Year: 1876

the flames under control though at that moment the
cupoa In a bright blaze its beacon light calling
the brothers OF ST Johns Academy 10 the OF the
FIRE. They reached the scene In time be Of the
greatest assistance removing many Of the inmates
TO their own institution.


The deuge of water the cupola extinguished the
flames in time to preserve its charred framework
entire while the cross upon its summit remained un-
stained by smoke or hre. The omen accepted by
many OF the inmates and Of the Sisters as token
Of happiness for Ihe dead and for the nsttu
ton in the future By the time the inmates who were
gathered the west wing had all been safely removed
into the and forwarded 10 places OF safety tho
nremen had prevented the flames from doing much in
jury to the chapel main building, and as the floors
fell the basement 1ed by mass of smoul-
dering ember Viewed from the ground in front II wa
that the extreme eastern end Of the building 30
feet depth and 25 feet wide, completely Quilted,
portion each floor only being left marked in the
diagram elsewhere gwen the portion in black being
totally destroyed and that dotted only partially.


SCENES IN THE EEiGHBoRHooD


When once the neighbors were fully aware of the
turo OF the danger which threatened the Home they
spared efforts to render all the assistance their
limited power No time was lost IN donning unneces-
sary clothing. and many OF the appeared at the
scene clad only in pantaloons and bareiooted. One
gentleman who early discovered the progress which
the IRE was making provided himself with the dinner
bell and rang an alarum through the neighborhood,
which reused the deepest sleepers. The signal was
significant Of danger and a summons for assistance
that even the women heard and regarded. The bulk
their assistance could only be devoted to assisting
places OF shelter the fortunate OF the inmates,
who having escaped from immediate danger,
stood perfectly daZed at the spectacle
presented by the burning pile and horror





Many of those SO suddenly driven out Of house and
home could do nothing but humble and mutter as they
were led away for protection from the weather and
sheltered the houses thrown open TO them
Others removed only by orce fascinated were
they by the sight before them The greater part had
only escaped with n minimum OF clothing, and some
had been scorched and blstered that they
red away in blankets


The bearing OF the Little Sisters the Poor during
the trying through which they passed elected
the highest praise from police hremen and citizens,
and all impressed by the order and GOODNESS that
characterized their every movement Rough men
rushed hither and thither among the debris and
wreck in efforts battle the spread of the flames
the dead and at every step they met amid the
smoke devoted Sisters bearing blankets coverlids
TO the charred bodies OF the dead The Sisters
followed closely in the wake of the police and nremen
aud unceasing in their labors to perform their
whole duty There at this time no noise, no con-
fusion rushing here and there. Every little SER
vice was rendered SO silently and quietly that men,
who had never before come in contact with the sister
hood, stood and looked on in surprise and admiration


cuMMSs


One neighbor named Donohue, fully approaching
the danger secured q ladder soon as he heard the
alarm, and hurryng to the building essayed
TO save OF the inmates, who had
made their escape TO the roof and stood
wildly screaming and wringing their hands Suddenly
there appeared in of the windows OF the top dor
mtory, that on the third floor, old man whose
shreks OF "save mol me; Pm burning up For
tho love OF God help el" heard high above the
OF the others and the and cracke OF the
flames. The smoke all about him, but now and
then cleared on sufficiently to reveal his figure and
his bare gray head. Mr.. Donohue fought the smoke
and placed his ladder against the wall under the win
dow When the old man. who was afterward found to
be Michael Cummins, the efforts TO rescue him he
endcavored to Chamber out clutch the ladder which
appeared in its progress upward IL would reach to
the window where he sat shrieking II too short
by nearly dozen feet and when Cummins this he
uttered shrek that horrifed the few who had been
attracted to the spot below He about to throw
himself down in the hope OF catching the ladder when
Donohue up the rungs and shouted to him
to get sheet and lower himself The obeyed
and going back reappeared with Sheet which he
tremblingly made fast TO the iron bed
stead by. Reassured by Donohue's
shouts OF encouragement and direction he
clutched this improvIsed rope, and swinging himself
beyond the window sill he slid slowly downward. He
had almost reached It's end when in with the
spectators he realized that the sheet extended less
than halt the distance between the window and the
ladder top MI. Donohue braced himself against the





catch him. He attempted obey. but his nervous
he had swung himself partially around and letting
60 his hold the sheet al the instant the move
ment threw him out of the direct line to Donohue's
arms and ell he just grazed the side of the lad
der and his rescuers ouiseched hands and shot down
to the pavement of the below There he lay
aquiverlng mass of flesh and broken bones and mo-
ment after when he was picked up he was dead





As soon as the flames extingushed the men Of
Engines Nos. l3 and 10 and Trucks Nos. and were
ordered TO examine the ruins They commenced
their search tho lower floor finding the remains OF
old man there, who had been suiocaied, and not
much burned. The party was then divided into two,
section going to the upper floors and the other
the basement On the second floor two corpses were
found One seated a chair, with his boots partially
on tho right the eft and the left the right
and seemed II he had been unable rise from the
chair, and Sister Frances said that he had been par
TALLY paralyzed. The other corpse was prone on
the floor. Hanging TO the beams OF the third
floor were two shrivclled and partially consumed
bodies, confined between the beams and the beds
But the most horrible sight the third floor
itself, that portion which the ire had left
Nine bodies In various positions, denotng helpcssness
or unavaing efforts TO escape, revealed to The
gaze OF the horror struck bremen. One or two had
nearly reached the windows, one had crawed under
meath his bed II to get away from the smoke while
only one lay ON his cot, that every have
had consciousness OF the dread disaster ere life
left them The dead carefully picked up blan-
kets and conveyed to little room In the basement
adjoining tho washroom.


While they were being removed the other section OF
flremen had been digging among the debris in the eel
lar and had exhumed the bodies OF three more In q