The sun., 1900-12-22
GIRL SANTA CLAUS ON FIRE.
yrv rH H,y0ED 70 rANiC Ar 4 rUBLic
NHOOI THRISrUts FEsftvtI.
Carrie Hsnieys Cap Touched . Gss F'ame
Heroic work of Teachers TO save Carrie
and Keep the Othsr children In order The
Pupils Marched out to tire Driii Music.


There was n sad ending 10 the Christmas
celebration Of the girls department of Pub
lie School ~ ~ Notth Moore and Varck
streets yesterday afternoon. They had thrco
trees loaded with gifts and ornaments
In the general assembly room on tho thlrd
moor Al of the pupils Of the girls depart
mcnt were there and there was santa tlaus
20 distribute the prizes to them.
Fourteen year-od Carrie Iianley was Sc
lected for the part Of Santa Claus. She wore
the usual santa Claus costume. a high. cont
cal shaped hood and white nlmsy droS'
trimmed with cotton. when the afternoons
entertainment began the large hall was
crowded with about 200 girls and the teachers
sat with their classes, Miss Ella Conway.
the principal Of the girls department. occu-
pied the seat OF honor on the platform.
II was nearly ? o clock when the enter
tsinment was over and Carrie Hanley as
Santa Claus began tho distribution OF prizes,
She walked To a tree in the rieht-hand corner
Of the room None OF the trees was lighted
with candles but near this one was gas
Jet. which was liz. To get to the tree she had
70 step on the platform. which Ia about
foot and a half high. She put one foot on
the platform. at the same time saying
Santa Claus is coming -. She got no
further. There were wild shrieks and the girls
and teachers were horrifed TO see that her
hood had brushed against tho gas jet and
caught FIRE The flames spread from her
hat and onto the cotton on her dress In
twinkling Before anybody In the room
had a chance 10 realize what had happened
the girls dress was sheet or harnes, size
reeled against the Christmas tree, setung
IL on FIRE, and then dashed down the centre
aisle toward the door. The children became
panic stricken Some Of them ran out through
a. laIlt hA IA
remained where they we're. too frightened
The principal, Miss Conway. was the first ,s
piatform and followed the Hanley girl
through the aisle Just as ne & g'rl reached 6l.ni
the door she caught her she rnhg tsS her ar dor
and tried Co beat out the ilames with her
hands. Her own dress caught fire in doing
81 but she did TS ysax M.4y fsr rmton HH5 came A
TO her aid, and the two we're working valiantly
when Policeman Jacob fggers and the lani,9r.
policeman was standing in the street when
he was startled 10y. one OF the girls. who had
left the room. crying IRE he poncemahi
and the other teacher away from the girl.
bnt their work had been done. The womei,
had succeeded In stamping ont most OF the
The fremen Of Truck 8. which is stationed
across the street we're tol d that there was
fire in the building ana engnas an alarm came Ws an
ambulance from Hudson street hospital.
which had been summoned by the policeman.
The doctor found that the Hanley girls body.
head and limbs were horr bly, burned. He
took her to the hospital ard physician W no
had been sent for attended TO the injuries OF
formers hands and arms were badly1 burned
and She was hystariCal She was taken TO her
home in a cab, Miss Hamilton had her hands
q lit - sCOrChed.
In the meantime, considering the cause
for great excitement, things were running
smoothly in the building, Tho girls who
had left the room either ran into the street
or went upstairs: one Of them dashed into
the boys room on the NTH floor There
are several classes in this room and they
are divided on into compartments. Inc
girl yelled Fire" and as she did n pun of
smoke blow in the open door. The boys IN
the class nearest the door sprang out OF their
seats but the teacher. Mr.. Moore. quleted
them in an effectual manner by threaten,
ing to throw the first boy that moved out OF
The principal Of the boys department,
Samuel Moorehouse. was in the room az the
time He shouted to the girl TO close the
door and in an instant Mr., Alexander Hill
walked TO the. plano and played the music
for the nre drill
Tho bows formed In line and marched
out OF the Varick street door In good order
The same procedure was gone through in
the classes on the lower floors. Another
instance OF great coolness was displayed
in the ossembly room Miss Amelia Mendeken,
one Of the teachers, as soon as Carrie Han
ley's dress caught fire. started the music for
the fire drill and most of the girls got In line
and left the room.
Samuel Noorehouse. the prin cipal. was
greatly pleased with the behavior OF his
pupils and his teachers