Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-09-26
In St. Augustine's Paro'
chiaI School, Boston.
Eioht Firemen Injured, Some
Having Marvellous Escapes
Cause Unknown, Though Sound OF an
EXPLOSION Was Heard.


=, - p.x,.r strt..te South Boston,
y M, r,v completely wrecked from
fir. that started shortly alter ilo'h'
Yesterday is largely due 10 inc
,,Is efforts made by the niFHiFh ii'iti
ing the apparatus that resioii4' =
three alarms.
JI,p1irapped In many ways ~ IT
cutset much Of the local apparatus
ing otherwise engaged. ana bt-rhus" ~
tho condition of the street ny "
front OF the school nall whtrr mn -
engaged in rcpaving the th"r"ughfarr
tb. Iircrncn who wrr" nrst "ii -
had much to contend with.
Half the building gutt"d, occasi"hil's
. damage estimated at over $'""o'' INV
roof fallen in, the roofs Of many houses
In the vicinity, including the convent
hitch 70 the home of the sisters who
teach In the school more or less
o.orcbed and burned by falling emberS,
una erenen injured and others having
.rro,r oscapcs; the flight Of the sisters
from the convent building t" the nome
~ Mrs Trainer on the opposite 9ii'
II etreet-thie, in brief. IL the history
az tb.. fire, which ro1scd tn" people Oh
tho Dcninsular district ana "ituS''n 'li-
t,,sn excitement in the vicinity OF the
school hall The Injured;
Acting chief IT, G. lie Favr", buried
&, r,;ps bodv bruised, right hand cur.
Cant. William Coulter, engine TO-
hand cut.
Uose,nan John ]. Tinnehan eng'n" -
knocked from ladder by n hose: Carney
hospital. ~.
frank Hardy. aged IA, head cut by
falling slate. .
Uosrman A. e. Akcroy. engine 49,
back injured.
ME-. Hayes, ladder 3, wrist Injured
artery cut.
John J. Devine. ladder 4. cut by fall
ing slate.
G. y. Telless. foot injured by falling
slate.
A fortunate feature Of the affair is
that n occurred on Saturday. for mao
a heen on n school day there Wonid
nrohob,v have been great loss of life.
,or tho school Is ono of the largest In
couth Roston. caring for almost 100"
pupils ThcS" pupils are taught ~ -
Sisters Of NOtre Dame.
Tho convent was in tho danger Z"no
and the sisters. ~ y precautionary
Nrs Trainor AT her residence. 21S L
straet The Rev. Father Harkins en-
tered the chanel adjoining the convent
am, ro,poycd the sacrament, ChaliCc:
md the altar service.
With. thn fire i'm tho school huillinl
WAC in progress, the States from tn
roof fell In all directions. into the stree
and yard. thus making opening
through which the water could pom
into tho interior Many minor inJurl''
verr received by those heavy pro
jcctilcr.
ON the southwestcrly side OF tn
huild,nr several men had reached tn
roor bv means of ladders and did 81
fcctive work. Chief Grady was one
tbose who reached the roof on this slo'
aud ne shortly aftcrward had n yer
narrow escape from being killed IN
rcst of tho men had worked down &c
ward the rear Of the building. bo
cb;.f Grady. in overseeing the Wor
and its effect. had gone close to IN
soutbwcstcrly 81. walton. While Stano
ms, there the roof fcll in without IN
.,icbtost warning and the h"rrihe
onlookcrs saw the chief and ii. Il. l.
Favor go down with the mass to tn
floor below.
Every one shouted and other fireme
b,stcpcd ia the roof Before the
reached there. however. Chief Grad
Crowlcd out through n mass OF Wr"ch
aye followed by lie Favor. ana as
sign that he was all right. waved n
helmet to the thrOng below. who ar
severed the signal with a shout Of re
lief.
nv this time tho effect Of the fire
mems labors was evident. as the flame
had been gradually suhducd and 1t Wa
only n matter of time when the iii
would I've entirely eXtinEuished Rcfol
this could he accomplished every fot
in the building was flooded and wat'
was pouring In great streams from II
entrances.
What caused the fire Is unknow
Some persons are of the opinion that
started from poor insulation on electr
wires I'm the northeast elevation of tt
building. while others think it w
caused by the upSetting of roofer
furnace or from n spark from such.
men had been employed on the roo
Whatever the cause. there appears
have been hot mir explosion. as se'
eral persons heard muiiied report.
St AugUstines school was one
the largest and hest in the city. an
was first opened in 1896 1t is a brio
structure four stories high, with brow
stone trimmings and contained l
claSsroomS. besides music room ar
the like. making a total of /? room
besides the massive and beautiful ha
on the top floor, and is valued AT SIS
600. The latter is DESTROYED. The ha
was magnitiCently painted Throughout
with gallery ut the rear ana spa
cious stage. with all the fittings. At III
other end and had Il seating capacit
of 400 persons. At either side of III
stage were Bronze statues one of Arch
bishop Williams and one of the X
Rev. Mgr. Dennis O'Callaghan. ID. L
=. r., the latter being gift of II
parishioners to their pastor. and COS
$1,000.
Throughout the building were man
other costly paintings and static
among the latter being one in marbl
of ST. Augustine. valued at $500. TIL
school was also eXcellently equipped
having all the modern apparatus il
al M, n.