The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-02
ESCAPES FROM FLAMES
MISSES BEING DESTROYED
by FIRE
Prompt Work eff the Department
Prevented the Blaze From Spread
Ing, and the Pupils Filed Out In
Safety-LOss About $1,000.

st. Joseph's academy, Nelson and West
ern avenues, narrowly escaped destruc-
ton by fire yesterday morning. The
prompt arrival of the fire department
and the fact that the fire was discovered
before it had time to gain Roadway were
circumstances which without doubt saved
the old institution from destruction. The
loss amounts to 81 500.
man passing by the academy on his
way to his office noticed smoke issuing
from the roof Of the building. The ap-
pearance of the roof gave indication that
the building was on fire, and he ran
quickly to the nearest box and turned in
an alarm. He then notified the sisters
In charge, and they in turn sent in an
alarm over the telephone.
The response to the alarms was prompt,
but, by the time the firemen arrived the
blaze had burst through the roof and the
entire central part of the building was
ablaze. above the third story Ladders
were hurriedly taken from the trucks,
and f1remen at once scaled the walls to
the roof with pipe lines. Streams of water
were turned on and inside of an hour
the fire was entirely under control. The
quickness with which the fire department
got water to the roof prevented the
flames from spreading, and they were
confined to the attic and roof, thus saw
ing the building. Three streams were
used, but the usual heavy damage from
water was in a large measure avoided
from the fact that the floors of the build
ing were unusually well constructed, and
held the water. preventing it from soak
ing through to the rooms underneath.
AS soon as the first alarm was turned
| In the sisters notified the young women
| boarding at the school, and they filed out
with admirable precision and GOODNESS.
| Owing to the fact that it was Saturday
! and near Easter many Of the boarders
at the school were away and the num-
! Der on the building a the time Of the
| fire was small.
The cause of the fire Is not known
| 1t started in the attic under the roof over
| the central part of the building and so
| far as is known, there were no combus-
! tible materials stored there. The steam
pipes used for heating purposes do not
extend to the attic, and it was to all in
| tents and purposes empty. The loss by
| the fire will amount to about 81 500. an
exact estimate being difficult to arrive at
| This amount is fully covered by insur-
ance, placed with John Rogers Jr.
st. Joseph's academy is one Of the old
est Catholic institutions of learning in
the state, and the building which was
! damaged by the fire has long been a
| landmark in that part of the city Mother
Seraphine, superior of the academy, is
unable to advance any satisfactory
theory of the cause of the fire. but con-
siders that the prompt action of the
\ department alone saved the building from
complete destruction There are sixty
! five sisters of the order of ST. Joseph
at present quartered at the academy, and
| the total attendance of pupils amounts
to 300.
| The Sisters of ST. Joseph's academy de-
sire to express their thanks to the chief
and members of the fire department fol-
| their very effective work on SATURDAY.
morning In stopping what might have
| been serious fire. Owing to their ex-
! ertions the sisters will suffer only a tenn.
/ pcrary Inconvenience. The school will
continue without intermission