The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1901-01-11


the identified dead by the Rochester
orphan asylum fire had reached TWEEN
ty-six children, one nurse, and one
cook.
Rochester, n. Y, Jan. 8.-By the
burning Of the Rochester orphan asy
lum between twenty-five and thirty
lives were lost and many of the in
mates will die from burns or other in
juries. The asylum was three-story
structure at the corner of Hubbell
Park and Exchange street and it's oc
cupants numbered between 163 and
1915. Shortly after the fire broke out
d boiler exploded with terrific force,
completely blowing out the lower part
of the west end of the connecting
wing, thereby cutting off the escape
of the children from the east end OF
the building. The children who were
nearest to the connecting wing were
apparently dazed by the force Of the
explosion and with difficulty were
able to take in their surroundings
when finally aroused.
The Sleeping Apartments.
In the east wing were the sleeping
apartments of the asylum. They were
located mainly on the second and
third floors. The lower floor was
known as the first nursery and the
upper as the second. Herein were
forty children or more. Miss Sarah
Ashdown was in charge for the night
and with her was Miss Brad of the
hospital ward, who was taking care
of two sick children. The explosion.
though of great force, was not loud
enough to awaken the sleeping nurses.
When the smoke began to pour into
the east wing it was but matter Of
few seconds before the whole sleep
ing population was brought to q real
iZatiOn of the situation with a sudden
ness which at once seemed to rob
nearly everyone of their Judgment and
mental faculties. A terrible chorus
of cries ard groans flee the air. It
was impossible to see anything, and
as the thick smoke poured in the scene
became one of indescribable confu-
sion. The chief nurse, Miss Ashdown,
did all within her power to save the
children and nurses.
Seventy Five Girls i'm West Wing.
When the firemen arrived on the
scene their attention was first turned
to the inmates of the hospital ward,
in the west wing of which is the older
section of the institution. On the
floor next to the top was Miss Brad.
With the flames leaping all round her
it seemed impossible to escape. She
did, however. but was so seriously in
jured by falling that she will not live.
1t was stated by the matron, Miss
ho4
five girls in the west wing. Besides
there were two children and two
nurses in the hospital department,
which was also in that wing 1t was
estimated al o'clock that all Of the
inmates of the west wing had been
gotten out, either dead or alive. Many
children were taken away early and
the number saved and those dead
and injured could with great difficulty
be counted.
Fireman Became Confused.
Fireman Norris Heating went up
to the roof on a ladder to rescue wom-
en- and children. Just as he reached
the top stream of water was turned
on him to keep away the flames. but
it had the effect to confuse the man.
He reached for woman and the lat
the man lost his hold on the ladder:
The crowd groaned as the fireman fell
with the woman to the ground The
woman was killed outright and the
fireman was so seriously injured that
he may die. The roof was covered
with children who had escaped
through the scuttle from the upper
rooms and the tiremen were kept busy
carrying them down. Many escaped
unframed in this way. One nearby
house was like a morgue Half doz-
en- dead bodie" lay on the floor in
heaps of consumed rags. Crowds
gathered around to look. but turned
away quickly. sickened at the dread
full sight.
Victims Handled Tenderly
Most of the dead taken from the
building were carried temporarily to
the residences of the janitor, William
e. Erhardt, Herman Behn and Louis
Wegman. In one house q dozen bod
les were lying at one time. Firemen,
policemen and citizens took the help
less victims from the arms of the
firemen and carried them tenderly to
the houses across the street The
living and dead were laid on floors,
touches and beds. AS soon as the hos
pital ambulance arrived, however. the
living children were speedily sent to
the hospitals, while the dead were
taken in hacks to the morgCe. Early
in the morning the morgue reported
that already twenty-five dead children
had been brought there, some of
whom still remained to be identified.
Americans Captured by FiIipinos.
Manila, Jan. Private George Fl.
Ray Of the engineer corps, his assist
ant, Private Lyons of Company X,
Fifth infantry, five scouts and two
native policemen have been captured
while ON their way to Batac by insur-
gents. On the receipt of the news,
an American column was dispatched
against the Filipinos, but failed to
,overtake the party.
Fatal Crossing Accident.
~Neadvile, Pa, Jan. THE Wells
Fargo express No. ii on the Erie rail
road struck wagon at the Mercer
street crossing killing the occupants,