New-York tribune., 1884-12-19
AN ORPHAN ASYLUM BURNED
GIVEN HUNDRED CHILDREN HOMELESS.

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,,hsnv aves. Brooklyn. last evening and 1t ieii
o., go crash into the burning building beneath.
s;~c mn n cloud of fiery sparks. The building
~ ,een on fire for four hours. and the names
threatened 10 totally destroy it. except the soiid
,Inas,ope walls The $50 orphan boys who .hnd IN
.,snob had been rescued unharmed, except one
-, will die. and two who slightly hurt but
,o of the Sisters Of Charity who cared for and in
.t,ueted them lost her life. The other occupants
oftbe bniiding fifty or sixty in number escaped
The buildug. which is one of the largest char-
table institutions in Brooklyn occupied plot OF
cround bounded by st. Marks, Albany and Troy
oves.. and Prospcct-place 1t built in the form
nj a hollow square, extending Z10 feet IN 81.
Marks-aye and 40 feet in Albany-aye. AT the
south end of the wing in Albanv-ave. stood
brick boiler house. The boilers were IN the base
mcnt and over them was drying-room' Here inc
FIRE started q few minutes after 3 p III. III quickly
spread 10 the adjoining wing. in which were the
boys dnng-room. chapel two stories high ana
dormitory extending the whole length OF 'he
structure In these rooms with no dividing walls
OF doors. the fire gained great headway, being ted
by the combustible Georgia pine floors aud other
woodwork. and by the seats tables and beds, all
as, dry as tinder. The flames soon spread to the
mansard roof which fell ready prey to the lire
aud afforded it opportunity to spread rapidly.
SAVING TIE SICK BOYS.
The only occupants Of that part OF the buiiding
were some boys who on the sick list. and
Sister Mary Josephine, who had charge OF them
In one room above the dIyingroom were dozen
boys who were i'll with various slight ailments, only
one of them being in bed, and In the small room
above there were about as many more who were
suferlng with sore eyes, The sister who had them
In charge was also afflicted in the same manner.
She succeeded in getting all the boys ont, some OF
them going down the ire-escape, where two OF them
were slightly hurt by having to drop eight feet -
the frozen ground. But Sister Mary Josephine did
not escape in safety She was caught by the
fame and smoke before she could get down the
stairs and she sought refuge by getting out OF
window and stood on the cornice leaning against
the slope of the mansard roof. fireman named
McCroartv went up ladder to rescue her, and tOld
her TO walk along the cornice TO him. She walked
as far as she could and then jumped toward him.
But he was unable to catch her and she fell to the
ground Her injuries such that she died at st.
Mary's Hospital whittier she was taken
DANGER or PANIC AyERTED.
The rest of the inmates of the building were in
The main part and the east wing and got out safely
though there was danger of a panic The boys
we're most of them in the school rooms preparing
for Christmas exercises and the teachers sent them
out of doors directly They gathered in groups to
watch the fire. and some OF them took advantage of
their unaccns toned liberty and ran of. The great
majority of them sent to the neghboring
institutions and cared for but the police found
number in the streets.
The fire alarm was promptly sent out by Mother
Superior De Chantal. the head of the institution,
and large number OF engines and trucks were
soon at work. But the fire had gained such Roadway
that the streams of water poured it were OF little
avail and the flames crept along under the mansaId
roof and steadily advanced through the south
wing and TO the front part of the building. Inc
efforts of all the available force OF the brooklyn
Fire Department were unsuccessful in checking
the fire After three hours fully half OF the main
front was burning and tho flames rose lar above
the roof presenting fine spectacle to the crowds
gathered in the drifting snow TO witness the ne.
The building stands on the highest part OF the cliy'
and the pressure of water in the hydrants was not
sufficient for the streams to be sent upon tho roof
with lnuch effect Besides the height of the build
ing il stands on an elevation of fifteen e' or more
above the street level. Another difficulty IN fight
ing the ire arose from the fact that despite tie
massive outcr walls, the interior of the structure
was mere she'll There were no party walls diyld-
lng it, and The wooden partitions were iimsy and
readily caught fire. Added 10 this was the
deceptive mansard roof. which with an external
appearance of being iIc-proof from beng covered
with slate burned almost as readily as If covered
with shingles, and formed no obstacle TO the roar
ing Tire Alta late hour last night II seemed pioba-
bic that nothing would remain save the bare and
backcncd walls of the stately structure
FlREMAN's pANGEgoUs FALL.
The frcmon worked nObly In the bleak wind
which swept over the vacant lots and drove the
binding snow IA their faces, One Of them. George
Mathis. of Track No. .. was severely hurt. lie
WAS on a lofty ladder IN the front of the building,
when piece OF the wooden c0rllice ON the building
was detached lay The flames and fell upon HIM
lie was knocked of the ladder and went rolling
and sliding 20 the ground, about thirty feet below
him His fall was so broken that he received only
a,brokcn ankle and some internal injuries. More
than seyenty-Gve policemen were summoned TO the
scene of the ire and with the aid OF citizens they
carried large amount OF perlshdblc property from
the building.
The estimated loss was 100000. which WIS
covered by insurance The personal ELECTS oil the
BOYS and their teachers were nearly all lost
A TiIBvNE reporter who called at St. Mary's
lIospital was told thst the sisters who were there
were too excited TO talk with him Dr. Lonis l..
Iicste the house surgeon said thai SISTER josephine
had died within hail an hour after she had Otcn
brought t0 the hospital and that the sisters were
collected around her body lie said that her skull
had been fractured at its base and her left arm
broken. He took the reporter to one of the wards
where upon "a cot surrounded hv a screen lay boy
about thirteen years old. unconscious and breath
ing slowly and painfully. Dr. Iieste said that he
was suffering from a compound coInninuted
Fracture of the skull and was dying. over his
left eve was n large triangular cut, aud has head
was covered with contusons. About ZOO of the
children were scattered about the building The
,eporter stoiled in room cOntaining.abOni 100 oi
them and asked If they knew what was the name
Of the 10y who was injured One bright little
fellow sal
Giesi know II was johnnie RYAN, He was
,fyng to climb dJwn q pge ana i bioht, ana ne
ttll lufo the basement Hstcf josephine was
ianpiiip on tn a window aud map held out coat
a. lri. but she let go oi 10 and iell'
fArdniN6 AND sik0iNB iN stAbtt'
ksip, Anibony was found "a le stable belonging
H. ibs home eaiinu fof 90 Of The youngest