Bridgeton pioneer., 1896-12-10
A HEROINE's DEED.
The Brave Girl Carried Him Amid Roar
of Flame and Rush of Smoke From
the Burning School at Vine


the Burning School at Vine
land.
VINELAND, N. j., Dec. "A story of
remarkable heroism on the part of one OF
the young women teachers at the burn
ing of the administration building of the
New Jersey Training School early yester-
day morning, developed to-day when
Miss Mona Burrows, 81 years old, was
compelled to go to bed because of injuries
she received. Her extreme modesty
kept the facts from light and perhaps the
story of her unfaltering courage would
never been known had she been able to
bear up under her pain.
The institution is under strictest disci-
pline and in the list of the rules there is
this one:
In case of fire make no clamor. Do rot
cry "freW except as last resort. Do
not create a panic. Keep cool. Use
woolen blankets, fire buckets, chemical
apparatus and the hose attached to stand
pipes to put out fifs, If the room is too
dense with smoke to walk, creep to the
spot where the fire is and smother it out.
Keep windows closed during a fire and
shut communicating doors. Remember
that the children are the first to be re-
moved in case of fire.
An Explicit Fire Rule.
The last admonition of this explicit rule
has been thoroughly drilled into the at
tendants, whose hearts are warm for the
hapless ones entrusted to their care. AS
the fire began to show it's red tongues
h,ri1 ,I-r
poured into the several rooms the teach
ers promptly turned their attention to the
thirteen inmates who had been housed in
the main building. All were thought to
be safely out and, wrapped in blankets,
carried to Wilbur Cottage, when sud-
denly it flashed upon Miss Burrows that
one of her charges, 14-year-old Paul Nor
ris, had been overlooked in the excite
ment.
Unfaltering Heroism.
With no thought for herself the young
woman rushed bravely upstairs after her
charge. Bursting the door open, she
awakened the boy and entreated him to
follow her to safety, but to her horror,
the youth, with laugh, crouched away
from her and refused to move. Every
second the roaring of the flames seemed
to grow louder to the brave woman, but,
tearfully besought the obstinate and
terror-stricken youth to follow her. Tie
smoke was growing sitting, the flames
cracked and hissed menacingly, but
still the unfortunate lad refused to
bulge. He laughed and drew away from
the eager teacher. She took hold of him
and soothingly urged him, but he would
not yield. Suddenly the look of despair
left her young face. The time for action,
swift and answering sswas at hand.
Without another word Miss Burrows
sprang upon the lad, gathered him in her
arms, and, despite his struggles, placed
him across her shoulders and staggered
from the room. 1t was trying ordeal
for the brave young woman, and several
times, half fainting, she felt sure she
would be compelled to abandon her bur-
den, but she kept on, and cropping through
the corridors, found her way to the stairs
and got safely out. AS she reached the
open air she became exhausted.
The lad was taken to Wilbur Cottage
to which Miss Burrows was also assisted
To-day her back was found to be so badly
sprained that she had to take to bed, and
then the facts of her heroism came out.
A Sorry Loss.
Unusual bravery and fine discipline
were displayed by all the attendants
Had not Miss E. II. Reeves, the book.
keeper, left the door open between he,
room and the Superintendent's office
enabling her to detect the smoke, there
doubtless would have been great loss o.
life. The institution is located one mile
out of the city limits and when the volun.
teer firemen reached the grounds the
building was entirely in flames. Super
intendent S. o. Garrison has teleprapheC
from Asheville, N. c., that he will bt
home tomorrow. All the records anl
contents of the Superintendent offic,
were burned, as well as nearly all of tn,
furniture in the building. The building
was erected nearly 20 years ago at cos
of $4,000. The insurance is only $4,000
1t is thought that fine stone buildin,
will ha oranfod On itS cito