The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1899-09-02
DIE IN A CONVENT FIRE.
Children Perish in q Catholic
School at Spa.khill, N. Y.
ALL BUT FOUR SAVED.
Fire Broke Ont Shortly AFTER Md.
niRht-Heroic Work Of
the Sisters.

New York, Aug. 2S.-Two children
and On aged woman nurse, in
mates of the orphanage Of the Convent
of Dominican Sisters, at Sparkhill, Rock
land county, perished in a fire which
broke out early today in the asylum
building. twenty were injured, includ-
ing several of the sisters.
The asylum contained $50 children.
The dead are:
Helen Brown and Emma Mackin, 6
and years old respectively, and Kate
Mccarthy, a servant.
Among the number seriously injured
are: Sister Maria and Sister Agnathius
They may not recover. Others are also
so seriously injured that their recovery
is doubtful. The property loss is about
100000.
The only building saved was the in
Urinary and barns. The neighbors were
prompt In rendering assistance.
George Blair, Superintendent Of the
poor of New York city, directed that all
the children be sent to Blauvelt convent
for temporary shelter. The sisters also
went there.
The entire group of buildings, with tn.
exception OF the hospital, were burned.
The fire started In the lavatory at the
northwest corner Of the group Of build
ings, nine In number. 1t soon communi-
Gated to building No. I, occupied by the
older boys. The lads were quickly awak-
ened.
The Children Awakened.
Word was quickly passed through the
nine buildings, and the sisters in charge
of each soon had all the occupants of the
dormitories out of bed. Along the back
of the buildings a covered archway ex-
tended the entire length of the struc-
lures, and from this archway the en-
frances to the several buildings opened
The tre ate its way with extraordinary
and the flames were famed by a north
west breeze, which forced them onward
In their destructive sweep.
The work of getting the children out
of the building was heroically performed
by the sisters in charge, ably assisted by
many Of the older boys. The alarm OF
fire was sent by telephone to the nearest
towns, but when the fire company from
Piermont arrived, all but the hospital
building had been demolished.
All of the children were taken out
alive. but two little tots, Helen Brown,
aged q years, and Emma Mackin, Z
years, died Of convulsons after they had
been rescued. An aged woman nurse
known as Jane, is supposed to have per-
ished in the building. All the other in
mates have been accounted for.
Kate Mccarthy, a servant died from
the shock after being rescued and There
sa Murphy, 16 years DID, is also seriously
injured.
Jumped from windows.
Six of the sisters jumped from the sec
ond, third and fourth floors of the build
ings, but only one OF them was danger
ously injured. This is Sister Bertrand,
who is suffering from concussion of the
spine.
Sister Marie is severely burned and
Sister Catharine had an arm broken
Sister Sienna, who assisted in the work
of rescue, showing wonderful courage,
collapsed after the children were gotten
out, and remained unconscious for sew
eral hours. Sister Agnes, who climbed
out of a fOurth-story window, had
miraculous escape from injury and pos
sible death. After climbing out of the
window she took hold of the swinging
shutter, swung herself free of the build
ing, and dropped to the ground without
apparent injury.
In all there were 326 children, of whom
sixty were girls, in the institution when
the fire broke out. There were also forty
sisters in charge, under the direction of
Rev. Mother Peters. Most of the chill
dren were sent to the orphanage through
the Gerry society and police ma gistrates
All of the sisters and children, as well
as the wounded, are being taken care of
at the Blauvelt convent, which is about
two miles from the scene of the confla-
grafton.
About twenty-five of the children re-
csived injuries. none of which the doc
tors think will prove fatal
Later-Ihe list of dead includes Their
esa Murphy, 10 years old. monitor
This makes four dead in all. so far as
known. The Murphy girl escaped with
the rest of the inmates, but went back
to save a baby and perished
1t is believed that the fire was of incen-
diary oririn