Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-10-26
INSTANT killed.
The Tragic Death Of Sister StaniSlaus,
Of Community Of St. Joseph.


Of Community Of St. Joseph.
SHE FELL FROM A THREE STORY
OPENING IN THE NEW BUILD
ING TUESDAY NIGHT, AND WAS
FOUND DEAD IN THE MORNING.
A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON THE
PANHANDLE - OHIO RIVER
ROAD ACCIDENT-OTHER CAS-
UALTIES
Sister Mary Stanislaus, an aged and
beloved member of the community OF
st. Joseph, met death in peculiarly
tragic form some time Tuesday night.
Her family name was Mary Holman
She was a native of Wheeling, about
60 years of age. She entered the COM
munity of st. Joseph at the North
Wheeling Hospital in 1864, the late Rt.
Rev. R. V. Whelan officiating at the ex-
ercises attending her renunciation OF
the world, and acceptance of the habit
of the order. She was sister of the
late Mrs. Thoner, Of the South Side.
Sister Stanislaus was perhaps more
widely known to the outside world
than any member of the local branch
of the order to which she belonged,
and her death will be deeply deplored
by those who were associated with her
in the noble work in which she
was engaged or next her in
a business way The greater por-
tion of her life has been devoted to st.
Joseph's Academy, a school for the
higher education of young ladies. She
held the position of procuratrix of the
academy, which involved it's business
management and necessarily brought
her into contact with the outside
world. She possessed great amount
of business tact, and manifested
great zeal in the interest of the institu-
ton to which she devoted many years
of her life. She was greatly endeared
to her associates by her gentle man
ner, her kindness and consideration.
She was for a number Of years Mother
Superior of the community, resigning
about year ago.
The sad death of Sister Stanislaus
was generally regretted yesterday, and
hy mona mora tbap tbo bun.5roJc - : MO
men in Wheeling and vicinity, who re-
ceived their education in st. Joseph's
Academy, and who formed a deep af-
lection for her.
Sister Stanislaus was suffering from
a severe cold Tuesday evening and tie
Mother Superior advised her to go to
her room. She started up stairs and
was not seen alive again by any of the
Sisters. Her bed was not disturbed,
proving that the accident happened
during the early evening It is sup
posed that she either started to close
window in the new building, when
created draft, or thoughtlessly walk
cd through the door, Passersby and
some of the Sisters heard groans short
ly after nine o'clock in the evening.
and a search was made with view 10
ascertainirg their source, but the
groans ceased and the search wa
abandoned.
The addition to the old convent
building is on the north side of the
present structure. Doors connect the
two buildings in the corridors upon
each floor. On account of the unfin-
ished condition of the new building.
and as a precaution for safety. ihe
doors were nailed shut until few days
ago, when the barriers were removed
for the purpose of making certain inn
proyements. The floors had not been
laid in the new structure Sister Stan
islaus has been in the habit of walk
ing about the building to see that win
dows and doors were properly closed
and secured before retiring for the
night She met her death by walking
through the door between the two
buildings on the third floor, falling to
the basement of the building.
When the Sisters assembled yester-
day morning the Mother Superior ac-
counted for the absence of Sister Stan
islaus by illness, and made prepara-
tons to send her breakfast to her
room, when the stratling discovery
was made that she was not there, and
there was no evidence that she had
occupied the room during the night.
About this time a mechanic who had
reported for work upon the new build
ing found the dead body of Sister STAN
islaus in a sitting position upon a pile
of bricks in the basement of the struc-
ture Immediately beneath the door
through which she had stepped to her
death. The opening through which
she fell was narrow and her body was
bruised in coming into contact with
its sides. The body was cold and it
was evident that life had departed soon
after the unfortunate Sister alighted.
The body was conveyed into a room
in the convent building and DR.. Charles
NJ. Frissell. who was called stated