The morning call., 1893-10-07
st. Roses Convent Raided
by the Flames.
A FIREMAN'S FATAL FALL.
The Occupants of the House Escape.
Another Fireman iniured-The
Loss Was $4,000.


was the scene Of serious fire last evel-
ing. Happily the flames were speedily
got under control, but not before the at
tendant dangers had occasioned almost
necessarily fatal injuries in the case OF one
fireman and serious hurt to a second. Inc
loss by fire and water was estimated by
Captain Comstock of the Underwriters
Fire Patrol at $4,000.
AT 8:45 P. NJ Teresa Wollenberg of 1919
Golden Gate avenue was going down to
neghborlng grocery, when she saw smoke
rising from the roof of the convent, six
story building. She stood on the corner of
Golden Gate avenue and Steiner streets
until two gen tlemen came along, when she
induced them to alarm the sisters in the
building and turn in an alarm. They sent
one in from station 247 minute later.
Luckily there were not many inmates In
the threatened building, as they consisted
of Mother Agnes, five sisters and six board
ers, who had retired. Their sleeping
apartment was on the third floor. and dur
ing the regime of Sister Claire (or fifteen
years predecessor of Mother Agnes had
been supplemented by hallway running
over to the hill in the rear. By this natural
the suggestion of Rev. Father Prender-
CAST. the children were quickly removed
and placed in safety. The sisters seized a
few of their most valued treasures and left
by the front door, finding welcome at Mr..
Nolan's residence across the street.
Engines IA, 81 and % were speedily on
the spot, and Chief Sullivan shortly dis
covered that the fire was confined TO the
upper part Of the house. 1t appeared to
have a firm hold. and was so threatening to
the adjacent block on the east side that a
second alarm was turned in.
1t was at the nearest house in the Seattle
block. 1926 Golden Gate avenue, that John
Cr0nan, foreman of engine %, met with
terrible accident. He had assembled lad
der placed against tn front of the house
to the upper windows and was dragging up
heavy hose. The ladder being on a side
sill was lot too firmly set and Chief Sui
livan had just sho uted Look out for that
ladder" when a sudden jerk of the hos se
caused Cronan to miss his footing and fall
down to the stone sidewalk, distance of
thirty feet. He was picked up uncon-
scous by the assistant foreman of % and
others, who carried him into the residence
q y,
nue., whence he was removed to the
Receiving Hospital. 1t was found that his
skull was fractured and that he was in
jured internally, besides having his right
ear nearly torn off and sustaining severe
decorations and contusons.
Another serious casualty was that of
Edward White of engine IA. He was one
of the first on the scene, and IN company
with another fireman entered the burning
building with the intention of reaching the
roof, which was at that time in E mass of
flames. On arriving on the third floor the
heat and smoke became so intense that
White made for an open window in front
room, when suddenly an explosion oc-
Cured on the story above, shaking the
plaster from the walls and ceiling and
bringing down number of heavy pictures.
one of which fell upon White, knocking
him to the floor In an unconscious condi.
ton. When picked up, blood was flowing
in great quantities from wound inflicted
on the wrist. He was a once removed to
drugstore near by, where DR.. de Witt
attended to his injuries. 1t was found that
there was deep cut across the wrist ex-
tending down to the artery. The wound
is quite a severe one, and unless proper
care is taken may result fatally.
Engine II. which is stationed on Meal
lister street, near Buchanan. arrived Oh
the scene several moments before the first
alarm had been turned in. This act, which
is somewhat out of the ordinary, is at
tributed TO the foreman, who discovered
the blaze while walking near the engine
house and gave a still alarm. On arriving
at the scene. hose was taken on the roof
of an adjoining building and played upon
the burning mass in very effective man
ner.
The second alarm at S:45 brought in en-
gines from all sides, including the Oak
,,rin rrhi ioh n.,A nrly nha
fire was discovered to be mainly in the
roof and the efforts of the department
were directed to confining it. so that it
might not be communicated to the adjoin-
ing flats. 1921, 1923 and 1926 Golden Gate
avenue In their weil-directed efforts they
were assisted by the presence of heavy
fog, which acted as wet blanket
The adjoining flats are owned by D. B.
Jorkn, the lowest being occupied by P
DOrritz, the middle one by Mr.. Mosgrove
and the topmost by K. G. Wallace. They.
with their families, were quickly got out
of the way. much of their furniture being
temporarily placed in vacant lot nearly
opposite The roof was broken in the at |
tempt to use it as vantage ground to sub
due the convent fire, and considerable
damage, estimated at $500. was done by
water.
j. j. None, the well-known attorney
and baseball magnate, lives almost oppo-
size the c0nVehb anU was one OF the DTSl |
to become aware of the danger. He had |
recently purchased 125 feet of garden hose,
and as soon as he heard of ''fre" he gal |
lantly assembled the roof with his india
rubber treasure and turned an effective
stream all over the roofs of the adjacent
houses, preventing their catching fire |
from stray sparks. In the meantime Mrs. |
None downstairs was packing up the |
silver. but luckily she was not called upon
to move il a hurry.
BY 1915 the fire was practically under |
control and Chief Sullivan left, relegating |
his powers to Third Assistant Engineer
Kennard. who thereafter directed pro-
ceedings in the way of extinguishng the |
last spark of the devouring element which
had been driven clear ON the roof and Or
namental cornces.
Heavy streams were played from within |
and the crowds in the immediate vicinity
got many a good soaking. Being in a
residence portion Of town the fire had at
tracted large number Of ladies with their
escorts
By 1O:30 the fire was got under control,
and it was estimated that not dry corner
remained 10 the building. The damage by
water constituted large portion of the