The Appeal., 1890-01-04
FIRST OF THE YEAR.

a Horrible Disaster Marks the Opening
of 1890 in England-An Industrial In-
stitution in a London Suburb Burned,
and Twenty-six Boys Lose Their Lives
The Castle of the King of Belgium De-
stroyed by Fire--Narrow Escape of .
Princess-IIer Governess Suffocated.
LONDON, Jan. 2.-The paupers' school
In Forestgate, connection OF the
Whitechapel Unions, was burned early
yesterday morning and twenty-six boys
who we're asleep in the upper stories
were ,suffocated before they could be
rescued. Fifty-eight others were res
cued by the attaches of the institution
and members of the fire brigade amidst
the most intense excitement and at great
risk. Two of the matrons of
the institution escaped in safety by
sliding down the water-pipes. Several
of the boys escaped in the same way.
The superintendent of the school re-
peatedly rushed through the flames and
brought out number of inmates There
were 600 persons in the institution. The
bodies OF those who were suffocated were
carried to the main hall of the building,
which was profusely decorated with
Christmas green's.
The fire engines were promptly on
the spot. The employees of the ad-
jacent railway station rushed to the
scene and rendered valuable assistance
The cries of the boys who were unable
to escape were terrible. The ages of
the dead range from to 10 years.
d" The hero of the occasion was boy
, yhoo ;,,4 4Lo - -
the fatal ward, himself boy whose
vicious habits had made him an inmate
of the institution. Through his efforts
many boys were literally driven from
the building, and he ceased his work of
rescuing his fellows only when he was
himself driven out by the flames. He
dragged several of his companions, un-
conscious, out of the windows, while
others he carried into the air in his
arms.
A PALACE IN ASHES.
BRUSSELS, Jan. 2.-The royal palace
at Laeken, a suburb of this city, took
fire at o'clock Wednesday night. Prin-
cess Clementine, the daughter of the
King, had narrow escape from being
burned to death. Her governess was
burned. At 10 p. m. the palace had the
appearance of a huge furnace, and there
came from it constant crashes and
volcanic bursts of flame and sparks,
as portions of timber, stone or
other masses of debris fell into
the fire. The heat was 80 great as
to totally prevent the approach of the
small fire brigade, which at best could
have done but little. The Queens
apartments have suffered most. Much
plate has been saved. but the valuable
paintings, the Gobelin tapestries and
the great library are all consumed. The
extensive greenhouses and stables are
not touched. The King is anxious
about the stationary in the rotunda.
There is little hope that any of it is
saved.
The only occupants of the palace at
the time of the breaking out of the fire
were the Princess Clementine, aged II.
lady attendant and her governess,
Drancourt. The governess, having
escaped with the others, returned
to the Princess apartments to secure
some valuables and was suffocated
there. The Queen is greatly grieved at
her fate. Another poignant source of
regret for her Majesty is that she loses
by this fire interesting souvenirs of her
%chaldren, especially of her son, who died
%at the age of IL.
At midnight there was report that
1.-The fire was of incendiary origin, and
Sthas Drancourt, the victim, perished
while searching for the Princess Glenn
entine, whom she supposed to be still in
the palace. ALI the private papers of
the King and of Leopold I. and the
Queens jewels were destroyed. Only
the walls are now standing The body
OF the governess has not been found. It
is reported that two f1remen were in
jured and another killed at the fire.