The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-10-28
MANY CHILDREN
CRUSHED TODEATH
IN FIGHT

(CsntinueA frea Page Ons.)
ef children ranging In age from
eight to IL years.
Nine we're 20 badly burned 10 TO
make recognition impossible.
Thoro were 672 children in the
building when the nrs broke ont.
They were Just preparing 10 60
TO their morning classes when ono
q IL sisters smelled smoke. she
Investigated and found the lower
han Ablise. The flames wsre
spes4dinu rapidly. me Are alarm
was sounded. The children were
told to leave the building BY the
ads doorS. IN the class rooms. per.
fsct order was observed. Then the
little tots stepped into the hall
Thick, hot smoke poured toward
them. FLAMES cracked NEARBY.
First came cfiss 70 the sisters, then
terror. and panic.
Boys and siris, seeing their teach
era helpless. broke ranks.
They dashed for Windows and
doors. A majority rushed wildly
for the big front door through which
they had entered only . short time
before.
Many Of the children were
trampled down before ssAshins the
door. Screams Of mites q girls
swept out from the daming build
ing 40 tho children struggled for
thar lives.
Many. unable to reach the door.
and turning to the Windows. pre-
pared to Jump Immediately on gain
ing the lodges.
Persons living In the neixhboF-
hood had nocked to the scene. They
called to the little ones. beseechink
them not to make the leap until
blankets could be brought TO catch
them. Some. crying and protesting.
waited. Others Jumped. M6n rushed
forward and caught them In out
spread coats. Hurry calls were sent
to every homo for blanketss With
these spread 90 nets q score OF the
tots were saved.
with danes roaring behind them
and only blank space looming be-
tween them and the earth. the chill
dren looked down through tears Of
terror, then gave despairing cries
and Jumped.
Many were injured as result OF
the perilous leaps.
There were no fire escapes on
the school building.
The blaxe spread 50 rapidly that
within u minutes after the fire
drill was sounded names were
sprinsins through every window Of
the building. TO make matters
worse nremen had the greatest DIFF
flculty getting water on the furnace
OF fame. Pressure Was 20 poor
that Il was 10 minutes after the
hose was coupled before water was
thrown, on the building. By that
time the flames had taken their
heaviest toll Of death.
Help wAs summoned from Salem
and Lynn IN the fear that the blass
would spread. But after licking its
way through tho wooden intsrios
the are burned out Of ito own &c.
cord. Only the saunt hrs scared
walls, and heaps Of little bo0iee
crested ne rescuers stumbling
through entrances over piles o.
smoking debris.
The Arst flrsmsn TO arrive fought
their way through throngs Of half
crausA lsssd. partly clad little chill
drsn. Just escaped nom the sssth
ing flameA they ran about hystsric
Any, NEST q their clothing stripped
iron then. some imp1orins the nm
nghterS 70 save little comrades
othsrs scbblng Or falling In faint
Inc flta.
The flrst II bodies recovered wert
found IN the front vestibule. They
wsre the younsster who headed
~ paAie-Stricksn lines when they
boltsd. They had raced dowr
| against tho doors In the first WILD
dash. Closely pressed BY scores q
other children. they sought In vain
| to swing open the door. Then thsy
went down beneath the crush o.
little human bodies behind. sQneesed
to death.
Outside. crowds stared through
the apertures at mounds OF smoking
debris inside the IRE swept struo'
sure. bepeath which several more
bodies may lie. Early this afternoon
fire oficials said II win be several
hours before the ruins cool sum.
GENTLY for q thorough search.
Half an hour after the nremen Ar
rived, ono Of the 10 sisters Was rec.
oued badly burned and IN hytteri-
cal condition. She broke free frOm
her rescuers when carried into the
open ar and shouted franticaily Tor
someone to 80 70 the AID d the chil-