The Portland daily press., 1884-12-19
A HEROINE.
Burning of a Catholic Male Or
phan Asylum in Brooklyn,
New York.
HEROIC EFFORTS OF sEsTER
JOSEPHINE TO SAVE THE
LITTLE ONES.

NEW YORK, Dec. 1S.-Shortly after o'clock
this afternoon fire broke out in the driving
room OF the Catholic male orphan asylum at
the corner of st. Marks and Albany avenue,
Brooklyn. The building which, with the
grounds, occupied an entire block, was 220 K
100 feet. OF three stories with Mansard roof and
constructed of blue stone. The building where
in the fire originated contained the boilers and
heating apparatus, with a dormitory on the
third floor, in which there were 60 orphans suf-
ferlng from various complaints. Whether or
not they all escaped cannot be told until the
roll call is bad. The opinion obtained tonight
was that some were lost. Sister Mary jose
phins, who was in the dormitory at the time
the fire broke out, made heroic efforts to save
tha little ones. She remained in the room un-
til driven out by the flames, then she ran to a
window, whero she stood upon the cornice
until Fireman MeGroarty of Engine a. from
the root of the buiuing, swung his coat to her,
and the Sister caught the coat, but when Nc
Groarty tried to pull her from her position she
lost her grasp and fell headl0ng to the ground.
She struck on her shoulders and head aud was
conveyed to St. GATHERINGS hospital in an un-
conscious condition. Joseph Ryan, a boy, fell
from ladder and received severe injuries;
John McGrath, eight years old, jumped from
the third story and was badly injured; Mother
ID chsntsl and Sister Anthony were in the
office when tho ire wac discovered. They at
once gave the alarm and proceeded to get 3no
youngst' rs out of the building.
luSFo W6r0 tcO OfpDaUS In tho building.
which is also known as st. Johns Home
They wele told to leave the house and seek
shelter in any neighboriDg house until called
for. There was great excitement among the
inmates, but it is believed that all escaped ex-
cepting possibly some of those who we're in the
dormitory wing. Hundreds of little fellows
ran out into the falling snow hstless and COAT
less. The Hames spread with great rapiditY,
and the buildings were almost completely de-
stroyed.
LATER.
There were about thirty Sisters in the asylum
and number OF them went out with the boys,
but it was impossible to keep the little fellows
together. They sought refuge in car stables,
dwellings. saloons and stores near by.
John Watfeld and George Irish placed lad
der against second story window on Albany
avenue, land Irish handed down seven boys,
when the crowd called to him to come down
on account OF proximity of the flames which
were bursting ont of the windows Just beueath
him. Patrick Cahill says he is confident he
saw woman fall back from window into the
smoke. He alec believes all the boys did not
get ont, though sll except those in the boiler
wing escaped without trouble.
One of the boys in the asylum said the fire
was caused by another boy who went into the
drying room with lighted candle. There
were some clothes drying on rack and he ac-
cdentslly touched them with the candle flame,
and the flames, he said, leapsd up in q mo-
ment, and ell who we're in the room ran out.
Father Mahoney, who was in charge of the
building, thinks all the children escaped. Two
hremen were thrown from ladder and badly
injured. The building was valued at $500 600
and is fully covered By insurance.
at o'clock only the charred walls remain
ed. 1t could not be learned tonight whether
or not any lives were lost, but the best is hoped
for.
1t was announced at late hour that Sister
Mary Josephine had died from her injuries.