Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1901-01-09
THIRTY Y-E|GHT
DIE IN FLAMES
Many Others We're So Badly
Burned They Will Die
of Their Injuries.
ORPHAN HOME DESTROYED

Fire Spread So Rapidly That Escape
Was Impossible-Horrors Were Be
yond Description-Childre Die In
Sight of Thousands of People Una
BILE to Aid Them.
ROCHESTER, Jan. 8.-By the burning
of the Rochester Orphan asylum early
today between 30 and 40 lives were lost
and many of the inmates will die from
burns or other injuries.
The asylum was a 3-story structure
and it's occupants numbered between 1G5
and 1915.
1t was but few minutes after
o'clock this morning when a nurse in
the hospital, Miss Cline, smelled smoke.
She Immediately called another nurse,
Miss Vallient and the latter reported
the matter to the matron, Miss L. Dine
hart. The smoke was speedily located
in the boilerroom and word was sent to
police headquarters. All the fire appa-
ratus was rushed to the burning build
ing, but before the first engine arrived
the neighbors for blocks around had ar
rived and were doing their best to res.
cue the inmates.
Shortly after the fire broke out boil
er exploded with terrific force, com
pletely blowing out the lower part of
the west end Of the connecting wing,
thereby cutting off the escape of the
children III the east end of the building
The children 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.
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 40 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 Work of Rescue.
The explosion, though Of great force,
was not loud enough to awaken the
sleeping nurses. When the smoke be-
gan to pour into the east wing it was
but a matter of a few seconds before
the whole sleeping population was
brought 60 realization of the situation
with a suddenness which at once seemed
to rob nearly every one Of their judg-
ment and mental faculties. A terrible
chorus Of cries and grOans filled the air.
1t was impossible to see anything and
as the thick smoke poured i'll the scene
became one of indescrible confusion
The chief nurse, Miss Ashdown, did all
within her power to save the children
and nurses.
When the fremen arrived on the
scene their attention was first turned to
the inmates of the hospital ward on the
western section Of the asylum.
On the floor next to the top was Miss
Brad. With the flames leaping all
around ner it seemed impossible to es-
cape. She did. however, but was so Sc
riously injured by falling that she will
not live. 1t was stated by the matron,
Miss Dnchart, that there were - girls
in the west wing. Besides there were
two children and two nurses Ill the hos
pital department, which was also III the
west wing. 1t was estimated at o'clock
that all the inmates of the west wing
had been gotten out, either dead Or
alive. Many were taken away early
and the number saved and those dead
and injured could with great difficulty
be counted
The work Of rescue and attempted
rescue was taken by many hands, vol
unteers as we'll as firemen, and III many
cases was carried on in manner that
was nothing less that heroic but the
flames gained such rapid headway and
spread with such incredible speed that
it was beyond human effort to prevent
the loss Of life.