The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-30
They Are Opened for Six Sis
ters of Charity.
Lives Sacrificed in Attempt to
Save Orphan Children.
THEY ARE TRAPPED BY FLAMES
All but Two of Their So
Charges Are Saved.
Cry of Little One Calls Mother
Superior to Death.

San Antonio. Oct. s0.-six sisters OF
charity sacrificed their lives IN an at
tempt to save nearly 100 children in a
fire that destroyed St Johns orphan
age today. They succeeded in rescu-
ing all but two children before they
were trapped by flames. Two sisters
escaped.
The Dead
MOTHER MARY OF THE Cross.
who was mother superior OF the asy-
lum- She was Mary Roster. a native
of Wexford. Ireland
MOTHER FRANCESCA PASTEUR.
native of France.
SISTER PETER CLAVERSTEVTN.
teacher in san Fernando school. na-
tive of Dublin. Ireland
SISTER LECADIA NOLAN, teach
er in san Fernando school; native OF
Dublin. ireland.
SISTER MONICA MONTEz native
of Mexico.
SISTER MARY KOsTKA FAR
RELL. native of KaIdar. Ireland
The Injured
Miss A. DetempIe. an employee na-
tive of Germany
Miss Eztandish, an employee
The fires origin is not known.
Eighty-seven orphan children ranging
in age from , to l. years and nine
nuns were in the building when the
flames were discovered.
Marshaling their charges 70 hurry
them to safety, the sisters OF charity
remained in the blazing orphanage
until the building began 70 crumble
and fall
ChiId-s Cry Caused Her Death.
The death of the mother superior.
Mary Of the Cross. was the sequel 20
a demonstration Of remarkable cour-
age She returned to the burning
dormitOry when she heard the cry q
a child N Ira
the hurry and excitement A few mo-
ments later she appeared at a window
in the front Of the building with the
babe in her arms.
Fire Chief Wright attempted 20 save
her but he failed A ladder was
placed against the unsteady wall and
the chief scaled it but before he
reached her the mother superior. witn
the child. fell back into the flames
The three nuns who escaped helped
in taking the children from the blazing
structure. They were marching them
across the yard when the walls began
10 fall
Sister Kostka in jumping from the
fourth floor window to reach a life
net, evidently lost her balance Her
body struck the railing on the second
story. Her back was broken and she
had been severely burned
Last Look Fatal
Sister Monica Montez lost her life
by jumping. After the children had
been p1lOred to the nre escape on the
west side of the blazing building she
returned to take a last look in the
dormitory. Her escape was cut OF bur
she made her way to the east side
where dremen stood below with the
net spread she leaped but missed the
net Death was instantaneous
Mother Francis Pasteur and Sisters
Peterclaver Stevin and Leacadfa No
Ian were unable to escape from the
building and they perished in the
flames
While one child is known To have
buried to death. another Is missing
and it is feared il. too. perished-
The Right Rev J. W. shaw car
rfed out several children. some Of
whom were mere babies and unable 20
help themselves
Father Hume the chancellor. and
Father Duffy chaplain. repeatedly
rushed into the building 20 return
with some child found cropping help
lessly about in the smoke. When the
FIRE chief and fire apparatus reached
the orphanage the fire had spread
throughout the entire structure The
roof had crumbled. The dead nuns
belonged to the sisters OF charity Of
the Incaruate Word