Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-19
ROASTED In AN ASYLUM.
7s5 ORPHANS AND 80 SISTERS
HENINIED IN BY DEATH.


One of the Latter Falls from Third
Story Window to the Pavement and is
Fatally Hurt-Several of the Children
Believed to Have PerIshed.
NEW YORK, Dec. 17.-This afternoon fre
broke out in the dining of the Catholic
Male Orphan Asylum, in the building adioin-
ing the right wing of the institution, on the
corner of st. Marks street and Albany ave-
nue., Brooklyn. The building with the grounds
occupied an entire block. The building
wherein the fire originated contained a dor
mitory on the third floor in which there were
90 orphans suffering from various complaints.
Whether or not they all escaped cannot be
told until the roll-call Is had, but it is feared
that some we're lost. Sister Mary Josephine,
who was in the dormitory at the time the fire
broke out, made heroic efforts TO save the lit
tie ones. She remained in the room until alb
soiutely driven out by the flames; then she
ran 10 window on the third floor, WhereEshe
stood upon the cornice until Foreman Nc
Groarity, of engine IA, from the roof of the
building swung his coat TO her. The Sister
caught the coat, but when McGroarity tried
TO pull her from her perllous position
she lost her grasp and fell headlong
to the ground. She struck upon
her shoulder and head, and was conveyed To
St. GATHERINGS Hospital in an unconscious
condition. Joseph Ryan, a boy, tried TO de-
seend by ladder from the same floor. The
John McGrath, years old, jumped from the
third story and was badly injured.
Mother de Chantel ana Sister Anthony were
IN the office when the fire was discovered.
They at once gave an alarm, and proceeded
to get the children out OF the asylum. There
were 1o5 orphans IN the building. They were
told to leave IL and seek shelter IN any neigh
boring house until called for. There was
great excitement among the inmates, but it is
believed that all escaped excepting some of
those in the dormitOry wing. A hundred IIt-
tie fellows ran out into the falling snow hat
less and cOatless. The flames spread with
great rapidity and the buildings were almost
completely destroyed.
FLIGHT OF THE CHILDREN.
There were about thirty sisters in the asv-
lum and number of them went out with the
children, but 1t was impossible to keep the
little boys together. They sought refuge in
the car stables, dwellings, saloons and stores
near by, Rev. Father Bronson took nearly
hundred of them to his home and the asylum
attached to the church charity foundation
close by received another considerable num-
Der. John Watfeld, grocer, and George
Irish placed a ladder against the second story
window on Albany avenue and helped down
seven inmates, when the crowd called
to them to come down, on account
OF the proximity of the flames,
which were bursting out of the windows
just beneath them. Patrick Cahili says that he
is confident that he saw woman fall back
from window into the flames. He also be-
lieves that ali the boys did not get out. One
OF the boys said that the fire was caused by
another boy who went into the drying room
with a lighted candle. There were somo
clothes drying on the rack and he accidentally
touched them with the candle flame. The
hame spread, leaped up in a moment and all
who were in the room ran out. George
Matthews, of truck No. g. was seriously in
Jured. Another fireman was badly burned
and otherwise injured by being knocked from
ladder. The building stood upon an eleva-
ton aud the fremen had hard work to get at
it. At O'Clock tonight only the charred
walls remained. The loss is 100000. 1t is
fully covered by insurance. Sister Mary
Josephine died tonight from her injuries.