The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-28
CONVENT BURNS.
Orphanage In Charge of DOmfn-
lean Sisters Destroyed
BY Fire at Sparkill, RockIand
County, N. Y.
THREE LIVES LOST.
Heroic Work of Rescue Per-
formed by the Sisters.
Save Themselves by Jumping
From the Windows.

New York, Aug. 2S-The entire group
of buildings with the exception OF the
hospital, which comprised the convent
of st. Ignus and Orphanage in charge
of the Dominican sisters situated about
half u mile from Sparkfll, ReckIand
county, were burned early today and as
far as is 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 build
ings. nine in number. It soon com
municated to building No. 1. Occupied
by the older boys. The lads were
quickly awakened and rushed olE.
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
back of the buildings a covered arch
way extended the entire length Of the
structures. and from this archway the
entrances to the several buildings open
ed The fire ate its way with extraor-
binary swiftness. through this arched
hallway which acted as a flue and the
flames were famed by a northwest
breeze which forced them onward in
their destructive sweep.
GETTING CHILDREN OUT
The work of getting the children OF
the building was heroically performed
by the sisters in charge. ably assisted
by some nurses and monitors as well as
many of the older boys.
The alarm OF fire was sent by tele-
phone to the nearest towns, but when
the fire company from Piermont ar
rived, all but the hospital buildings had
been demolished.
All of the children We're taken out
alive but two little tots. Helen Brown
aged 6 years and Emma Mackin.
years, died of commissions after they
had been rescued.
An aged woman nurse known as
Jane is supposed to have perished in
the building. All the other inmates
have been accounted for.
Kate Mccarthy. servant, who is
suffering from SHOCK viii probably die
and Theresa Murphy, 16 years old is al
so seriously injured.
SISTERS JUMP.
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 severely burned. and
Sister Catherine had an arm broken
of rescue, showing wonderful courage.
collapsed after the children were got
out and remained unconscious for sew
eral hours.
Sister Agnes who climbed out of q
fourth story window had a miraculous
escape from injury and possible death.
After climbing out of the window she
took hold of the swinging shutter.
swung herself free of the building and
dropped to the ground without apparent
injury. In all there were 326 children.
of whom so were girls in the institu-
ton when the fire broke out. There
we're also 40 sisters in charge under the
direction of Rev Mother Peters. Most
of the children were sent To the or
phanage 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 Blauveit
convent. which is about two miles from
the scene OF the confia gra ton
About rs of the children received in
jurieS, none of which the doctors thinS
will prove fatal.
The property loss is 100000.
ONE MORE DEAD
The list of dead includes Ther es8
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 to save a baby and perished.
1t is believed that the fire was OF in
cendiary origin.
FIFTH VICTIM.
Kate Mccarthy. the fifth victim of the
Sparkili fire, is dead. All the injured
are doing Well