Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-03-05
PRIEST KILLED IN FIRE
 TWO SERVANTS AL so.
St Patricks Church at Long Island City Burned Rectory Also Destroyed Two Other Priests Had Narrow Escapes-The Fire Started in the Church and Spread Rapidly to the Rectory-a The Property Loss is $35, ,0OO

New York, March 5.-One priest and two servants were killed and two other priests were severely injured at fire which destroyed St Patrick s Roman Catholic church and the ad- joining rectory in Long Island City. Those killed were the Rev Father Ernest and Mary and Margaret Bra dy, domest1cs.
 Those injured are the Rev Joseph Kearney, abrasion of face, hands and left hip. and the Rev Father Henni- gan, shock and contusions.
 The money loss by the fire was esti- mated at $35,OO00.
 The bodies of the three victims have been recovered and were so bad ly burned as to be scarcely recogniz- able. The fire started in on unknown manner in the church and before it was discovered spread rapidly, soon extending to the rectory adjoining. Father Ernest and the two domestics were cut off from escape by the rapid spread of the Homes. The two injured priests were removed to St Joseph's hospital
 St Patrick's Roman Catholic church Is one of the largest churches in Long Island City.
 The inmates of the rectory were asleep at the time and it is supposed that Father Ernest and the two wo- men were overcome by smoke and were unable to make any attempt to escape. The dead priest was 27 years old. Father Hennegan, who is suffer ing severely from shock and contus- ions, is the pastor of the church. He is 35 years old. Father Kearney has abrasions of the face and hands and also suffers from shock. He is 27 years of age.
 Father Ernest is believed to have, lost his life while trying to save the two women. The fire, which started in the passa ageway connecting the church and the rectory, Is thought to have been caused by electric wires.
 Father Kearney made his way down stairs through the blinding smoke and escaped into the street. He is in jured about the face and hands, hay ing been cut and bruised while groping his way through the smoke. Father Hennegan saved himself by sliding down a plank which was raised to the second story window by work1nen.
 Just as the first fire company reached the burning buildings, Mar garet and Mary Brady. who are sis ters, appeared at a window of the at tic, crying for help. The longest lad der on a hook and ladder truck was raised. but it was too short to reach the window, however, and when this was discovered a groan or horror went up from the crowd. The two women stood wringing their hands and weep ing in despair while the firemen and spectators stood helpless and unable to help them. Puffs of smoke had been coming from the window and soon tongues of fire began to dart out. Sud denly thick volume of smoke burst from the window. A despairing cry was heard and when the smoke cleared away the window was empty, the two women having fallen hack into the flames. Nothing had been seen of Father Ernest and it Is be- lieved that he had tried to make his way to the attic to save the women and was overcome by smoke before he could reach them. The rectory, was completely gutted and the bodies of the priest and the two women were found in the ruins after the flames had been extinguished.