The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-08-29
ORPHANAGE BURNED.


ThrOe LiVes Lost, and Many We're
Injured, two OF Whom arc Expected
20 DIe-HeFolc Work OF the Domin'
ican Sisters
NEW YORK, August 2s.-The entire
group of buildings. with the exception
Of the hospital, which Comprised the
convent of St, Agnus and oFphanage in
charge of the Dominican sisters, SituA-
ted about half a mile from sparkill,
Rockland county. were burned early to-
day, and. as far as known three lives
were lost and many were injured. two
of whom will probably die, Tho fire
started In the lRvatory at the northwest
corner OF the group OF buildings, nine
In number which faced the road to the
south. It soon communicated to build
ing No. /, which was occupied by the
older boys. The lads were quickly
awakened and soon rushed to Building
No. 2 and In this manner word was
quickly passed through the nine build
lngS and the sisters In charge OF each
soon had all the occupants Of the dor
mltorles out Of bed, Among the back OF
the buildings covered archwaY, the
entrances TO the several buildings, open
ed. The fire eat It's way with eHtraordi-
nary swiftRess through this arched
hallway, which acted as a flue and the
flames were famed by northwest
breeze which forced them onward In
their destructive sweep.
The work OF getting the children out
of the building was herolcally PERFORM
ed by the sisters in charge, ably assist
ed by some nurses and monitors, rs
well as many OF the older boys, People
from the surrounding neiEhborhood al
so helped in the rescue. The alarm Of
FIRE was sent by telephone to the near
est towns, but when the fire company
from PlermOHt arrived al but the
hospital building had been demolished.
All Of the children were taken out
alive, but two little tots, Helen Brown,
aged six years, and Emma Maokir. sew
en- years Of age, died OF convulsions af-
ter they had been rescued, An aged
woman nurse known rs jane, 10 sup
posed to have persisted in the building.
All the other inmates have been &C.
counted for. Kate Mccarthy, ser
want, who Is suffering from shock, viii
probably die, and Theresa Murphy, alx-
teen years old, Is also seriously injured,
Six OF the sisters jumped from the
second, third and fourth fioOrs Of the
building. but only one Of them was dam
gerously injured. This is sister Ber-
trand, who is suffering from conclusion
Of the spine.
Sister Marie Is severely burned and
Sister Catherine 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 houFs. Sister Agnes, who climbed
out OF a fourth. story window, had
miraculous escape from injury and pos
sihle death. After climbing out Of the
window Ghe took hold Of the swinging
shutter and after swinging herself free
Of the building. dropped 70 the ground
and allghted without apparent injury,
In all there were see children, of whom
SlXtY Wero girls. In the institution
when the Ore broke out, There were
also forty slsters IN charge. under the
direction Of Rev. Mother Peters. Most
OF the children were sent TO the Orphan
age through the Gerry society and po.
lice mhRistrateA All Of the sisters and
children, a. well as the wounded, are
being taken care OF at the Blauvelt
convent, which IL about two miles from
the scene Of the conhAEration, About
OF the children received In
iuries none Of which. the doctors think,
will prove fatal. The property loss is
300 CO.,