The San Francisco call., 1910-10-10
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
LED THROUGH FLAMES
Early Rising and Discipline Prevent Holocaust
When Structure Burns
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stinctively the tiny marchers pushed
forward in a spasm of panic, but the
restraining hands of the calm sisters
checked their fright Little hope was
there that of the hundreds all would
escape. Each moment the roof might
come down: but it seemed as If inyis-
ible hands were holding back the tot
tering timbers and invisible shields
guarding them from the flames.
REMAINS UNTIL LOST
AT the entrance door Sister Helena
turned and took her station, and by
her the children marched, The scores
swelled into hundreds as the IL bands
passed through the doorway, She re-
manned until the last. AS the end of
the column reached her she followed
in it's wake.
Clear of the building, the sisters and
the children halted and by common
consent turned to watch the flames,
and while they watched within a few
seconds from the time since the last of
came down with a laundering crash.
So short was the lapse. so narrow the
escape that it seemed as If the very
flames had foreborne in pity until all
of the little ones had reached safety.
Even in safety the order ceased not
The flames no longer were feared. but
a heavy mist enveloped the hillside and
a cruel wind tore through the thinly
clad ranks. The tiny forms were
pinched and blue with cold, but they
oheyed. The sisters led them to
Bay View school at the bottom of the
hill, but the doors were locked and no
way couud be found of making an en-
trance. Undeterred the march was taken
up again The ranks reformed and
went clambering through the mist and
the night to the infant home on the
west side of the hill, which is a part of
the institution, and here at last they
found shelter.
NOT ONE INJURED
Not child was missing; not one in
jured. How 1T was done the sisters
know not. The whole affair was so
sudden that there was scarce time for
thought.
But if they escaped it was with their
was burned up. The building. a four
story frame structure, had gone up in
names like SO much matchwood and
not single thing was saved. The first
effort was to clothe the children and
this was found to be a comparatively
easy task inasmuch as at the infants
orphanage were kept a number of spare
dresses and extra clothing.
As soon as the children were safely
housed and cared for Sister Helena, ac-
companied by one of her assistants,
drove to the residence of Mayor Nc
Carthy in an automobile to ask per-
mission to use Bay View school for a
brief time. The mayor Immediately
telephoned the members of the board
of education. ordering them to take
steps to meet the emergency and met
with instantaneous support
In the school house were cooking
utensils and kitchens and it was
thought at first that there the children
would find adequate temporary shelter;
but within few hours other arrange
ments had been made and all the chill
dren, save 46, who were sent to ST.
Francis technical school. Cough and
Geary streets, were divided among the
homes of the order at Los Angeles, Hol-
lister and Santa Cruz.
MAYOR SENDS AID
On hearing of the disaster Mayor
Mccarthy gathered all the blankets,
oSNs'iiiS dHO spurs clGInIHE III lllS HOUSE,
ana bundling them into his automobile
| sped to aid the children. His gifts We're
appreciated as many of the tots were
suffering from the cold.
The news of the burning shocked
me, said the mayor. THE greatest
credit is due to the good sisters and
they ought to be encouraged for their
| Efforts
BY noon the children were being dis
tributed among other cities. OF the 450
the greater majority had known no
nome other than the orphanage They
had been sent to the infant orphanege
and from there graduated to the insti-
tuition which burned down. And be-
Ing but little children they cried as if
their hearts would break at being sep
arated from their beloved sisters and
from the scenes of their happy hours.
Nor could they be comforted. The gar
den and flowers which they had tended
were trampled and torn and black with
asnes. Their own beautiful chapel was
no more. The haven they had found
from the bitterness of life's storm was
DESTROYED. They cried and begged to
remaln-even among the ruins, But
IT could not be. Under the circum-
stances separation was the only course.
every effort was made to keep rela-
llves and friends in the same parties,
put there were instances where one
weeping tot would be sent to Santa
Cruz and her little chum to Los An
geies. It was hearthreaking to watch
the parting OF these little playmates,
who had met in babyhood and who had
been growing up together in happiness.