The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-22
10 DEAD IN A CONVENT FIRE.
SISTER AND PUPILS PERISH AT
ST. GENETIETE.


Aged Pensioners Also Burn 10 Death-Eariy
Morning Blaze in Convent Near Nom
treaI-smOke Overcome some ~ They
sleep-Bucket BrEades inen ective.
MONTREAL. Quebec, April 2i.-Fourteen
lives were lost In a FIRE in the convent at st.
Genevieve, a few miles from this city,
at an early hour this morning.
Az soon as the fire was discovered the
villagers hastened TO the convent. Bucket
bneades were formed and every effort
was made 10 save the building, but the
fire had gained such Roadway that II was
soon apparent that there was no chance
10 save IL. The inmates. aroused by the
smoke, attempted TO grops their way out
Of the building.
One OF the nuns, in a heroic effort to save
the lives Of the children in her charge,
suocumbed TO the smoke and flames. The
pupils who we're lost were In part OF the
building where the fire had obtained too
much headway before the alarm was given
TO enable those who responded 70 eheot
their rescue.
The origin Of the fire Is unknown. Nine.
IAviRne. one Of the Ave old ladies who
existed upon the bounty OF the sisters,
was the only one alive to-day. and she told
an incoherent story that Nine. Poitvtn
had arisen from bed In search Of pipe and
tobacco and threw away the match which
she had used The sisters think this story
improbable.
One Of the older sisters was first TO notice
that there was something wrong when she
awoke, about / O'Clock. The room was
heavy with smoke. When she reached
the hallway she was met by volume OF
smoke and her cries awakened other sisters.
The sleeping quarters Of the convent were
divided Some were downstairs and others
were on the upper floor, the convent being
three stories in height The sisters on the
lower floor attempted 10 ascend the stairs
TO save those on the floors above, but were
driven back by a rush Of smoke.
These sisters on the upper floors spread
the alarm and called upon the pupils who
slept in the dormitories to arise and hasten
down the stairs. BY now thick streams
Of choking smoke poured from below,
rendering the passageway difficult. Some
ran down the stairs, others went half way
and then retreated.
Sister Therese went part OF the way
down stairs and then turned back TO the
second floor. Here she found her retreat
cut of. Making her way to one Of the
windows she found one Of the pupils, Miss
Placement. Breaking the glass the pair
took the only chance that remained and
Jumped to the ground. Sister Therese
broke an arm and was bruised. Miss
Placement escaped without serious injury.
On the upper floor there remained Sister
Marie Adrienne and with her were the
pupils whose lives were sacrificed.
/ he building was a gray stone structure,
handsome in appearance and massive in
character. With the church il formed a
central feature Of the village.
The dead are: Slater Marie AdTienne
music mistress, 30 years old; Amanda Gar
and Of st. Genevieve, IS years old; Berthe
Tester Of lie Rigaud, IS years old; Marco
line Villemarie Of Montreal, IL years old;
Irene Bertrand Of st. Genevieve, II years
old Adele Robitaille Of st, Genevieve, 10
years old; PRrnelia Dugas Of st, Genevieve,
IL wears old: Emma Terrault OF Montreal IS
years old; Leoni Daoust Of lie Bizard, is
years old; Byzantine Proulx OF Montreal
IL years old; Nine. Narcisse Lalonde Of St
Genevieve, 50 years old; Nine. Cardinal Of
ST. Genevieve, 10 years old; Nine. Mar
Nine. Peau'ieu Of Of St, Genevieve, 90 wears
old and Marie Legault, u years st Gene
We've
Sister Marie Therese and Sister Marie
Robertine. who rsked their lives saving
little children, will probably die Byzantine
Proulx was the daughter OF Alderman
ProulX Of Montreal.