FEARFUL HOLOCAUST.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 65, 6 March 1908, Page 2

FEARFUL HOLOCAUST.

SCHOOJi CIULJUtJiN UUKNIOD TO I DKATH. 1.52 BODIES ALREADY KIiCOVEIiKD. KOASTBU IX VIKW OF DISTKAGTKD PARENTS. I'UILDKKX EXTRA LTED JX SIXSTORY JiL.'JLi)iN(J. | A VERITABLE DEATHTRAP. -I INADICQfATK Klttti-KKSCI/K FAULI-

Received jth, 0.4,-) p.m. New York, March 5. Luke \'ie\v Common School, at Cleveland, Ohio, attended by Will children, ranging from live lo fourteen years of age, has been burned down. The lire commenced in the bii-emciil of the six-storied building during morn ing school.

Smoke quickly Idled the building, creating a pan.c. All the clases ueeanie distressed -simultaneously, and the children on tli e upper doors rushed pell-mell down the stairs, only to find the lower corridors already choked by children from the lower class rooms, all pushing and struggling for their lives.

Miss Moran, principal of the girls' school, who escaped, s-iys the children made a mad rush for the doors and windows, and it was impossible lo keep Ihom in cheek, though they had he-n taught how to act in the event of lire. Tlieie were only two exits. Tlie hack one was blocked', and the other doorway was soon blocked with falling children, who were trampled by those behind. Received Oth, 1.0 a.m. ) New York, March 5. Xiie children, in trying to tlieii steps, encountered tlie names, which lie stroyed the classrooms.

A fexv minutes later the lower liuur collapsed, precipitating scores mlo the basement. Tlie teachers struggled bravely, but were helpless, anil mile of Ilium uwc hurt. Hundreds of frantic parents assembled around the doomed building, and workmen from the factories hurried to assist.

Dili' man, trying to drug his daughter from a pile of children wedged in a doorway, pulled her arms out of the sockets.

Several children, jumping from the third story, were instantly killed, while others were caught in the arms of spectators, though badly hurt.

A number were rescued through win (lows at the back oi (he building, and fii'e escapes rescued some from the uppei windows, but the Humes, sweeping ui the staircase, soon enveloped the building beyond control.

Firemen played hos e ou the children piled up in front of the doorway, trying to extricate a few, but even this soon became impossible. A fearful stench arose from Che banning flesh. The police had to use fore; to keep the distracted parents back. Most of the dead eame from the iirst and second iloors. A number on the third floor escaped when the floors collapsed.

The liremen say the children were writhing in heaps in the basement,unlil Ilu- roof fell.

The fire raged for two hours, and when the ruins x were explored many charred bodies were discovered, the limbs and sculls of which.detached at the slightest touch.

Many were only identified by pocket trinkets.

Smoke asphyxiated most of the vie-

One hundred and fifty-two bodies have been recovered, and it is feared many more perished. An over-heated furnace caused the lire.

The firemen's ladders could only reach to the third story.

When the fire alarm was sounded, the children laughed, thinking it was 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, children lying on top of each other, A few escaped by running over their prostrate school fellows. A merchant named Upton saved eighteen.