The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-03-27
THE EMMITTSBURG FIRE.
ST. JOsEPH's ACADEMY DAMAGED. Loss
$50, O,OOO-COvERED BY INSURANCE
-THr, COMPLETE DETAILS.

At noon on Friday last fire was dis
covered il the kitchen of the building
occupied by the Sisters OF Charity at st.
JOseph's academy, Emmittsburg, Md,
and in a very short time She entire
building was in flames. The greatest
CONSERVATION prevailed. but as the
building where the children of the acad-
emy were kept was some distance off,
and the wind set the flames in an oppo-
site direction, all the children ard young
ladies were removed tC place of safe
ty. All the male inhabitants of En-
mittsburg, including the seminarIans
and professors Of Mount St. MaIv' 8
college went TO aid the Sisters of Chari-
ty, but the means for extinguishIng the
fire were so limited that little could be
done.
The fire started started in what is
known as the northeastern wing and is
supposed TO have originated from de-
fective hue in that portion of the wing
used as kitchen. The roof in flames
was observed by persons in EmmiLts-
burg. quarter of a mile disla ant. and
the first knowledge of the fire the in
mates Of the academy had was given by
residents of the town.
The fire was raging fercesJ about 3
- CtbCh ~ LildL lltilt lut htLCUFil ana
dining rooms, forming one building,
the dOTmitOTy. another building close
adjoining, and the stables were all
abiaze. As a number of frame houses
occupied bv labOrers were situated next
to the stables, the attention of the Gre
men was drst called to that quarter, and
the lames were soon extimguished.
When the men returned to the other
two buildings it was found hat a third
was on fire, the infrmary having caught
from the flames from the Kitchen
Thirty invalids who were in this depart.
mPnt were removed in safety to remote
building, and the Gre in the iufrmary
was soon eXtinguished. The men then
began to work from the corridors and
forced the flames outward to prevent
them from communicating to other
buildings. The Sisters and pupils in the
academy bore the excitement well and
did not break down until all danger was
past. While the fIe was in progress
a large mum Der of people whose children
were inmates at the iust tuition arrived
on the scene. Al we're assured that
the girls we're safe, aud seemed salts.
fed. When the 40 train from Balti-
more arrived anOuheT crowd Of anxions
parents were assured that their childIer
were not only safe, but not in the least
alarmed. kilograms from all over Z he
country. anXious'y inquiring about the
pupils, were received.
The building known as the kitchen
and dining room was built in 1859. II
was five stories high and covered a loI
90 by 60 feet. This building was burn.
ed 20 the ground. The building adjoin
ing was the sisters dormitorv, built in
1873. Il is 81 10y lob, and like the
kitchen, is five stories high This bull
ding is also consumed, the bare walls
alone left standing. The roof of the
corridor leading to the infrmary was
burned. aui hr furniture IN the build.
ing was dam tgpd by water The Sis
ters IN charge of The policies state thai
they amount To about $50 00O. one OF
which IS ia The Protective companies, Of
London
The exact origin of the fire is un-
known. but It is supposed to have beer
caused by a defective flue. There weT'
s-veury pupils and twenty Sisters in th'
building where the fire originated
Slme ~ he former We're taken home by
th.ir Parents At one o'clock the fir
Was uus, aud Ia an hour later tb
Frederick FIRE derartment, which h a,
arrived in time TO render effective ser
vice. 10 protec ug the buildings no
reached by tn returned home on
special train.