Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1901-01-17
ORPHAN H0Nt f|Qt
Terrible Holocaust at Rochester.
New York.
THE VICTIMS ARE MOSTLY CHILDREN
snty.Seven Persons Persisted and Twenty.
Five We're Injured. Some Fatally
Blaze Started In Hospital.


morning at o'clock fire broke out in
some mysterious manner in the hos
pital section Of the Rochester Orphan
Asylum, in Hubbell park, and 70 per.
IONS are known to have perished and
25 were injured. some doubtless fatal.
". 1t was the most serious conhagra-
ton in Rochester since the lantern
works fire. in 1888, when there were
81 victims.
The flames were discovered by two
young men, w. Clark and F. Young,
who happened to he passing the build.
ing on Exchange street. Clark ran to
the nearest fire alarm box and sent in
an alarm, after which both turned
their attention toward arousing the
nurses, attendants and children. They
proceeded to batter in the door, when
q terrific explosion was heard in the
other end of the building.
In few moments the entire half Of
the building in which the hospital was
situated was mass Of flames. The
smoke poured out Of every window.
and screams and frantic cries could be
heard from the panic. stricken chill.
dren. Long ladders were strung up.
and firemen plunged into the sitting
smoke and bore out scores Of inanimate
forms in their arms. All the rescued
were unconscious, many were dead.
In the hospital were only two small
children and two women attendants.
All are believed to have persisted. A
telephone message vas sent to all the
hospitals for ambulances, and as fast
as they arrived on the scene they were
sent back to the hospitals. When it
became known that the fire was OK.
tended to the main building general
alarm was sent in. calling out the en-.
tire department. The fire was fought
from every available point. but the
buildings were doomed. Most of the
inmates knew nothing about the fire
until aroused by Young and Clark,
though one woman stated that she
heard an explosion before she smelled
smoke.
The scenes about the building while
the fire was at its height were heart.
rending in the extreme. Crazed wo.
men were running about trying to find
out whether certain little ones had
been taken from the building in safe.
ty, while others were looking for their
friends. All who were rescued had
nothing on but their night clothing.
Policemen, citizens and firemen united
in the work of rescue.
Four little children had been forgot.
ten on the fourth floor. until woman
screamed out that they had been left
behind. Instantly dozen volunteers
started for the stairway. Two were
allowed to go to the rescue, and in q
moment-it seemed ages-they re-
turned with the babes in their arms.
A cheer went up from the crowd,
which was hushed as the chill rem were
seen to be unconscious. They were
removed to the house of a neighbor
across the street.
Miss Comelieux, one of the attend.
ants. was resuced from third story
window by fireman. When part
way down the ladder the fireman slip.
ped and fell to the ground. Both were
terribly injured. though they will re-
cover.
There were 100 children in the asy.
lum at the time, and corps of about
80 nurses and attendants. Sixteen of
the dead are at the city morgue, sew.
.eral are at the hospitals and some were
left at the home of Mr.. Behn. The
injured consist chiefly of children who
we've more or less overcome by smoke.
1t il impossible to get the names OF the
injured at this time.
The hospital building was entirely
destroyed, and the main building dam.
aged, entailing total loss of about
$4,000. The buildings were heated
by steam, and the fire was caused by
the explosion OF an engine boiler.