New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-21
FATHER HEspERIEIN,S ACCOUNT.


Father He>perlein stated that he had been acting
as an instructor in the school and director of it
in The place of Father Ilelmlrecht, who was sick.
tie had been acting in this capacity since last
April.
Il was busy with my class of large girls in a
room on the third floor when the alarm was
started" he said. Sister Phlhppa was assisting
me. There was first visible a film Of
smoke that came up the stairway from
the floor below There were cries of Fire.
and a sudden rush and shunng of feet below and an
increased puff of smoke. The girls in my class, six
ty-twO in plumber. Immediately became frightened
and two to the door L
and the Sister got into the doorway and tried to
stop them We implored them to stand still, but all
our efforts were fruiteSs. They broke past us aud
fled down the stairway screaming and crying Sister
Philippa went down with them striving still TO
quiet and restrain them. After they had all fled
followed them down stairs | found the baluster
OF the lower stairway broken and the children piled
up five six feet deep, those behind ciowdng still
on the mass of children at the foot of the steps.
The rest OF he scene You know as well ms we
did what could until the fremen and policemen
arrived. Then the little ones were extricated from
the writing mass, and sent out through the boys
entrance on the western side. Some OF them who
were only stunned or dazed would revive as soon as
they got into the fresh air. Others required water
to he dashed in their faces At the bottom of the
crush we found The dead"
"Who attends to any alterations that may be
needed in the SCHOOL,"
81 DO not know. unless it is the carpenter. only
instruct During the illness of Father Hembrecht
take his place. As to the construction of the
school-house. 1t was built, | believe. IN 1913.
Previous to that dating from 1914, there
hal been temporary church on
ulanra sf lftIS
present church was built in 1851. Tnere Is mar
row door communicating between the church and
the schoO-house. The school IL in charge OF the
SiSterhOod of NOtre Dame Nine of the Sisters act
as teachers; Further than this | know
nothing Previous FiSas to taking charge an in
sent from the country tweny-nine years.
Therefore am not prepared to say what alterations
inspections have been made in the building IN re-
cent years.
Theodore Edelman, the carpenter. whose shop is
in the basement of the school, stated that ne was IN
and the smell of smoke attracted his attention.
He seized an axe and a pal of water
and went upstairs. Discovering the fire almost i'm
mediatcly, he dashed the water over II. he lire
men, who arrived quickly succeeded IN eXtingulsh-
ing the flame and Edemau turued his attention TO
rescung the children.
" Has there been an insDectlOn of the school
building recently 7" asked the reporter.
Two years ago went through the place from
top to bottom with fireman. lie went away with
ont saying anything and | never heard any more
about il"
Did it ever occur to You that in OF fire and
panic several hundred children would probably
be burnt TO death|
Il would rather not say any more about the sub
ject," SAID Edelman