New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-15
A BRAVE MOTHER SUPERIOR
INCIDENTS OF TIE CONVENT FIRE
GENEROUS AID FOR THE HOMELESS sIsTEHs~
PLANS TO REBUILD-INsURANcEa

GENEROUS AID tOrS Ihrs
PLANS TO REBUILD-INsURANcEa
Clouds OF smoke and steam rolled from tnS
ruins Of the Convent Of the Sacred Heart All oay
Yesterday The walls OF the chapel and the main
building remained standing, but the interior OF
these structures was wholly destroyed, ana tne
walls of the building on the west side, near Ientn
ave-. had completely fallen in. The loss Is placcc
at about $780, 900 The buildings aud furniture
were insured for 81 60, 900. Around the grounds
the Sisters ol the convent were busy during the
day sorting out the piles Of bedding ana tne
variety of articles that had been saved from tne
flames Several little houses belonging to the
convent at the lower end Of the grounds, were
placed at the disposal OF the Sisters by tho occu-
pants ExParlS Commissioner John u. Crm'
Minis, who has been associated with much OF the
work of the institution, was one OF the hrst 10
offer his services to the Mother Superior, and az
his reouest the police established line about the
grounds in the forenoon, keeping out all who werc
not there on business.
The convent was the main branch OF the orders
which has institutions in all parts OF the country
and a membership OF 1900. It's schooi mas
graduated young women In prominent Catnono
families all over the United States, Mexico and
South America. The vacation at this season
Of the year was the reason thar
only about forty children OF the
mora than 800 students who attend
during the school term were present. When IL
was found that the buildings were destroyed
arran gcments were made at once 10 send the chill
dren and most Of the l5O Sisters to neighoorns
institutions Part Of them had already been
cared for during the light at Manhattan Colcse,
and offers of aid and shelter came IN the morning
from Mt ST. Vincent, Spuyten DuyVel ana IN;
Sisters Of Charity at other places neac The chill
drcn and the attendant Sisters were sent 10 heh, IN
wood Hail. at Albany, under Sister GaVlce, 70 tne
homes Of the Order, in Seventeenth-st. and Mad,
son-ave, and to philadelphia, Atlantic City and
Staten Island The Rev DR.. Mcdonald, secretary
OF the cjty was ono of the first
to visit the grounds TO see i anything mere coaId
be done for the Sisters Monsignor fa.Ley ana
other Catholic priests Of the city offered their ser
vices and friends who had learned OF the dlsastes
| came o distance of fifty miles to render what aid
Icy in their power
SICK wOMAN's PRESENCE OF MIND.
One of the remarkable incidents of the fire was
the presence OF mind of the Mother Superior, VINO
has been an invalid and confined TO hes bed much
of the time for several years. When she learned
Of the fire she from her bed by an effort OF the
will and directed the actions of those ABOUND her
The children in the dormitories were collected
around her. and when satisfied that none were
missing she led the way from a rear entrance or
the main building. The flames were then begin
ming to burst out furiously, but in the grove back
Of the convent all was darl; except from oceaslonai
npshes The wind howlcd iercely anOng the trees,
and the children huddlcd about the Mother Su-
pcror greatly frightened She led the way Gown
the deep ravine behind the convent
and reaching n fence that encloscs the grounds
forced it down with her own hands, Ad came
to the party in Tenth-avc. and the Mother %ns
persuaded TO go TO an adjoining mouse. res,er&or1 &
She was greatly prostrated from her efforts ana
It was related of another of the Sisters that
she was so overcome that She refused TO leave
the burning building She had lived there. she
said for thirty years, and had seen the walls
of the convent erected. and she did not care 70
, live she said in her excitement. if the institution
. was DESTROYED When seen standing In one OF
the windows of the western buildings watchilIns
the progress Of the fire. she was weeping eActedly;
I In answer to the calls of the people; she ssld
; She could easily get down but refused TO come;
IS the fire spread she retained her place ano
when it was seen that the buildings must go. tho
attention OF some Of the iremcn was called '"
her and she was persuaded and assisted 10 ieao
the dangerous locality. These buildings were soot 500
4 in flames and even the walls were not standing
a yesterday.
n THE CAUSE NOT YET DISCOVERED.
Y About thirty-fvc Of the Sisters were left at
t ,hc convent and found shelter last night in tho
h house of Chaplain Callahan. on the convenS
= Grounds No further information had oeen oo-
taincd in regard to the origin OF the hre' Mo'her
pardon said that the fire used in the building for
J. cooking and other purposes had all been eA'
u tinguisked for some time when the flames bro"e
IL ont II is thought the fire must have started IN tho
; Roof which was being repaired MIR. Crlmmih'
r. stated that as soon the insurance companies
had decided on the amount OF the loss worKnsI n,
could berin 70 tear down the walls ana reDul.d
/ bonse will be secured in the ncighborho0d 10
temporary school purposes until the ne% S building
8, Tnruitnre. This will not cover the loss OF per
u sonai effects. and the pictures Of the CHAPEL an.
= ,hr new frescoing just completed are total loss
The insurance is as follows:
10 ,,-,oho,t,r y V s25 40 Nanuacturers ana 80,
NJ Westches',Is - 6asO Builders. y. Y. S56t
ol Phoenix London i9933S0 vor,h river X Y. 5 go
" Lon ion Assurance, . -. i''pes -, ~, Il, 'phi,a
is Eng. - i'$oS99 s-r, r1einbs c''''o" eer
ne Citz.nsi N T. i''- civ ~ Ioudon Eng &C.
~ ihs -, ~, bonn II 400 National. y. Y. 36O
rs Imperial. Eng. S'49o On.Sa pcap 2s3'