The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-10-31

Three people clinging desperately
to the comb of a four story brick
building which within was u seeth-
ing volume of flames, driving the
panic stricken ones above to the
edge and forcing them to a jump Of
forty-five feet to the ground below
was the terrible scene at Nazareth
Orphanage two and a half miles from
Raleigh shortly after two O'Clock
Sunday morning.
The fire winch swept away the
Priests Building at Nazareth, near
Raleigh. followed quickly on that
winch aid so much destruction at
Wocllcott's dry goods store in Raleigh
The heavens to the west of the city
were lighted up. and destitute of fire
protection. the priests. nuns. students
saw one of the best buildings at the
Orphanage burn, only the walls being
left standing.
There were twelve or fifteen pep
pie in the building when it caught
on fire. and these were shut up rs
in death trap, the alarm made by
one student alarming the priests.
The corridor in the first, second and
third floors were filled with fire and
smoke, leaving no way TO get to the
ground below but by leaping from the
windows. Father Price, who is in
charge. Father O'Brian and others
found it impossible to use the. rope
fire escapes and leaped from the sec
ond and third story windows, and
while badly bruised are not danger
ously hurt, though some jumped thirty
feet to the ground.
But in the fourth story were three
young men, or rather one young man
and two boys. These were cut off
from below, the stairway being burn
ed and the flames destroying every
way of escape. In a panic of fear
they sought the sloping roof of the
building, and for time hung on
there. They called and shrieked for
help. but there was no way to reach
them. In final moment of des-
paration, with the very flames licking
at their bodies, they jumped from
the top of the building to the ground,
forty-five feet below. First one boy,
then the young man, and then the
other boy their bodies lying in a
crushed heap, though mattresses had
been spread and help for them.
The three at o'clock this morning
lay on touches of pain, perhaps with
death near, while Dr. A. w. Goodwin
was hurrying to them. These are:
Elvin Butler. aged Is. people living
in Raleigh; left arm broken in many
places, legs mangled and bleeding; in
ternal injuries; expected to die.
John Gladish, aged 16; right wrist
dislocated, right ankle broken or dis
located, face badly cut; internal in
juries and badly burned. He is of
Bohemian parentase and his father
is now in Michigan.
Timothy Wallace, young man of
New York studyil for the priest
hood He is badly bruised and bleed
ing from internal injuries Was in a
semi-conscious. He bravely went to
the building to do so.
Those who jumped from the sec
ond and third stories of the building
were Father Price, Father O'Brien,
Father Barton; DIR. Lamb of New
York, and some six or eight young
men who were in the building when
escape was cut off by the flames.
Each of these has a separate story of
his attempt to find the stairway, of
his inability to get to the fire es-
cape knotted ropes, and finally of
his jump from windows on the
second and third stories. That none
slept too sound and were cremated,
and that only three are seriously in
jured is wonderful, in view of the
fire and the heighth of the building.
The fire, according to Father Price,
was burning briskly at about o'clock
when he was aroused by beating
on his door and cries of Fire. FIRE."
made by one student in the building,
who had been aroused by the flames.
Father Price at once rushed to the
corridor and with other priests saw
to it that all were aroused. 1t was
found impossible to use the stairway