The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-01-17
WAKING ONLY TO DIE.
Burning Of tho Immaculate Conception
Institute at Belleville, III.
Twenty!seven Girls and Nuns Perish
Terrible Scenes.
fDcllcville Qll.) telegram, ]

fDclleyille ILL telegram
Tho lives OF twenty -seycn women were los,
/ by tho burning OF tho Immaculate Conccp
ton Convent at this place. Many others were
injured more or less severely by jumping
from the windows OF the third or fourth story
to tho frozen ground beneath.
II is not known exactly how the fire
started. Tho first report was that II origin.
atcd In tho third story, which was used rs a
dormitory. An attempt was made by the sis
tors to cxtinguish II. but without sue.
cess. The latest and most probable
theory is that II broke out
near the boiler In the basement. when 1t
was first discovered the floor above was
abaxe and volumes OF smoke were rolling up
and filling the stairWnys, halls, ana corridors
OF the building. by tho time the Sccp In
mates were thoroughly aroused all avenues
OF escape seemed 10 be cut or by binding
smoke and fumes. Then Il panic cnst cd ut,
tended by scenes 80 hcartrcnding that even
the imagination can scarcly picture them,
Forty on more OF the pupils and teachers. In
SPITE OF the terror and Wild conius on,
succeeded i'm getting out OF the building
unhnrmed and were given shelter
from the ley wind In neiphhor,ng
houses Their companions were fur less
fortunate. Many remained In the dormtory,
without making an attempt to escape. Others
rushed TO the windows, and, appalled, at the
prospect of leaping TO an almost certain
death, drew back and were either suMocated
by the thick smoke or died In the flames.
Some, Drawer than the rest, jumped from the
upper windows and were either killed or badly
injured. Miss Mary Campbell, teacher. OF
East st. Louis, leaped from the third story
and died In few minutes. Another whose
name was not Rsccrtained, climbed to the
roof and either fell or was blown OF. She
WIS fatally injured.
The fire spread with great rapidly, and the
fire department was Of little avail. Tho eX-
trcmc cold retarded the work oil the ircncn,
md even IL they could have reached tho
scene without delay they could have been Of
There nrc no ladders in tho fire department
and no provisions for such deplorahle
emergency had been made Nv the managers
Of the convent. The unfortunate inmates
were. therefore, unable to help them
selves, and thosa who were witnesses
of the horrible holocaust were power.
less to help them. The streets In the vicinity
were throngcd with people anxious TO he of
service. They could do nothing hut stand
and look on or listen In silence to the appeals
OF terror-stricken parents rushing frantically
around looking for their children or waiting
over their supposed loss.
Within an hour from the time the fire was
discovered the famous Convent OF the Inn
maculatc Conception was reduced 10 ashes
ana few charred and broken walls.
AS soon as possible tho work OF rc-
covering the remains of victims was
begun. The tircmen poured water on
the ruins until daybreak, SO rs to qucnch the
cmbcrs and preserve in recognizable shape
the bodies Of the unfortunate women. Then
volunteers were called for, and during tho
day large force Of men were ut work In the
ruins.
1t was terrible sight. At times the
searchers would find two or three charrcd
masses huddled together. seemingly seeking
each others protection from the advancing
flames Two bodies were found in the rear
IN unrecognizable mass, but the
majority were found beneath where
the dormitory was situated. They
seemed to have sought shelter In this room
when they recognized that escape was i'm
possible. The flames beneath, eating away
the supports, let down the floor with those
upon 1t into the scething vortex OF fire aud
smoke. The pupil hoarders and three Sisters
slept on the fourth floor; on the third floor
the remaining Sisters slept, and on the floor
above the basement the orphans aud half
orphans slept. Those on this itoor escaped.
The following is a list of the killed, missing,
and injured, as far as is known:
The dead identified.
Sister Maduedo, Sister Angela, Sister Ed
wilma, Mother superior Mary Jerome, Mary
Campbell, Lizzie isch, Susie Weimar, Nirgie
Hcinzelman, Mary Manning, Mamie Pulse
and Gertc Strunck.
Missing:
Agnes Scaling, Mary Sealing, Martha Nam
tell, Laura Thompson, Miss l.. Simott, I.ottic
Pierson, Hilda Hammell, Mary nien, Katie
rrbana, Mary Bertcls, Delphi chl,rnczaucr,
Josie Plouder, Mamie Bailey.
Injured
Sister Monnesse. Sister Styli,es, Sister Re
partic, Sister Paschales, Sister Daisy Ehher-
man, Fanny Brurks, Agnes Schneider.
The building and contents were valued at
$4,000.