Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-02-07
Sister Mary Michael Risks Life
and Saves the Blessed
Sacrament.
Father Fitzgerald Loses Vest
ments Made i'm Convent i'm
Ireland.
HOLD SERVICE OF GRATITUDE

The congregation of ST. Leo $
suffered very severe loss on Mon
day morning, when their church was
found to be on fire. 1t is a matter
of general surprise how the church
was saved from total destruction,
when the flames were forcing their
way through the windows in the
sanctuary. All that could be done
with the very inadequate protection
against fire in Highland Park was
done, and 1t is to the credit of the
citizens of the town, without any
thought of creed or religion, that
they extended every effort to keep
the church from total destruction.
The blaze issuing from the sane
tuary windows we're noticed by Jo-
seph Biesler, boy of the school,
who Immediately notified Mrs. A. M.
Scoggin, the housekeeper. With
rare presence of mind she had the
church bell rung and Sister Mary
Michael, the principal of the school,
Immediately came, and rushing into
the smoke and flames with great
difficulty reached the altar and by
some superhuman efforts broke open
the door of the tabernacle and under
her veil carried the sacred vessels
and ciborium with the Blessed Sac
rament to the pastoral residence,
where the children knelt and prayed.
reciting the blessed Rosary while
the town was excited at the prospect
of a greater blaze. The congregation
of st. Leo's is small and poor one,
and now must face work which can
not be done without assistance from
friends outside.
The Courier-Journal, in it's ac-
count of the fire, thus describes the
heroic act of Sister Mary Michael.
whose feat and escape from the
flames was almost miraculous: isis
ter Mary Michael who is in charge
of the parochial school adjoining the
church, rescued the chalice contain
ing the Blessed Sacrament of the
Eucharist She rushed into the
church through cloud of smoke
and broke open the tabernacle with
her bare hands, after pupils of the
school had entreated her not to risk
her life, many of them clinging to
her robes in an effort to deter her
She emerged uninjured though
flushed from the heat and excite
ment, the golden trophy of her
bravery clasped in her arms"
When the fire alarm was sounded
the No. hook and ladder, No. Is
Engine Company and No. 16 hose
reel made the run. When the fire
men arrived Sister Mary Michael was
in charge of the volunteers, and
through her efforts the church prob
ably was saved from destruction. 1t
is a frame building and was erected
in 1905 at a cost of $4,000. The |
pipe organ and other contents are
expensive and little of the effects |
in the rear of the edifice escaped a
scorching. Firemen were loud in
their praises of the work of the Sis |
ters, the pupils and the citizens, |
whose foresight and prompt action |
saved the church from destruction.
Rev. Father ]. ]. Fitzgerald. pas
tor of st. Leos, who had been out |
of the hospital little more than a |
week, was on a Second-street car in |
Louisville on his way to Highland |
Park when he learned of the fire and |
was almost prostrated. The key to |
the tabernacle containing the |
Blessed Sacrament was in his pocket. |
He arrived fatigued on the scene |
after the fire had been extinguished |
and was cared for by parishioners. |
Many handsome presents received by |
him on the occasion two years ago |
OF his silver jubilee as rector were
either damaged or destroyed. Vest |
ments made and painted at a con-
vent in Ireland were among those |
ruined.
After the excitement a service OF |
gratitude for the rescue of the |
Blessed Sacrament was held by the
pupils and Sister Mary Michael. who |
recited the Rosary.