Waterbury Democrat., 1901-01-08
CHILDREN CAUGHT IN TRAP.
Rochester Orphan Asylum Wis ited By Early Morning Fire.

About Thirty Are Dead and Number
 Will Die From Injuries = Fireman
 Heating Perhaps Fatally Injured
 Woman Jumped From Roof Into His
 Arms and Both Fell to the Ground
 The Woman Was Killed Outright.
 Rochester, N Y, Jan S.-Not since the great lantern works fire of 1888, in which many persons met their deaths and many more were injured, has a disaster occurred ill this city with such a loss of life as has been caused by a fire which broke out in the Rochester orphan asylum, d three story structure on the corner of Hub- bell park and Exchange street, this morning. Of the 165 to 193 inmates, between twenty and thirty lives have been lost, and many more of the chil- dren and women taken from the build ing will die from the terrible burns and injuries received.
 It was but a few minutes after 1 o'clock this morning when nurse in the hospital, Miss Cline, smelled smoke She immediately notified an other nurse. Miss Vallient, and the latter reported the matter to the mat ron, Miss l.. Dinehart.s The smoke was speedily located in the boiler room and word was sent to police headquarters All the fire apparatus rushed to the burning building, but be- fore the first engine arrived the neigh borS for blocks around were doing their best to rescue the Inmates.
 Shortly after, the fire was discov- cred, the boiler blew up with q ter rife explosion, completely blowing out the lower part of the connecting wing between the east and west buildings, thereby cutting off the escape of the children in the east end of the build ing. It was learned that those chil- dren who were nearest to the connect ing wing were stunned by the force of the explosion and with them it was a matter of great difficulty to take in their surroundings when finally aroused.
 In the east wing were the sleeping apartments of the asylum. They were located mainly on the second and third floors. The lower was known as the first nursery and the Upper as the sec ond 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. 1t was not until the smoke began to pour iRte4ahe east wing that the inmates became alive to their danger. It was impossible to see any thing. and as the thick smoke poured I in. the scene became one of great eX- citement and confusion.
 When the tiremen arrived their at | tentiOn was first directed to the hos pital ward, in the west wing. On the | floor next to the top was Miss Brad l With the flames leaping all around | her, she was forced to jump from the | window. but was so seriously injured | that she will not live.fl It was stated by the matron. Miss Dinehart. that | there were Seyenty-1ive girls in the east wing Besides these there were | two children and two nurses i'll the hos pital department, which was also in 1 that wing. It was estimated at s o'clock that all of the inmates of the west wing had been gotten out, either dead or alive. Many children were
 
 saved and those dead and injured | could only be counted With great diff culty.
 The worl of rescue was at once | taken up by many hands, volunteers as well as 1iremrn. but the flames spread with such incredible speed that | it. was beyond human effort to prevent the loss of life.
 The fire was fought from every available point. but i'll spite of that the building was almost completely de | stroyed before the blaze was finally l under control.
 A dramatic incident was tile fall of q fireman. Morris Keating who went up to the roof on a ladder to rescue women and children. Just as he reached tie top q stream of water was turned cn him to keep away the flames. He reached foE woman and the lat ter jumped for his arms. Suddenly the fireman lost his hold on the ladder and fell with the woman to the ground The woman was killed out right and Heating was so seriously in- jured that he may die. The roof was | crowded with children who had es- caped through the seuttle from the upper rooms and were taken down by the firemen.
 Miss F. NJ. Hubbard, who had charge of twenty-threc children on the third floor in the main building, said this morning: q was awakened by the cries of the children. l knew that the | building was on fire. as did all the children. As quickly as possible we all made our way to the roof of the 1 building, escape in any other direction being impossible.
 Already the firemen had their lad ders to the roof of the building. and the children were quickly carried down. After most of them had been rescued. the heat became so intense tbat to save myself I slid down a post leading from the roof to the ground
 Miss Hubbard was terribly burned about the face and body.
 Most of the dead taken from the building were carried temporarily te the residences of the janitors,. William
 Erhardt, Herman BehnS and Louis
 Wegman. In one house dozen dea6 bodies were lying at one time. A
 soon as the hospital ambulance arrived
 the living children were sent to ths 1 rxvl,a1n44hn Anod tol l-ov, {,