The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-01-23
PERISH IN ASYLUM Fire
9ver'a Score Of Orphans Lose Their
Lives at Rochester, N. Y
MANY OTHERS BADLY INJURED


MANY Children in the Burning Build
Ing and Added to the Mortahty-f1re'
men and Citizens Did Good Rescue
work-The List Of the Dead
Rochester, N. Y.-Not since the great
lantern works fire of 1888, IN which
many persons were killed and many
others injured, has such a catastrophe
occurred here as that Of the burning
Of the Rochester Orphan Asylum q
tbree-story structure, at Hubbell Park
and Exchange street. OF the nearly
200 inmates Of the asylum, nearly
thirty perished outright, and many
will die from burns and other Injuries
A large portion Of the asylum building
was destroyed.
The following is a partial list OF the
dead: Gertrude Poner, Bertha Hall'
Viola Stuck, Lillian Stone, Mildred slo'
cum, Mary Alexander, Ellen Hamilton
Hazel Murray, Minnie Tiffany, Myrtle
Patterson, Isabel Marthage. Gertrude
McCaw, Mary McCaw, Loreno Owen,
Charlie Benham. Bertha Potter, Mill
dred Wright, Minnie Skinner, Mary
Kane, Cora Potter, Charles Bryant
Beachnell Carey, Evangeline carey
Mrs. Maria Gordon and Mrs. Marina
Gillis.
The flames were discovered by two
Young men, W. Clark and F. Young,
who happened to be 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 to arousing the nurses, at
tendants and children.
Miss Cline, q nurse in the hospltal'
saws she smelled smoke few minutes
after 1 o'clock, and Immediately noti'
fed Miss Vallient, another nurse, Whc
reported the matter to the matron'
Miss L. Dinehart. The smoke was
speedily traced to the boiler room ano
word was sent to police headquarters.
Then a terrific explosion was heard
In the other end of the building. In q
few moments the entire half OF the
building In which the hospital was Sit
uated was q 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 inan!mate forms'
All of the rescued were unconscious;
many were dead.
The explosion which followed the
discovery of the fire took place near
the west end of the connecting wing
completely blowing out the lower part
and cutting off the escape Of the chill
dren in the east end. The children
sleeping nearest to the connecting
wing were stunned by the shock, and
It was with great difficulty that they
realized their danger when finally
aroused.
In the east wing were the sleeping
apartments of the asylum, mainly or
the second and third floors. Forty
children or more were there, In charge
of Miss Sarah Ashdown and MISS
Brad. of the hospital ward, who was
taking care of two sick children. Ihe
report Of the explosion was not loud
enough to awaken the sleeping nurses
but when the smoke began to pour into
the east wing q panic ensued. 1t was
impossible to see anything. The chle1
nurse, Miss Ashdown, did all within
her power to control the terrified chill
dren and nurses, but without avail.
Although the work Of rescue was
taken ut promptly by so many hands
volunteers as we'll as firemen, the
flames gained such headway ano
spread with such incredible speed
that it was beyond human effort 10
prevent the loss Of life.
A dramatic incident Of the fire was
the fall Of Morris Keating, fireman
who went up to the roof on q ladder
TO rescue women and children. just
es he reached the top a stream OF
water was turned on him to keep on
the flames, but it had the effect OF con
fusing him. He reached out for q wo
nan who had jumped toward HIM
Suddenly he lost his hold on the lad'
j der and fell with the woman to the
right and Keating was seriously IN
ground. His charge was killed out
jured.
The hospital building was destroyed
and the main building was damaged
entailing n total loss of about $4,000
The buildings were heated by steam
und it is believed that the fire was
caused by an explosion Of the engine
boiler.
The Rochester Orphan Asylum was
organized in February, 1887. The So
ciety was incorporated year later
In June, 1889, John Creig, Of Canaa'
daigua, gave to the asylum the valuh'
BILE tract of land in Hubbell Park
on which the structure stood. The
main building was erected in 1884
In 1870 wing on the east side Of the
main building was erected at an eX'
eense of S10,447. In December, 1873
q new south wing was built.
Some Of the wealthiest persons In
the city are interested in the institu
ton as managers and trustees, and
there is little question that a more
modern structure will be speedily
erected.