Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-12-19
FLlMEs OF FURY
Seeking Young Lives in an Orphan
Asylum.
'.ARE THE BOYS ALL sAFE'"
A Fierce Fire That Shocked New York
Into a Most Intense
Excitement.
HEROIC MEN AND WOMEN.

NEW YoRE, December l8.-The Catholic
Orphan Asylum at St. Marks and Albany
avenues, Brooklyn, burned this afternoon,
and it is feared some Of the children per-
ished in the flames. The Sisters in charge
think all escaped, but cannot tell until the
roster of the boys is called. Tae little fel-
lows are now scattered about in care
of the residents of the neighborhood.
The fire started in the 80 drying
room which adjoined the southern end OF
the main building. Sister Mary Josephine
who was in the dormitory at the time the
fire broke out made heroic efforts to save
the little ones, sixty Of whom were ill. She
remained in the room until absolutely
driven out by the flames. Then she ran to
the window, where she stood upon
the cornice until Foreman Nc,
Groarty, of Engine No. IA, from the
roof ofthe building, swung his coat to her.
The sister caught the coat but when Nc
Groarty tried to pull her from her perilons
position, she lost her grasp and fell to the
ground. She struck upon her shoulder
and head. She was Immediately
conveyed to St. GATHERINGS hospital,
in an unconscious condition. Joseph Ryan,
q boy, tried to descend BY ladder from
the same floor, the third, and got within
eight feet of the ground when the ladder
parted. He received severe injuries John
McGrath, eight years old, jumped from the
third story and was badly injured Mother
De Chantel and Sister Anthony were in the
Office when the fire was discovered. They
at once gave the alarm and proceeded to
get the youngsters out of the building.
There we're 7S5 orphans in the main build
ing, which is also known as St. John s
house. They were told to leave and seek
shelter in any neighboring house until
called for. There was great excitement
among the inmates. Hundreds of little
fellows ran out in the falling snow hatless
and coatless. The flames spread with
great rspidity and the buildings were al
most completely destroyed.
Edward Hszlett a city official who
reached the building soon ntter the fire oc-
Cured says he never saw so much excite
ment. Children were running out of every
entrace on both St. Marks and Albany
avenues. Many of them were not entirely
clad, but were soon provided with clothing
of one kind or another by neighbors.
John Watield, grocer, and George Irish
placed a ladder against the second story
window on Albany avenue and Irish hand
I'd down several boys when, the crowd called
to him to come down on account OF the
proximity of the flames which burst out OF
the windows beneath him. Peter Cahill is
confident he saw a woman fall back from
a window into the fire, and also believes al
tie boys did not get out, though all except
those in the boiler wing escaped without
touble.
Engineer James Watson said: We had
two engines of sixty horse power each.
was attending the fires, when our boy:
came rushing down, shouting the building
was on fire. / found he was right, and
banked my fires and filled the boilers with
cold water, so they could not explode
Bv this time the fire had reached the boiler
room. | had barely time to escape. | dc
not know now the fire originated, only thai
it broke out in the drying room. One o.
the boys said the FIRE was caused by another
boy who went into the driving room with 6
lighted candle and accidently set some
clothes on fire. The fame, the boy said
leaped up in moment and all who were il
the room ran out. Father Mahony who
was in charge of the building thinks all th'
Children escaped. George Matthews, o
/ trnck 3, had drawn large hose with hin
| up a ladder on the Albany avenue sld'
after the interior had been burned
and the walls ,.,
Sbout Sbc to .. t.ll. he thought he had the hos,
securely dashed to the ladder, but when tn,
water came through it T.ss ierked from it,
lserening and knocked him to the ground
thirty feet, seriously injuring him. An
other fireman was badly burned and
otherwise injured by being knocked from
the ladder by pieces offalhng cornice. The
building stood upon an elevation and the
fremen had hard work to get at it. The
building to-day destroyed was valued al
$2C0, 900; insured.