SCHOOL ON FIRE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 386, 7 March 1908, Page 2

SCHOOL ON FIRE.

An Awful Catastrophy. Nearly 200 Children Perish. Parents Frantic. New’ York, March 5. The Lake View common school at Cleveland, Ohio, which is attended by 360 children, ranging in age from five to fourteen years of age, was burned. The fire commeued in the basement of a six-storied building during the morning sitting of the school. Smoke quickly filled the. building, creating a panic, all classes becoming distressed. Simultaneously, the children from the upper floors rushed pellmell downstairs, only to find the lower corridors already chocked by children from the lower classrooms, all pushing and struggling for their lives. Miss Moran, principal of the girls school, who escaped, says the children made a mad rush for the doors and windows, and it was impossible to keep them in check, although they had been taught how to act in the event of fire. There were only two exits at the back, and one was locked. The other doorway soon became blocked with the falling children, who were trampled down by those behind. Children trying to retrace their ■ steps encountered the flames, which destroyed the classrooms. A few minutes later the lower floor collapsed, precipitating scores of children into the basement. The teachers struggled bravely, but were helpless. Nine of them were hurt. Hundreds of frantic parents assembled, and workmen from the factories came to assist. One man trying to drag his daughter from a pile of children wedged in the doorway, pulled her arms out. of the sockets. {Several children, jumping from the third storey, were instantly killed. Others were caught in the arms of spectators. Although badly hurt, a number were rescued through the windows at the back of the building. Fire escapes rescued some children from the upper windows, but the flames, sweeping upstairs, soon enveloped the building beyond control. Firemen played the hose on children piled up in the front doorway, trying to extricate a few, but even this soon, became impossible. A fearful stench arose from the burning flesh. The police had to use force to keep distracted parents back. Most of the dead came from the first and second floors. A number of scholars on the " third floor escaped. ... When the floors collapsed, the: firemen say the children lay in writhing heaps in the basement until the roof fell. ' ; ,

The fire raged for two hours. When the ruins were explored, many charred bodies were discovered. Limbs and skulls became detached at the slightest touch.

Many children were only identified by pocket trinkets. The smoke asphyxiated most of the victims.

The school was old and badly constructed, and when the front exit became blocked the children were hopelessly entrapped. A hundred and fifty-two were recovered, but it is feared that many more perished. ; An over-heated furnace caused the fire.

The fireman’s ladder only reached the third storey. When the fire alarm sounded the children laughed, thinking it was only a false alarm. The teachers directed them to sit quietly, but directly the smoke appeared the children stampeded. They found the stairs leading to the hall packed like sardines with children, piled on the top of each other, A few escaped by running over the others. A merchant named Upton saved 18 children.'

One hundred and seventy-eight, perished in the Lake View School fire.