A Terrible Calamity.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 38, 23 February 1884, Page 6

A Terrible Calamity.

> Twenty-Seven Persons Burned to Death in a Convent. St. Louis, January 6.— The following dispatch from Belleville, 111., to the Associated Press gives further particulars of the fire of Notre Dame last night. It was the most destructive to life and property of any fire Belleville has ever experienced. A visit , to the scene this morning found the Fire Department still on duty, endeavouring to quench the flames. So as to present in recognizable shape the bodies of the victims, when the ruins were sufficiently cooled volunteers went to work to bring out the bodies, It was a terrible sight. At times the searchers would find two or three charred masses huddled close together, seemingly decking protection from the advancing and terrible flames. Two bodies were found in the rear part of the building burned into an unrecognisable mass, but the majority were found beneath wbere the dormitory was situated. They seemed to have sought shelter in this room, and, too late, recognised that their escape was impossible — the flames beneath eating away the supports and letting down the floor into the seething vortex of fire and smoke.

The Loss of Life. The loss of life is much greater than was mentioned in last night's briei despatch. Instead of but two, as at first .supposed, the total number of known deathsistweutyeeven, of which twenty- two were pupils and five Sisters, among the latter being the Sister Superior. On the fourth floor the pupil boarders, with some of the Sisters, slept ; on the third floor the remaining Sisters slept ; on the second, or the floor above the basement, what are termed the orphans slept. From this second floor the inmates escaped and were saved.

Rapid Spread of the Flames. The fire had its origin in the furnace in the basement, and when discovered the floor immediately above was ablaze and volumes of smoke were rapidly pouring through the stairways, corridors and halls of the building. By the time the sleepers were thoroughly aroused all avenues of escape Mere filled with blinding smoke. Then a panic ensued, and it is for the imagination to paint the sorrowful and heart-rending picture. The extreme cold retarded the work of the firemen : even if they could have reached the scene without delay they could have been of but little service in rescuing victims. There are no ladders in the Fire Department, and no provisions for such a deplorable emergency had been made by the managers of the institution. The unfortunate inmates, therefore, were powerless to relieve themselves, and those who were witnesses of the fire were unable to assist them. The manner of escape of each of the survivors could not be learned. Daisy Eberman was slightly injured ; Agnes Schneider jumped from a window, but was not dangerously injured; Lou Mott was quite badly hurt ; Dena Horn and Fannie Branker were seriously, but not fatally, injured.

The Identified Dead. At 4 p.m. eleven bodies had been recovered from the ruins and the distressed friends of the unfortunates had succeeded in indentifying the following : Miss Werman, Missstruuk, Niss Manning, Miss Weinzelman, Miss Isch and Miss Pulseer. The bodies could only be identified by the clothing, or, raiher, the parts of clothes which, having been saturated with water, had escaped the flames. All that now remains of the famous convent of Notre Dame of the Immaculate Conception is the chawed andi broken walls, and in the debris there yejfc remain the bodies of several of the- unfortunate victims. The building and furnishings were valued at from 65,000 to 75,000* dots, j insured for 25,000 dols. St. Louis, January 7. — Reporters who returned from Belleville, 111., to-night state that the search in the ruins of the convent was resumed between 10 and 11 o'clock this | morning and continued till about 4o'clock this afternoon when falling walls caused its suspension. What are supposed to be the remains of six additional bodies were recovered, but the remains were of so> indefinite a character that it is difficult, if not impossible, to determine whether they represented six or more persons. One of these is believed to be Sister Agnelia, another, Emma Stock of Carbondale, 111., and still another Minnie Bailey or Mary Bartels, the latter of Westfieid, 111., Two more of those found yesterday were identified as Laura Thompson and Amelia Leonard. It is not definitely known how many more are missing, but the search will be continued, to-morrow and kept up till all the ruins have been dug over. The inquest was continued this afternoon, and, after the examination of -witnesses, adjourned until tomorrow. The funeral of the victims will probably take place to-morrow. The remains of Miss Campbell and Miss Wiernan were brought here this afternoon and will be buried to-morrow. St. Louis, January 8. — Search- in the ruins of the convent at Belleville w r as resumed this morning and up to 1 o'clock two more bodies have been found. The remains of Sister Superior Mary Jerome were discovered at noon and identified by the spectacles with a gold chain attached, a cross and rosary. The remains reported yesterday as those of Sister Angelia are now supposed to be those of Sister Edwina. Granting each little heap of charred bones and roasted flesh that so far has been taken from the ruins represents a separate body, and it is very difficult to determine whether they do, there are still five persons missing. The funeral of the victims has been fixed for Thursday. All the priests and fathers of the diocese of Alton are invited to attend. Belleville (111.), January 8. — Theinquest proceeded all day and will be continued tomorrow, The testimony was somewhat conflicting, and shows pretty clearly that the Fire Department is entirely inadequate to cope with such a fire and sadly deficient in the necessary appliances. Sister Elenethere testified that she thought there were seventy-one persons in the convent at the time of the fire, of whom thirty-four are missing. This cannot be verified, however, as all the records were burned, but the Sisters will attempt to recall to memory the names and by comparing notes try to reach the actual number. This testimony created a sensation. Every effort will be made to ascertain the facts in the case.

More Bodies Identified. St. Louis, January 9.— The last report from Belleville is that one more victim of the fire was found to-day, but it was unrecognized. Three additional identifications were made— Gertrude Schunck of Duquoin, 111., Hilda Ammil of Trenton, 111., and Katie Urbana of Vandalia, 111. The inquest will be held open until all the bodies are recovered,

The Marquis of Lome and the Princess Louise carried- home a rare collection of Canadian birds, having about 120 varieties. The case belonging particularly to the Princess is filled with small birds of brilliant plumage. A glove contest for £20, a t side, and the light.-yeight championship Qf < Auck^nd, is apn,blVnced to take place in the Theatre J&Oyaloh Saturday next,' between W* jSturphy and.T. Hogan,

E. McConville w W. Wilson, claim i!'> {promissory note). The action in this case was for £6 due to plaintiff by defendant, in connection with the sale ot a business site. The plaintiff, on being sworn, stated that he sold defendant hi* right to an allotment, and revived a P.&. from del-en-d.mt for the amount claimed,. He hanarol this to Mr XL E. Campbell, «olrctor. H E Campbell, solicit >r, sworn, stated he received a P.N. Cor £G, signed by W. Wilson, and he had on several occasions spoken to defendant about it, who said he woulc 1 not pay it unle»s compelled to do so. Did not know what had become of the note, as he could not find it. Thought It must have got mixed up with some oilier pnpprs and got burnt. Plaintiff, re-called, stated he told defendant that the note was lost, and that he . refused to pay the amount until the note was presented. Defendant, sworn, stated : In June, 1882, plaintiff offered him an allotment for £6, and he gave him a written document to the effect that in consideration of his transferring this section to him he would pay him d 6% si\ months from date. He wrote a transfer for me to take to the Warden's office ; was told I could not get a transfer, that there was no title. I thought I was to get a title and have nothing more to pay. Never took possession of the section nor saw it, nor gave any one permission to occupy it. Geo. H. Applegate, sworn, stated he was formerly in defendant's employ. Was instrumental in selling this section. It was held by cufondant under license held from McConviKe. I sold for £8. li.inded over the two licenses to Jess Devey. The {section was occupied by defendant, blocks for a building being placed on it. I gave it to Jess Devey lor what it was worth and paid defendant the money. Judgment for £6. and costs £2 9s 6d. Wells* Sourter'v. Chas. Head, claim £7 17s Id, amount of I.'J.U. Adjourned for 14 day days at plain titf'.s request. S.mie v. John Fan ell, claim £.i 9 Is 4d. Judgment on confession for amount in full, with costs £2 11s. • Same Y. Edmund llealy, claim £4 Us Bd, being balance of promissory note on demand. Adjourned for 14 days at plaintiff's request. Same v. Hamilton Verity, claim £8 us sd. Judgment for amount claimed, and costs 11s. E. Graham and Co. v. Kereona Netana, Hotene. and others, claim for sundry goods supplied. Judgment for amount claimed, and costs. J. b\ Cocks v. Gregory Goiss, claim for £3 10s lOd, goods supplied. Paid into Court. Same v. W. Faulkner. This was a judgment summons for £7 7s. Paid into Co art. John McDonnell v. B. Montague, claim 5s for horse hire. Paid into Court. W. Wilson v. Thos. Crisp, claim £2 7s 6d for goods. Paid into Court. Same v. John Taylor, £3 18s 6d for goods. Paid into Court.