Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-27
L6 CHILDREN PERISH
SHOWS GREAT HERB
ISM IN ATTEMPT TO RESCUE.

MONTREAL, Quebec, February a.
Principal Maxwell and sixteen children
persisted in fire which broke out yeSter-
day afternoon in the Hochelaga School
of the Protestant school commission. The
school was located in a brick two-story
building in the east end of the city and
was attended by about two hundred chill
dren, whose parents are mechanics living
in the neighborhood
The fire started from the furnace, and
was first noticed by workmen employed
nearby. The teachers were notified, and
the work of getting the children out of
the building began. The kindergarten
department was located on the second
floor, and it was here that the loss of life
occurred
The children started out, but on reach
ing the landing found the lower hall
full of smoke. Into this they refused to
descend, though the way at this time was
quite safe. Huddled together on the stair
way at first, they retreated to the rooms
from which they had come. When the
fremen arrived an extension ladder was
placed in position and a large number of
children were rescued in this way.
Assisting in the work was Miss Maxwell.
The fire by this time was making its way
upward, and the smoke was growing SO
dense that even the experienced firemen
could not stand it. Captain Carson en-
the ladder but she refused, and evadfng
the attempt to detain her, rushed back
into the back part of the building in
search Of others of the little ones.
All Died Of AspLyxiation.
When the fremen We're. finally able to
make their way to the back portion of the
building she was found lying on the floor,
with little one beside her. All those who
persisted died from asphyxiation.
The building was unprovided with fire
escapes.
The work of the firemen was worthy of
heroes. They battled right in the teeth of
fire. Different crews struggled through the
thick smoke, fairly fighting their way into
the first floor They fought hard there
because of the bodies Of the children. and
made great efforts to prevent further
spread of the fire, that the little bodies
would not be burned. Now and then a
man would be driven to a window, but he
went back, and now and then one would
reach out, swing onto a ladder and descend
with little object in his arms. The men
covered each little corpse with a tarpaulin,
transferring their gruesome load to the
morgue wagon.
The news of the tragedy spread greatly,
and soon the parents of the children were
rushing to the place. Mothers, disheveled,
wild-eyed, fearful, yet hopeful, would
spring forward as each little body was
brought into sight. one woman screamed
with terror as she tried to raise a cover.
Even though she had not seen the little
face, nor even had a glimpse of the tots
clothes, she shrieked. "Oh, it's she, it's
she"' 1t was not hers, and as a kindly
hand drew her back she staggered to the
waiting line, sobbing and praying.
The children who had been rescued were
quickly gathered up and brought to their
homes.
The fire was finally extingushed and
when the count of the dead was made it
was found that the principal and sixteen of
the children lost their lives. The morgue,
where the bodies were placed, was the
point of many affecting scenes as the
parents claimed the bodies of their loved
ones.