The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-12-15
DEATH TOLL :.
LIKELY TO BE
AT LEAST SO
Firemen Are Unable to Search
Ruins of Hospice For More
Bodies Until Later
rs BODIES RECOVERED
Staff Of Nuns and 81 Children
in Institution When Flames
Break Out
1s BODIES RECOVERED

Quebec, Dec. 15.7P)-Eighteen
bodies had been recovered todav
from the fire-swept ruins Of the
Hospice st. Charles orphanage. with
the probability that the death list
would mount.
A check Of the missing and injured
led firemen to believe that at least
SO lost their lives. Firemen were
unable to search the ruins which
were still smoldering this forenoon.
The bodies Of II children and ono
woman recovered indicated that they
had died of suffocation rather than
by fire. The walls of tho ancient
structure collapsed while the fire
was at its height last night, stop
ping rescue work.
Sixteen Of the dead were found in
the ruins Of one of the dormitories,
death in most cases having been due
to asphyxiation.
Many .-..arch to Safety
The staff of nuns of the Good
Shepherd, who conducted the insti-
tuition, and 371 children were in bed
when the fire, beliey I'd to have
started in the basement, broke out
in q dormitory on the second floor.
The fire was discovered by Sister
st. Theresa. who noticed smoke in
the corridor and reused the sleeping
children and other occupants of the
orphanage. Most Of the children
were quickly marched from the
building to safety and clothing
loaned by the crowds which gather
ed was used to protect the refugees
as they were taken to other institu-
tions and private homes.
A passerby, who noticed smoke
pouring from windows Of thu build
ing, turned in. a general alarm and
police, firemen and volunteers di-
rected their efforts toward rescue
work. Many were carried down lad
ders which were placed on all sides
of the building and others jumped
from windows into life nets.
Human Chain Formed
Early in the rescue work, q human
chain was formed, stretching from
the orphanage to q tobacco factory
directly across the street. As scores
of children, many of them half con-
scious, were removed from the burn
Iuk OuuOLI6p knCIl ONAC0uAS A1AI6 uu6
with the roar of the flames, they
were lifted from one to another Of
those in the chain to tn factory.
There doctors ind nurses hastily
gathered to care for them.
Rescuers CROPPED through binding
smoke and flames in their search for
the children, many making several
trips into the building before col
lapse of roofs and walls forced them
to abandon their efforts.
Many of those rescued were hur-
ried to private homes and other in
stitutions throughout the city for
shelter from the moderately cold at-
mosphere, fact which made COM
plete check of the missing practic-
ally impossible. Firemen said the
spread Of the flames had been 20
rapid many could not. have been
Although the hospice was con-
Quoted mainly as an orphanAge,
number Of children had been placed
by their parents in the institution
school. When they learned the
building was on fire, these frantic
parents besieged the fire lines and
were directed to the factory across
the street.
Most Of the children's ages
ranged from 3 to 16 years.
The building was erected - 4
marine HOSPITAL in 1882.