance. The children
descending the west staircase met these
persons, and there was an obstruction TO
the free exit OF the children. and neces-
sarily halt on the fatal staircase. Then
the panic began through the children who
were checked in their exit being urged on
ward by the children behind them, whose
number was greater than usual at that side
OF the building because the three classes
that should have used the east staircase. be-
ing cut off by the fire, were compelled to
use the west staircase. a jam at the bot
tom of the west staircase was the result,
and the sheathed baluster gave way. When
il began TO break two Sisters were on the
north side OF IL in the hall. One OF them
tried TO support 1t, but it toppled over on
her and her companion, and, 10 use their
expression, "the children poured on them
and buried them" The Sisters tried TO do
their whole duty. The frcmen put three
Of them ont Of windows on the first floor,
but one Of them returned and helped to get
children out OF the mass. The two Sisters
who were in the mass were eXtricated, and
were bruised and suffering from shock.
The coroner states that all oil the victims
died Of sull0catlOn.
fBy Associated Press
cORoNER's JURY SELECTED THE INJURED
WILL RECOyEI-FUNERAL TO-DAY.
NEW YORK, February 21.-The coroner
this morning selected the jury which is TO
investigate the causes which led to the ~
tai school disaster yesterday, resulting in
the deaths OF the sixteen pupils. This af
teruoon they viewed the scene Of the
panic. Crowds OF people visited the place
this morning and discussed the terrible
affair. Many were loud in their denuncia-
tions Of the clergymen in permitting the
staircase, which they say has been in frail
condition for some time past, to remain
without being properly strengthened.
1t is thought that the injured will oil re-
cover. a. they are reported this morning TO
be doing well.
The bodies OF the dead children will be
brought to the Church OF the Most Holy
Redeemer at Q o'clock tomorrow morning,
where the funeral services will be con-
Quoted. The church will be draped in
mourning. The bodies will be inclosed in
neat rosewood caSkets bearing in silver
plates the names and ages OF the little I'M
fortunates. 1t is thought they will all be
inferred in Calvary cemetery.