The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-01-07
HORRIBLE HOLOCAUST
Burning OF a Convent at Bellev lie
illinois.
Twenty seven of the znmates Bnrnea TO
Death -zzeartrending scenes AbOnt the
Ruins The Fire Department PowerIess.

BELLErLLE, ILL.,, Jan. 6.--St. Joseph's Re-
man Catholic convent was burned early this
morning. Five nuns jumped from the 9th
story window; one OF them was killed and the
others will probably die.
Another Account
ST. LOUIS, Jan. 6.-In the convent at Belle
| vile, which was destroyed by fire last night
there we're 60 0pupils, all girls, from 10 years to
adult age, several teachers aud q number Of
| other inmates. The fire is said to have started
| in the dormitory. 1t spread rapidly and pam
ic seized both the children aud sisters, sll max
ing wild rush 10 escape. FoIty or moro pu-
| pills are known 10 bave get oct or were taken
from the building and given shelter in neigh
boring houses, aud several jumped from the
| @indows and vera either killed or badly in-
| jured Miss Mary Campbell Of East st. Louis,
a teacher, leaped from the third story snd
died 10 a few minutes. Another name not
ascertsiued, climbed to the roof of the portico
aad either fell or was blown off aud sustained
fatal injuries. Among the others injured by
jumping are Dtisy Elberman, who resides
near Bsleville, Agnes Schneider and Lou
Mott Of East st. Louis.
Fannie Renker of Washington, No, Sister
Pspara'a, Sister Stylita aud Sister Manassas,
Sister Mary Jerome, the lady superior, and
Fl teen to twenty of the smaller pnplls we're
missing at late hour last night and it was
feared that some Of them had perished in the
building. Ssasching parties are actively at
work today.
The scene at the fire was one Of the widest
excitement and terror. Streets in the vicinity
We're thronged With people anxious to be OF
service, cut owing to the rapid spread Of the
flames they Were helpless to render aid; while
the terror stricken parents rushed frsntically
round searching for their missing childrsn,
and wailiDg over their loss. The fire depart
men was OF little avail against the rush of
surging flames and iu ore hour the entire
building vas mass of ruins.
[LATER.l
The following despatch from Belleyille gives
farther particulars of the burning of the con-
vent there last night. The convent was known
as the Institute of Immaculate Conception
and was conducted by the Sisters of Notre
Dame. Tie fire Rss the most dis strous to life
: and Property that Bellevl!e has ever expert
enced. A visit to the scene this morning show
ed the FIRE department. still on duty. When
the ruins were suffioientls cooled Il volnntea,s.
csrps went to work to bring ont the bodies. E
was a terrible sight. AT times searchers would
find two or three charred masses huddled close
together IS ii the victims had sought tho pro-
tection of one another from tha advancing
flames.
Four bodies wers found in,the rsar part Of
the Building, burned into an unrecognizi BILE
mass. But the msier.ty were found beneath
wheie the dormitory was situated. They
seemed to have sought shelter in this room
too late to recognize that it wss impossible to
escape from it. The flames beneath eating
away tho supports let down the floor into the
seething vortex of fire aud smoke.
The loss of life is much greater than esti-
mated last night. Instead Of the two as at
first supposed he total known deaths is 27-22
pupils and five sisters. Among the latter is
The sister superior. On the fourth foer the
pupil boardefs with thrse sisters slept. On
the third floor the remaining sisters; and on
the second or floor above the basement slept
what are termed the orphans and half orphans.
TIE inmstes on the second floor were sayed.
The Missing.
The missing are:
Martha M4untsll of Carondeet, Mo-
Mary Barteles, Missouri.
Josephine Ploudre, daughter Of County
Commissioner Ploudre, Centreville Station,
Ill