The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-03-07
MANY CHILDREN
PERISH IN FIRE
Fearful Holocaust at North
COllinwOOd, O., School.
los BODIES TAKEN FROM RUINS

oSS'eS OF Aitite Cniiorens Trapped BY
the Flames and Smoke. Died In TIE
Fire Or Lesped to Their Death
From the windows-FeM Of the
Large Number Of Pupils In the
Building Escapes.
Cleveland. o.. March 5.-Penned in
marrow Railways, jammed UP against
doors that only opened inward. BE-
tween loo and 10 children in the
suburb Of North CollinwOod were Kill.
ed by IRE. by smoke. ana beneath
the grinding heels OF their panic.
stricken PLAY mates.
The awful tragedy occurred In the
public school OF North Collinwooi
ten miles east OF this city. At l
O'Clock this morning there were los
bodies in the morgue. OF which los
mad been Identified and 81 were still
unknown. II is possible that other
bodies may be found in the ruins. as
at least thirteen children are stin
missing. and have not been heard from
since the fire
All OF the victims were between the
ages OF six and fifteen years. The
school contained between SO and 325
pupils. and OF this entire number only
about eighty arc known 10 have LEFT
the building unhurt Il viii be sew
eral DAYS before the exact number Of
killed is known. as the ruins may stili
contain other bodies. and the list OF
fatalities may be increased by a mum
Der OF deaths among the children who
are now lying in the hospitals hover
ing between life and death
Only Ore Fire Escape.
The schoOlhouse was OF brick. two
stories and an attic in height Tho
number OF pupils was more than nor.
maliy large. and the smaller children
had been placed IN the upper part
81 the building. There was but one
hre escape. and that was In the rear
u the building There were two stair.
ways. one leading 10 a door IN front
and tho other to door in the rcar.
Both OF these doors opened Inward
and II IS claimed the rear door was
locked as well
When the flames were discovered
the teachers. who throughout seem to
have acted with courage and selfpos.
session and 10 have struggled he
roica!ly for the safety OF their prrils
marshaled the little ones into column
FOR the FIRE drill" which thew has
often practiced
Fire Came From Furnace.
Unfortunately the line OF march :,
this exercise had always led to the
tron' door. and the children had not
been trained 10 seek any other exit
The fire came from a furnace situated
directly under this part OF the build
Ing. When the children reached the
foot Of the stairs they found the flames
close upon them. and so swift a rush
was made for the door that in an IN.
slant a tightly packed mass Of chn.
iren was piled up against II. From I
that second none OF those who were I
upon any portion OF the first flight OF
stairs had a chance for their lives I
The children at the foot OF the stairs |
attempted to nght their wav back |
10 the floor above. while those who /
were coming down showed them merci- I
Iessly back into the flames below. In 4
IN instant there was a frightful panic. |
With 200 Of the pupils fighting for
their lives. Most OF those who were
killed died here. The greater part OF
those who escaped managed 10 turn
back and reached the FIRE escape. and
he windows in the rear.
What happened at the foot OF that
irst flight OF stairs viii never be
known. for all OF those who were
,aught in the full fury OF the panic
we're killed. After the flames had
He'd away however. a huge heap of
title bodies. burned by the fire. and
into things Of horror told the
ale as well as anybody need to know
Fire Over In Three Hours.
Within three hours after the start
u the fire II had burned itself ont
ma the work OF recovering the bod
es proceeded. The village fire depart-
nent had only two engines. and
Ieither. upon arrival after the alarm
vas given. was at all effective in
temming the flames
Jantior Herter could remember lit
lie OF what happened after the fire
tarted. Il was sweeping In the base
nent, he said. when looked I'D
nd saw a wisp OF smoke curling ont
rom beneath the front stairway
an to the fire alarm and pulled the
'ong that sounded throughout the
'uilding. Then ran first to the front
nd then to the rear doors. I cannot
emember what happened next. except
hat | saw flames shooting all about
nd the little children running down
through them screaming Some fell
i the rear entrance and others STUN
lied over them. | saw my little Helen
Imong them. tried 20 pull her out
tut the flames drove me back. had
o leave my little child to die" Herter
Tas badly burned about the head.
Teacher Loses Her Life.
Miss Catherine Weller. one of the
line teachers in the school. lost her
lie in vain effort to marshal the
pupils OF her class and lead them TO
safety. She died In the crush at the
rear door. Her room was on the sec.
u you WANT PURE GOOES-..