Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-28
FIRES FATAL WORK
Five Lives Lost by Burning of a
Catholic 0rphanage.
INSTITUTION NEAR SPARKILL, N. Y.
Heroic Efforts of Sisters in Charge
Save the Children.
PROPERTY LOSS, 100000

NEW YORK, August 2S-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
mile from Sparkil, Rockland county.
were burned early today. and as far as is
known, five 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 build
Ings, nine in number, which faced the road
to the south. 1t soon communicated to
building No. l, which was occupied by the
older boys. The lads were quickly awaken
ed and soon rushed to building No 3 and
in this manner word was quickly passed
through the nine buildings. and the sisters
in charge soon had all the occupants of
the dormitorieS out of bed At the back
OF the buildings a covered arch extended
the entire length of the structures and
from this archway the entrances to the
several buildings opened. The fire ate lis
way with extraordinary swiftness through
this arched hallway, which acted as a
hue, and the names were famed by
northwest breeze, which forced them on
ward ln their destructive sweep.
Rescue of the ChiIdreE
The work of getting the children out of
the building was heroically performed by
e'iS siotci III Ciitlt &c, AMY bt some
nurses and monitors, as well as many Of
the older boys. People from the surround
ing neighborhood also helped in the work
of resuce. The alarm of fire was sent
by telephone to the nearest towns but
when the fire company from Piermont ar
rived all 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 Mackin. seven
years old, died of convulsons after they
had been rescued. An aged woman nurse
known as Jane is supposed TO have per-
lshed in the building All the other in
mates nave been accounted for Kate Nc
Carthy, servant, died from shock, and
Theresa Murphy, sixteen years Old was so
badly injured that she died soon after be-
ing taken from the building.
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 conclusion of the spine.
Collapsed After the Fire.
Sister Marie is severely burned and Sister
Catherine had an arm broken; Sister Sien-
na who assisted in the work of rescue
SHOWING wonderful courage, collapsed after
the children We're gotten out, and remained
unconscious for several hours. Sister Ag-
pes, who climbed out of a fourth-story
q
jury and possible death After climbing
out of the window she took hold of the
swinging shutter, and after swinging her
self free of the building, dropped to the
ground and alighted without apparent in
jury
In all, there We're S2j children, of whom
sixty We're girls, in the institution when the
fire broke out. There We're also forty sis
ters in charge, under the direction of Rev
e1end Mother Peters. Most of the children
were sent to the orphanage through the
Gerry Society and police magistrates. All
of the sisters and children. as well as the
wounded, are being taken care of at the
BiauVelt Convent, which is about two miles
from the scene Of the confiagration. About
twenty-five of the children received in
juries, none of which the doctors think will
prove fatal. The properly loss is 100000.
The list of dead included Theresa Muir
ply, sixteen years old a monitor. This
made five dead in all. SO for as known.
The Murphy girl escaped with the rest of
the inmates. but went back to save
baby and perished.
1t is is believed that the fire was of in
cendiary origin.