The Mena star., 1899-08-31
ORPHANACE BURNED.
Nine Buildings of St. Agnes Con-
 vent at Sparkhill Destroyed.
FOUR PERSONS LOSE THEIR LIVES.
Two Girls Also Found Missing Many Inc mates Seriously Injured -Heroism of the Sisters-Incidents of the
 Blaze-Loss, $150,oOO.

Sparkill. N. Y., Aug 29.-Fire that broke out at one o'clock yesterday destroyed nine of the ten buildings of the St. Agnes convent and orphanage, entailing loss of $l50,O00 and causing the death of four persons The dead are: Helen Brown, aged 6; Emma Maclxin, aged 2; Jane" pensioner, aged 70; and Mary Kate Mccarthy, aged 2s. The missing are: Therese Murphy, aged If, and Mary Brown. aged 4. The seriously injured are: Sister Sienna, shock and collapse; Sis ter Marie, burns and concusson; Sister Bertrand, concussion of spine and shock; Sister Katherine, arm broken, and Hannah Shea, leg broken. Twen- ty-fve inmates were injured by falls, jumps and burns, none seriously.
 That more lives were not lost was due to the heroism of the sisters and some of the older inmates. When the fire broke out the 400 inmates of the in- stitution were asleep. Most of them were gotten out in almost perfect or der, but score who rislxed their lives to save others were finally forced to either jump from the upper stories or make desperate dashes through stair ways and corridors filled with flames and smoke. The fire was discovered in the lavatory and soon spread to the ad- joining buildings, attacking first dormitory in which 200 of the older boys slept. Sister Reginald, who had trained the lads in the fire drill, rushed down the line of white beds and arous- ing the sleepers, clapping her hands, the simple fire signal followed in the orphanage. The boys turned out with rush and gained the lawn in their $night clothes. By that time the second dSarmitory where the smaller boys eHspt, was ablaze. The older lads made a d. sh for the building and were soon cA Nying the smaller ones out. The fl filings were all finished with pricrgia pine and the wood burned tmovously.
 Ne he convent and chapel made great Nj ck of flames, and between them and V I ,cond dormitory, the girl dormi- zed and craclxled as the fire l@ it's wooden walls.
 zen sisters were cut off in the ui4 r stories of the convent building. THny were forced to the windows, and wFvle some climbed out to the sills, dthers knelt at the easements in prayer. Engineer Otto placed long ladder against the outer wall and rescued half dozen. Six were forced to jump for their lives and fortunately all but Sis ter Bertrand escaped without serious injury. The escape of Sister Agnes seems almost miracle. She was cut off on the fourth floor, and elected to jump from her window rather than plunge into the furnace that had once been a stairway. She climed out on the sill, and then seizing the shutter, swung out clear of the building. Then she lost her hold. She struck the ground squarely on her feet and then fell over on her side. Before anyone could reach her she got up and walked quickly away unhurt
 The fire reached the girls dormitory last, but once it took hold of the build ing, it burned iercely. Most of the girls we're on the upper floors and 1t was with the greatest difficulty that they were gotten out. Shortly after the last of the rescuers left the second dormitory there was counting of heads and the discovery was made that two baby boys were missing. John Cody, 15-year-old boy, made straight for the door, paying no heed to the warnings of danger. A moment later Cody came dashing out of the building, under each arm carrying one of the missing boys.
 As far as known but one person ac- tually perished in the fire itself. That was "Jane,'' an old pensioner aged 70 years, who was asleep in the servants quarters. Helen Brown and Emma Mackin died from convulsions that re- suited from fright. Kate Mccarthy was servant in the convent and had organic heart trouble. She was badly frightened. collapsed in the grounds and died later in the day. It IS believed Therse Murphy and May Brown both escaped from the fire, but that the former became demented and is leading the other girl through the woods.
 There were 326 children in the or phanage, 60 of whom were girls and their ages ranged from two to l6 years. Most of them were from New York city and they were in most instances committed by the Gerry society and city courts The orphanage was con- ducted by sisters of the Dominican order.
 Made General Manager.
 Quincy. lli.. Aug. sa w. C. Brim- Hs. Ff