The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-01-16
A Terrible Calamity.

BELLEvIILE, Ill, Jan. 6.-Abont mid
night last night the Institute of the Immae
Hlate Conception, Sisters of Notre Dame
caught IRE and was soon wrapped In
flames. The FIRE was the most destructive
to life and property that Belleville has
ever experienced.
Ii had It's origin in furnace in the base
ment, and when discovered the floor imme-
diately above was ablaze, and volumes Of
smoke were rapidly pouring through the
| stairways, corridors and halls of the build
ing. BY the time the sleepers were thor
/ oughly aroused, all avenues of escape were
! filled with binding smoke Then a
panic ensued, and it is for imagination
To paint the sorrowful and heartrending
/ picture.
| The extreme cold retarded the work of
the fremep, and even if they could have
reached the scene without delay, they
could have been OF little service in rescu-
ing the victims There were no ladders in
the fire department, and no provisions for
such n deplorabie emergency had been
made by the managers OF the institution
The unfortunate inmates we're therefore
poweress TO help themselves, and those
who were witnesses of the horrible holo-
caust were unable to assist them. The
manner of escape of each of the survivors
could no. be learned
The fire department was still on duty
this morning, endeavoring to quench the
flames SO as 10 preserve in a recognizable |
shape the bodies OF the victims. When the |
ruins were sufficiently cooled, volunteer |
corps Of men went to work to bring out the |
bodies, 10 was terrible sight At times |
the searchers would find two or three char |
red masses haddled close tegeta her, seeming |
~ seeking protection in one another's arms |
from the advancing and terrible flames.
Two bodies were found in the rear part of |
the building burned into an unrecogniza-
bic mast, but The majority were found be
meath the point where the domitory was
situated. They SEEMED TO have sought
shelter in thus room, and recognized too
late their escape was impossible. The
danes from beneath eat away the supports,
AMI let the floor down into the setthing
vortex of fire and smoke.
The loss of life is much greater than
was at first supposed. Instead of there
being only two victims of the holocaust,
he total deaths is already twcnty-seven.
twenty-five Of which are pupils and FIVE
listers. Among the latter is the Sister
superior.
vi tite ItEItu it) T the ptiftil BpIFhtIe :
With three sisters slept; on the third floor :
he remaining sisters slept; and on the
ecnnd floor or The floor above the base .
nent what are termed the orphans and ;
lalf orphans slept. On this che secondl :
loOr the inmates were saved +
At o'clock this afternoon, eleven bodies .
lad been recovered from the ruins, aud the
listers and friends Of the unfortunates had = !
ucceeded in Identifying the following 5
Hiss Herman, Miss Strunck, Miss Man :
ling, Miss IIcinzelman, Miss Isch, Miss !
'ulset \
The bodies could only be identified by !
he clothing, or rather portions Of clothing, \
Fhich, having been saturated with water, e
lad escaped the flames 4
All that now remains OF the famous con- a
cnt oil the Immaculate Conception is the O
haired and broken walls and in the de- :
ris there vet remain the bodies of several n
Unfortunate victims The building and o
were valued at from S65, 900 to 6
10000, and will prove a total loss. The n
Insurance is $4,000. f