The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-12-24

Speaking to q Uni on reporter, McGrath said
there we're seven boys in the inhrmary
on the third fool afflicted with sore eyes
and about twenty-t hree sick withms al
fever. DE said the seven we're II -
leave their beds, and suggessed that
ably they were the first victims Thee
dren were received at the home on various
conditions Most Of them were orphans and
some half orphans. In addition to these q
few had been committed by the police magis.
trate when their parents are either in
capable or unwilling TO properly care for
them. The boys, forming the last named
class, were in great part unwilling inmates,
and these, it is believed, compose mainly
the missing 1913, having been set free by the
FIRE, prefer to remain at large.
The identity of the remains OF the woman
found in the ruins may be helped by a state
ment of Sister Veronica. She said III let two
visitors into the infrmsry, who went up
stairs. They were Mrs. McCarIan and Mrs
Hsllorsn. think they got out, but I am
sure" she continued. there we're not more
than ten or twelve children on the upper
floor OF the in6rmary when the fire broke
out. This floor was used as a dispensary.
where the children's ailments were treated,
and was not for occupancy except at such
periods" Sister Veronica was in the in
Urinary building when the fire was dis
covered, and said ii seemed to originate in
some dish towels that hung on rack.
Sister Clementine was there, too, and ran up
stairs to get water to throw on the flames.
Before she got back the fire had gained such
hsadway that Ii was useless to try to check
it, and their efforts were directed
to saving the children. Mrs. Feeney, who
is laundress of the institution, was
found in the farm house Of the asylum at
the east grounds, and about 500 feet distant.
Here she passed the night with sixty five of
the smallest children, who ranged from two
years to eight Seversl OF the sisters were
also present. From Mrs. Feeney's statement
there seems no doubt the fire originated in q
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 inirmary. Il was in the
laundry" said Mrs. Feeney, with Sister
Clementine and the assistant laundress
whose name l don't know. 1t was during
the recreation hour, and was making some
remark to Sister Clementine about the boys
in the yard. Suddenly / saw a flame in the
drying press. / turned and saw sometoTels
were in blaze. Before we could hardly
move the place was in blaze. There must
have been at least thirty-five boys in the in
fiImaIy upstairs, under the care OF Sister
Mary Anthony. ] can't imagine how many
got out"
Mrs Fseney was prevented from making
q further statement by sister who drew her
aside and warned her not TO talk. Had the
fire broken out at night, and in the DIVIDED
main building, instead OF IN the ln1rmary,
one shudders TO think what a list of casual.
ties there would have been.
Bishop Lsughlin is the nominal President
OF the society which has care of the orphans
The actual officers and managers are lay
men. These laymen exercised entire con-
troll and direction ef matte. There are
now many expressions of indignation
against the management, which made it pos
slble for "bolocausting to heaven" so many
little ones committed to their guardianship
The dead recovered until late hour this
afternoon numbers 13. 1t is said S., 900 worth
statues have been saved, with the picture Of
Mother Baptista, who died two years ago,
and constituted about all in thv building
not burned. Sister Mary ST. Josephine,
killed, was thirty FIVE years old, and has be-
longed to the order fifteen years. She has
married sister at Troy, N. Y, and few days
ago visited them with her father, eighty
four years old, who recently came from Ire
land to see his children. The walls of one
wing of the asylum having been saved the
pecuniary loss will not be as heavy as at first
reported. The total Insurance. IS $97, 500.
The Coroner to-day empane.ed jury and
then adjourned the inQuest.