The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-01-18

Gus setback IN getting the hre under
control was Occasioned when another
one of the fire pumps proved to be
crippled and practically useless.
Because of this calls were sent to
the Racine and Waukegan departments
and engines from these cities hurried
to Kenosha to aid in the fighting of
the fire. A pump from the Racine de-
partment reached the scene shortly
after five-thirty and assisted in getting
the fire under control. Because of the
long distance required to pipe the
water from hydrants, all of the pumps
found serious difficulty in getting a
strong enough stream to combat the
fire.
Firemen Do Heroic Work.
Too much praise cannot be given the
personnel of the fire department for
their daring and heroic work in fight
ing the fire They braved the flames
ard the dangers of falling walls to
hold streams Of water on the burning
building. Firemen who risked their
lives to crawl on the roof of the burn
ing wing of the building and those
who carried a line of hose UP the fire
escape and held it despite danger of
cave-in, won the admiration Of the
throngs who gathered to watch the
spectacular fire.
While the fremen struggled to get
the flames under control volunteers
entered the burning building and res
cued furnishings, clothing and jewelry
from the rooms. One of the most in
teresting events of this work was the
act of Walter Wells, deputy sheriff,
who was summoned to the scene of
the fire. He was requested by one of
the students at the school to go into
the room where her jewelry was hid
/ den in a stocking in the closet. This
room was also in the path of the
flames and as events proved the jewels
would have been destroyed had they
remained there. Wells despite the
smoke which filled the room secured
the diamonds and returned them to
their owner. They were said to be
valued ct more than $500.
Pile Furnishings in Snow.
Furniture from the building was
also carried out by volunteer fire fight
ers who entered the library and par
lors of the school when these were
| threatened by the flames and carried
out the pictures and other furniture.
Much of these were antiques which
had been presented to the school and
we're of considerable value. All of
these were piled in the snow in front
of the building and a guard of police
and deputy sheriffs thrown around
them to protect the property. Reports
that some who entered the building
| had looted it could not be verified
Among those who lost heavily of
their personal possessions was Miss
Amy Wells of Kenosha, who left all
of her jewelry in her room when the
fire alarm was sounded
An interesting episode of the fire
was that the little daughter of Mrs.
Cherrill, who had been i'll throughout
the day and who was in, her room on
the third floor of the building when
the fire was discovered, was led to
! safety by her mother and the pupils
when the fire drill was used. After
the fire was under control, Sister
Francis, one of the older sisters at
the home, who has been i'll for some
time, collapsed under the strain of the
1 fire and was hurried to the Kenosha
| hospital in an ambulance. The Incl
dent gave rise to rumors that one of
the sisters had been seriously injured
Wall Traps Fireman.
After the fire had been gotten under
control George MORTIFIED, one of the
fremen entered the ruined part of the
building to aid in patroling it. One
of the smaller walls caved in and
MORTIFIED was trapped under a burn
ing ember Fireman hurried to his
rescue but could not prevent him from
being badly buned about the arms and
legs. Pete Johnson was severely cut
by glass and also badly burne d.
Several other of the iremen were
burned by the heat from the flames
but stuck bravely to their posts.
Efficient work was done by the police
department and the sheriff's office in
sending patrolmen and deputies to the
scene in sufficient numbers to rope off
the fire district and to patrol the
scene. Thousands of Kenoshans hur-
ried to Kemper Hall as the news of
the fire spread and large force was
needed to handle the crowd. The
police praised the telephone girls
for their efficient work in handling
the calls attendant upon summoning
the deputies.
Find Rooms for Girls.
The fire had not yet been quenched
when calls began to pour into the Of
fcials of the school offering rooms
for the girls who were rendered temp
orarily homeless by the fire. One of
the first to offer was St. GATHERINGS
hospital where twenty-six were accom-
modated Many private homes in the
fneighborhod Of the school were also
opened and by seven o'clock all of the
girls had been safely housed.
No statement was given out today
Regarding whether or not the present
structure would be rebuilt. 1t was
stated, however, that arrangements
would be made to house the students
properly. The fire revived the reports
that the board of directors Of the
school We're considering a plan of NOV
ing the entire school to a site west of
the city but no statement could be
secured regarding this.
The loss to the school because of
the fire was estimated at S75 900, part