Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-08-29

NEW YORK, august 28.-The entire
group of buildings, with the exception
OF the hospital, which comprised the
convent of ST. Agnus and orphanage,
in charge of the Dominican Sisters,
situated about half q mile from Spar
kill, were burned early to-day, and, as
far as known three lives were lost and
many were injured, two of whom Will
probably die. The fire started in the
lavatory at the northwest corner OF
the group of buildings, nine in num-
Der, which faced the road to the south
1t soon communicated to building 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 buildings, and
the Sisters in charge Of each soon had
all the occupants Of the dormitories
out of bed. Along the rear of the
buildings q covered archway extended
the entire length Of the structures and
from this archway the entrances to
the several buildings opened. The fire
ate its way with extraordinary swift
ness through this arched hallway which
acted as a fIue and the flames were
famed by northwest breeze, which
forced them onward in their destructive
sweep.
The work of getting the children cut
of the building was heroically perform
ed by the sisters in charge, ably assisted
by some nurses and monitors as well as
many of the older boys. People from
the neighborhood also helped in the
rescue. The alarm of fire was sent by
telephone to the nearest towns. but
when the fire company from Piedmont
arrived all but the hospital building
had been demolished.
All of ythe children were taken out
alive, but two tots, Helen Brown, aged
6 years, and Emma Mackin. years
old, died of commissions after they had
been rescued. An aged woman nurse
known as Jane, is supposed to have
persisted in the building. All the other
inmates have been accounted for. Kate
Mccarthy, a servant, who is suffering
from shock, will probably die, and The
ressa Murphy, 16 years old, is also seri-
ously injured.
Six of the sisters jumped from the
second, third and fourth floors Of the
buildings, but only one of them was
dangerously injured. This is Sister
Bertrand, who is suffering from con-
cussion OF the spine.
Sister Marie is severity 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 got
ten out and remained unconscious for
several hours. Sister Agnes, who climb
ed out of the fourth story window,
took hold of the swinging shutter and
after swinging herself free Of the build
ing, dropped to the ground and alighted
without apparent injury.
In all there were 1926 children, of
whom sixty were girls, in the institu
ton when the fire broke out. There
were also 40 Sisters in charge, under
the direction of Reverend Mother Pc
tiers. Most OF the children were sent
to the orphanage through the Gerry
Society and Police Magistrates All CT
the Sisters and. children, as we'll as the
injured, are being taken care Of at the
Blauvelt convent, which is about two
miles from the scene of the fire. About
25 of the children received injuries
none of which the doctors think will
prove fatal. The property loss is $780,
600.
The list of dead include Theresa
Murphy, 16 years old, a monitor. This
makes four dead in all, so far as
known. The Murphy girl escaped with
the rest of the inmates, but went back