The Irish standard., 1902-09-20
A VIVID SKETCH.
Burning of the Great Trappist Non
astery Near Montreal,

Rev. Michael j. Smyth in recent
letter to the Irish Standard, writes as
follows concerning the destruction by
fire of the Trappist Monastery of Okla.
near Montreal, Cam,la. 1t will BIZ
found interesting to all our readers.
Father Smyth says:
The sultry twilight was still linger-
ing around the famous TrappiSt Mon
astHy of Okla, near Montreal, and the
rugged. wooded heights which senti-
| nel-like guard and surround it On every
side. as IL sharp. ringing cry of fire
was heard from an upper balcony of
| the Stest-llOusc. at the extreme end Of
THAT great Oblong building. So rapid.
fierce and irresistible did the fire
rage that in the brief space of two
hours the Mona tary, the great church,
the Slest-llouse,-all forming one unit
ed group of superb buildings were re-
duced to Il heap of smouldlerng ruins.
| 1t was the greatest AIumStic nstitu-
ton of the age. AS ! happened to D.
a guest at the Monastery ut the time,
and witnessed the conhagration, de-
Structon and appalling fury of the
| flames Oh THAT s,lltry Mtcrnoon I senn
| to tire Irish Standard !, brief sketch of
the great Monastery. it's wealth. varied
Industries. and medieval asccticism.
| True to the old-time traditions. and to
| the prevailing custom of the middle
ages. the great Monastery or Okla was
built on the SlOpimg banks of IL very
considerable stream which, pouring it's
noisy torrents over rocky bed, rushed
with sweet melody into Il deep valley.
finally employing itself into THE ada
cent picturesque Lake of tile Two
Mountains, uLac tles heuX Montagnes)
tourists for it's unrivalletl scenery, and
so justly celebrated by biologists and
by unanimous consent awarded the
first place among the lovely lakes of
Canada. \ retreat mere delightful
would he /; work for fancy, and helps
ut once to recall to cherished memories
the beautiful lines of Moore:
''Thrre is not in the wide world Il val
ley so sweet
AS the vale in whose bosom the bright
waters meet;
ON! the last rays of feeling and life
must depart.
Ere the bloom of THAT valley shall fade
from my heart
The situation of the great Monastery
could not be surpassed in point Of
picturesqueness for on every side it
was surrounded by varied and beau
tiful scenery, and from it's elevated
terraces could be seen in the distance
the great city of Montreal with its
many domes and lofty spires glittering
in THE MONDAY SUM- 1t was unusually
crowded with guests and visitors this
summer, and many American priests
We're sOjourning there at the time. en-
ioyishg the charming views. and the
good accommodation provided for tour
lists and visitors by THE m nks in their
lotel annexed to the Monastery, and
rejoicing in THE Sacro Sanct and illvit-
ing title of "Hotelleric dc Notre Dame
du Lac" The origin of the fire is I'M
KNOWN but this is how it burst upon
us. We went to supper as usual that
fatal evening; my room was locked;
had the key with me, and we were
half Through with olm scanty meal
when we heard from an outside corri-
dor the ominous cry of fire, and rush.
ing back to OUT rooms we had to pass
Through searching sheets of fire and
falling debris, at the very risk of our
lives. My room was on the second
floor. in the very center of the now
burning building. and when reached
it the door was already burst in; and
there met two excited. screaming
monks throwing out through the open
window into the courtyard below
everything therein-chairs. table, writ,
ing-desli. books. waSllstands. clothes,
boots. etc. in a word. everything port
able or movabb, in the room-all went
crashing out and down into the public
thoroug'hfare leading from the burn
ing building. Nothing could compare
with the confusi M and uproar on
every side. and by this time night and
darkness We're coming on apace; as i'm
melise clouds of impenetrable smoke
formed circle-like around the irresist-
able flames, tuuet after t,llret along
the great roof swerved. bent over, and
in all their symmetry and solidity, one
after another 1ell onto THE roof OF the