New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-07
Sisters Scorched as They
Fight Flames and Save
ParOChiaI School.
PRIESTS AID WORK
AS PEOPLE PRAY
Cloister Bucket Brigade Proves
WOrth-EaSt New York Fire
Destroys Factory.

tn, street last night. Mother Superior
M.ry Pe,pctua. Of the Convent Of the
Dominican urdcr Of s, Joseph. or Lib
elty av.. East New York. and priests
and brothers or St. Michaels Church.
OF jerome st.. fough: side by side with
hIchcts and hose lines to ave the
cvhven. and the rarochial school.
The; wcre euccessful Al the cost o.
scorchcd garments and bistered hands
and faces
The entire plant Of the embroidery
firm Of IL H. Druckermsn. a. Liberty
az. anG Varwick st. including fac
tory employing $50 hands. paint shop
and stable, vas wrecked. Two houses
on berry az. also we're damaged.
Four alarms were sent in. but a.
lines it looked rs though the blaze
would vanquish the iiremen. directed
by Deputy Chief William Gutterson.
As the flames gained headway they
lowered above the steeple Of ST. Mich
acl's. Many parishioners who were on
their way 20 the parochial school. where
there was to have been an entertain
ment last night. and others who lived
close By believed that the church was
splaze and joined the throng already
on the way 20 the fire
4 number Of devoui members Of the
congregation knelt in the street pray
ing for the safety Of the sacred ed
fee.
Priests Seek 10 Check Fire.
From tho rectory came Father Full
gentius. Father Nicholas. Father Hya-
cinth and Father Francis. with Brother
Claude. John. Lawrence. Michael and
Ncdestius. They were Joined by
George Schvenzer. the ianitor and Ed
gar X. OFT. an undertaken.
The church was nearly q block from
tho ire. Much nearer the blaze was
the convent. frame building, and
nearer still the parochal school, four
stories high and new.
The first thought OF the clerical bri-
gade was for the nuns. They hastencd
10 tho convent to make provision for
ihc inmates safety. Under tho dircc
;ion Of the Mother Superior they found
thirty nuns. including Sisters Mary
Florcntirc. Mary Roseria and Frszia,
gathering buckets aud connecting lines
OF hose. Il vas vain 10 argue with
them. The school was in danger. per
haps the convent; they would do their
part.
Four lines OF hose were connected
20 taps. Three were carried TO the roof
OF the school and another to tho roof
OF the convent. Those not needed at
the hose lines formed bucket lines
The heat from the blaze. few score
feet away. softcned the putty in the
window frames and hlistered the paint.
Faces were scorchcd. and sparks and
embers flew about. frequently burning
the robes II the band Of fire fighters.
They stucG 20 their posts, however.
Not an ember alighted on the roof Of
either building that was not eAtin-
guished Immediately.
Il was more than two hours before
the blaze rctreated enough so that the
volunteers COulQ NOTh IN Itldt- diI
long after that a few were still on
watch.
Police Rescue Horses.
Down i? the street the reserves from
half dozen precincts held the crowd
IN check. The Bergen 81. trolley line,
which passes through Liberty ay., was
held up for hours.
The buildings. swept by flames. were
cmpty except for the Waterman and
thirt;-six horses The police did not
find the watchman. but were told that
he waS safe.
Detective Frank Doherty and Detec-
tive Bernard Tully. with Patrolman
James Mcdonald. Of the Liberty az.
poIicc station. wrapped their coats
about their heads and gropcd through
the smoke into the stable. which ad-
ioincd the blazing paint shop. They
led out thirty OF the thlrty-siX horses.
Two frcmcn were cut by falling
glass and had - quit the fight Liec-
tric wires were down and Strewed the
ground in all directions. The dam:se
vas estimated at about 100000.
The cause Of the fire was not ascef-
,aincd. The fire was blazing strong
vhcn the first engines started thelr
streams. and tho four alarms followed
each other in quick ucce3sion.
Fire Marshal Thomas Brophy "ill
make an investigation.