Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-27
As Result of a Fire In
School at Montreal.
Sixteen Bodies Are Thus Far
Reported Recovered.
200 Children In Building When
Fire Breaks Out.

Montreal, Feb. 2G.-PrincipaI Maxwell
and 10 children persisted in a fire which
broke out ar 1.40 this Afternoon in the
Hochclaga school of the Protestant
school commission. The school is one
of the smaller under the boards con-
trol and was located in a brick two
story building in the East end of the
city and attended by about 200 chill
dren, whose parents are mechanics liv-
ing in the neighborhood.
The fire started from the furnace and
was first noticed by some men work
ing across the street.
The teachers were notified and the
work of getting the children out of the
building began. Contrary to custom the
Kindergarten department was located
on the second floor, and it was here
that the loss Of life occurred. The chill
drcn were started out, but on reaching
the landing found the lower hall full of
smoke. In this they refused to
descend, though the way at this time
was quite safe.
I!uddled toCethcr on the stairway at
first they retraated to the rooms from
which they had come. When the fire
men arrived an extension ladder was
placed in position and large number
of children were rescued in this way.
Assisting i'll the work was Miss Max
well. The fire by this time was making
its way upwards. and the smoke was
growing 50 dense that even the cXpe-
rienccd ffrcmcn could not stand II.
Cautain Carson endcaVOred to get Miss
Maxwell to go down the ladder, but she
refused, and cvading the attempt 10
detain her. rushed bacl; into the back
part Of the building in search of other
Of the little ones. When the firemen
were finally able to make their way To
the back portion of the building she
was found lying on the floor, with a
little child beside her. All those who
perishcd in the building died from as
rhy1iation.
There is much indignation in the city
over the fact that the building was not
provided with fire escapes.
The following is a list of the dead:
Sarah Maxwell. aged 81 principal of
the school; William Zimmerman,
Years old; James Lindley. years;
Edith COLON. 6 years; Albert jackson,
G years; Lillian Ridge, years; Myrtle
and Mabel Spraggs, and 3 years; Ed
ma Davey, years; James Mcpherson,
Z years; Annie J. Andrews, years; Ce-
CHA Forbes, years; Frederick Andcr-
son, G,years; Gladys Kingston years;
JOSEPH johnson, years; Ethel Lamb
ten, years.
A rigid investigation of the cause OF
the fire and the failure to get the chill
dren out of tie school house has been
ordered by the mayor. 1t is claimed at
the Office of the building commissioner
that Official notice was served on the
school commissioners in November
that not only this school, but so 9TH
ers in the city must be provided with
fire ESCAPES at once. None had been
built at the Hochelaga school. Another
point to be explained is why the kim
derearten, or baby class, had been TAX
ell to an upper story.
The best story of the fire is told by
a little boy. Thomas Hogan. who was
a puDil in the second class under Miss
Campbell. He said there was a bell in
Miss MaxwelFs room which was used
when fire drill was given and which
could be heard all over the building.
This alarm was not sounded.
"My teacher" said the boy, went out
irto the hall and We all heard great
noise. Teacher ran back and seemed
very much frightened and red in the
face. She told us to get our things and
run right home. We were. on the top
floor and some of US had our hats un-
der our seats. while other boys who
had coats had put them in the dressing
room.
II had my hat with me and ran out
and as soon as / got to the landing
saw the stairway full of smoke, with
boys and girls crowding on it afraid
to go down. 1 pushed through them and
ran down to the front dor and hollered
to the rest to come on and lot of them
came. The smoke was so thick IN the
hall down stairs that it was Just like
running into the dark. think the chill
dren who had to go to the dressing
rooms to get their coats were the ones
who We're killed.