St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-20


and the flames ate rapidly upward thus pre-
venting egress by the lower parts Of the
house.
Eddie McGrath, on Of the kitchen boys,
twelve years OF age, was going in to wash
the cups when the fire broke out he ran in
aud saved bis little seven year old brother,
who was on the second floor.
Speaking to reporter, McGrsth
said there were seven boys In
the inhrmary on the third floor afflicted with
sore eyes, and about twenty-three sick with
malarial fever. He said seven were unable
to leave their beds, and suggested the prob
ability they were the first victims.
The children were received at the home on
various conditions. Most Of them were
orphans aud some half orphans. In addition
to these few had been committed BY police
magistrates, when their parents were either
incapable or unwilling TO properly care
for them. The boys forming the
last named class were In the greater
part unwilling inmates, aud these, IL
is believed, compose mainly the missing 1913,
having been set free by the fire they prefer
to remain at large. The identity OF the re-
mains of the woman found in the ruins may
be helped by the statement of Sister Veronica
who said: 81 let two visitors into the in
firmary, who went up stairs. They were
they got out, but am not sure" She con-
tInued: There were no: more than ten or
twelve children on the upper floor Of the in
frmary when the fire broke out. This floor
was used as a dispensary, where children
were treated, and was not for occupancy
except at such periods" Sister Veronica
was in the iDfrmary building when the fire
was discovered, and said il seemed to origi-
nate in some dish towels that hung on a rack.
Sister Clementina was there, too, and ran up
stairs to get some water TO throw on the
flames. Before she got back the fire had
gained such headwsy 1t was useless TO try TO
check ii, and their efforts were directed to
saving the children.
Mrs. Feeny, who is laundress Of the insti-
tuition, was found in the farm house of the
asylum at the east end Of the grounds. and
about four hundred feet distant. Here she
passed the night with sixtY-fye Of the small
est children, who ranged from two years to
eight. Several Of the sisters were also pres
ent. From Mrs. Fceney's statement there
seems no doubt the fire originated in the en-
gine room, which was In the basement of the
annex. On the first floor was the laundry,
on the next the drying room, and on the
third floor the inirmsry.
81 was in the laundry said Mrs. Feeney,
"with Sister Clementine aud the assistant
laundress, whose name / do not know. 1t
was during recreation hour and / was max
ing some remark to Sister Clementine about
the boys in the yard. Suddenly / saw
fame in the drying press. 1 turned
and saw that some towels were
in blaze. Before we could hardly move
the place was in blaze. There must have
been at least thirty five boys in the infrmary
up stairs, under the care of sister Mary Ap-
thony. / cannot imagine how many got
out" Mrs. Feeney was prevented from
making further statement by sister who
drew her aside and warned her not 10 talk.
Had the fire broken out at night, and in
the crowded main building, instead of the
infirmary, one shudders to think what the
list Of casualties would have been.
Bishop Laughlin is the nominal president
of the society which has care Of the orphans.
The actual officers and managers are
laymen. These laymen exercised entire
control and direction Of matters. There are
now many expressions Of indignation against
the management, which made it possible for
''holocausting TO heaven" so many little ones
committed to their guardianship
The dead recovered until late hour this
afternoon number thirteen. 1t is said SO, 600
worth of statues have been saved, with the
picture or Mother Baptsta, who died two
years ago, constituted about all In the
building not burned. Sister Mary
St. Josephine, killed, was thirty FIVE years old
and belonged to the order for fifteen years.
She has married sisters at Troy, n. z, and
few days ago visited them with her father,
eghty-four years old, who recently came
from Ireland TO see his children.
The walls Of one wing of the asylum hav-
ing been saved, the pecuniary loss will not
be as heavy as at first reported. The total
insurance is $97, 800.
The coroner empaneled jury to-day and
then adjourned the inquest.
The remains Of the woman found in the
ruins were those of Mary McCarren, widow,
So Pearl street, Brooklyn. She was visiting
her son. Both perished. The county char
| ity commissioners offer the trustees several
vacant buildings for the children. Recon
struction of the orphan asylum will begin at
once.