The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1915-11-04
TW6NTY-0NE LITTLE Gill;
DREk ARE KNOWN TO NAVE
p6R4e&&ED IN PEABODY,
MASS, FIRE.
SIX HUNDRED CAUGHT IN
FRE-TRAP BY FLAMES
Fire DrE Started But Burst Of Flames
and Hot Smoke Cause Cries OF
Pain, Then Paafe-origia Of
Fire ia bosht-Exploeion
Theory Dlspreved.

Boston, Mass oct. 3o-Governor
Walsh has issued statement in which
he says that a rigid Investigation Of
the Peabody school district will be
made by the state.
Peabody, Mass, Oct. 3o.-Tweaty-
enc children, NEST Of them girls, rang
ing in age from Z to II years, lost
their lives In a FIRE which destroyed
st. Johns Paroehial school.
Trapped On the upper floors of the
three story brick building, or caught
behind door which opened inward
and Was jammed by the weight of hui
manity, the little ones were burned
or crushed to DEATH
Twenty children, who were finally
rescued from the school building,
which was mass Of flames, were seri-
ously injured.
Of the 10 bodies at an undertaking
shop, 10 have been identified.
All of the sisters escaped, but Moth
er Superior Marie Carmelita was Sc
riously burned It was said her in
juries probably were not fatal.
She is Frustrated by the disaster.
There were 672 children from seven
to 13 years OF age in the building
when the fire broke out.
On Way to Classes.
They were just preparing to 60 to
their morning classes when one of the
sisters smelled smoke. She investi-
gated and found the lower hall ablaze.
The flames were spreading rapid
~. The fire alarm was sounded. The
children we're told to leave the build
ing ty the side doors. In the class
rooms perfect order was observed.
Then the tots stepped into the hall
Thick, hot smoke poured toward them.
The flames cracked nearby. First
came cries to the sisters, then terror
and panic.
Boys ana girls, seeing their teach
crs helpless, broke ranks.
They dashed for windows and doors.
A majority rushed wildly for the big
front door through which they had en-
tered only short time before.
Deed Of Heroism Numerous.
Deeds of heroism were not wanting.
Among such incidents was the act of
Maurice Harris, aged 10 years, carry
ing his one-legged chum, Thomas
O'shea, 8 years old on his back down
the smoke ehoked stairway to safety.
At noon, only two of the bodies,
those of Lizzie Nolan, aged II years
and Mary Sullivan, 1e, had been iden-
tilted. Both girls we're to have been
graduated this year.
The origin of the fire remained in
doubt. Michael Dunn. who lives near
the school, said he heard a muffled ex-
plosion in the school building just be-
fore it was enveloped in flames.
Boiler Found Intact.
When the ruins had cooled sufficient.
~ to permit it, Building Inspector A.
H. Mcdonald and w. S. Murrel, of the
state police, made their way for few
feet into the basement, and later re.
ported that the steam boiler which was
reported to have exploded, was intact.
Joseph Donahue, the engineer of the
building, also declared that the blaze
could not have originated from the
boiler. He said that he had banked
his fire before he left it at 8 o'clock.
Many of the children we're trampled
down before reaching the door
Screams of mites of girls swept out
from the flaming building as the chill
dren struggled for their lives.