The New York Herald Newspaper, March 8, 1876, Page 4

ee NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 1876.—TRIPLE SHEET. A HORRIBLE CALAMITY. Fatal Fire in the Brooklyn Home for the Aged. NINETEEN LIVES LOST. Heartrending Scenes of Terror: and Confusion. TWO MEN DASHED TO DEATH, Heroio Efforts of the Neighbors to Save Life. Groans of the Dying Amid Smoke and Flame. A fire occurred yesterday morning in Brooklyn which caused the death of nineteen persons by suifocation and flame, the building damaged being the ‘Home for ‘she Aged in Charge of the Little Sisters of the Poor,’’ on Bushwick Boulevard, between Chestnut and Stock- holm stréots, near the junction ot De Kalb avenue and Broadway. ‘The details of the terrible disaster are horrid in outline and the scenes witnessed at tho time of the fire were heartrending and appalling. Most ef the persons who lost their lives were in indigent circumstances and were helpless old mea, ranging from Sixty to ninety years of age, Tho occurrence natu- rally created great excitement in the neighborhood, and the institution being a charitable one, the appalling lo: of life will awaken a fecling of sympathy among all classes. DISCOVERY OF THE FIRE. A few minutes after four o'clock A. M. the neigh- Dorhood, which is thinly populated, was aroused by an alarm of fire, and as the people rushed from their doors. they found the large three story brick building occupied by the aged men and women, ana fronting on Chestnut street, m flames. The remote situation of the editice and the paucity of means for extinguishing fire rendered the neighbors and the occupants powerless to arrest the progress of the flames at the outset, and in a few minutes the entire cast wing, occu- pied by tho males, was enveloped in flames, In this part of the building were seventy-three aged men, and as the fire gained headway shbricks and cries arose and terror reigned supreme. Acting with commendable Presence of mind, the Little Sisters of the Poor, who manage the institution, alded by the police and a few cool headed citizens who had arrived on the ground, rapidly removed the female portion of the inmates, bumbering 115, into the street, At the same time every one of the old men who could be reached was told to follow them. Despite the celerity of this work of rescue the confusion which prevailed on the upper floors of the east wing preventea nineteen men from escaping. Ove of this number met his death byaterrible leap from an upper window, and the remaining eightcen were suffocated and their bodies charred almost beyond recognition, ‘The Assistant Mother Superior, Mary of the Apostles, who resides in the frame building apart from the main. editice, noticed shortly before four o'clock that there ‘was a bright light im the basement on the southeast corner of the building, which she kuew was unusual, but which did not strike her as being fire for a moment or two, until Gnding it Increase she threw a wrapper around ber and made her way to the main building and through the corridor to the east wing, only to find that the smoke had already excited the fears of the three ters in charge of the wing. Quickly informing them of the fact that the building was on fire, she directed them to remove the inwates as quickly as possible while she aroused the others, in order to get them all out, The old men, however, on being awakened from their sleep, seemed dazed, and evinced neither disposition to leave nor hurry when the danger seemed imminent, for almost coinei- dent with the alarm the flames seemed to burst out, snd the heat engendered by it appeared to give it the speed of the wind, for ina moment, by means of the puter staircase, every floor seemed to burst into flame ‘at once, THR ALARM. The cry of fire that was immediately raised had the Ratural effect to bowilder the unfortunate inmates, and 4 terrible scene of confusion and horror ensued, The women were shriekiug and lamenting, a few seemed stupefied, and it was with difficulty that the sisters kept them in order, The men being nearer the seat of the fire, were even more confused, and being old or in- firm they made no voluntary effort to escape the dan- ger that threatened them. Tho citizens who, residing 48 the neighborhood, were the first to arrive gave will- ing and valuable help in restoring order. Under tho direction of Acting Police Captain Dunn and Sergeant Buckholz the neighbors aided the Little Sisters in re- moving all of the men they could reach into the west wing, where the women were kept in custody and comparative quiet, It was a ter- rible scene and, though every heart was appalled by the dan; that threatened, the confusion was soon over, Yetthore were many of the old men still in the burning part of the building, and, amid the roar and crackle of the dames, their piteous cries could be dis- tinetly heard. The police and a few determined citi- tens then made renewed efforts to reach those who were still in danger, but phe fire bad already gained such headway that it was impossible to do more than walt in suspense and fear for the ARRIVAL OF THE FIREMEN. The bright light caused an alarm irom the bell tower in the Sixteenth ward, in Ten Eyck street, and in less than ten minutes the Fire Department were on hand— engines 13,16, 17 and truck 4 responding. Before they reached the ground, however, tho shrieks and cries of the inmates, the crackling of the flames and blinding smoke had aroused the neighbors im the veinity, and they hurried to give what assistance they could to save the old and decrepit from the ter- Tible fate that awaited them, and many were brought out in the arms of the willing assistants, One Sister carried bodily an old blind man from bis room to the female ward, a distance of 160 fect, and many Similar instances of superhuman exertion occurred, | but the smoke became so dense that further entry into the wing was prevented, One man got out of the third tory window on the north side to escape the flames nud attempted to lower himself to a ladder which reached to the window below. But when he droppea be fell outaide of the ladder into the area beluw, and died almost instantly, The body was taken up and re- moved to the office, near the gate, where he was recog. mized by one of the sisters as Michael Cummins. Avotber inmate of the same room named Jerry Suiii. au leaped out of the front window, alightiog with a eras on the valoony and rolling thence to the ground. He was immediately picked up and conveyed to the office aud on the arrival of the ambulance was removed to the hospital, The neighbors were ull this time doing ali they could for the sufferers, and by twos and turees were receiving them into their dwellings The fow minutes between the sounding of the fire alarm and the arrival of the Grst emgine seemed an age to ‘hose pros- ent, bat when one steamer had arrived the otbers came im quick succession In minutes after the fre- men came four streams of water were thrown en the flames and the work of extinguish- img the Gre was fairly commenced. Chief Engineer John W. Smith, of the Eastern division Fire Department, arrived at quarter past tour e@’clock and took charge of the force on duty. His first act was to send out a second alarm, to which en_ ines IL and 12 and truck 6 responded; but, fearin Was not enough for the emergency, Mr. Sm also telegraphed tor engine No 9 and truck No. 2 which gave im six full streams, under a suilicient force of men:to bring whe fre under control by five o'clock. SAVING THE INMATES, While giving the necessary orders to the fremen the Chief Kmgineer directod that all the inmates who were gathered in the west wing, be removed This was & precautionary measure, for when Mr. Smith first arrived he did pot anticipate such a succcssiul issue in Gehring the fire, The fier on ber ne chor am vey munication between the two wings found that they had the flames ander control, though at that moment the cupola was ina bright blaze, its beacon light calling the brothers of St John’s Academy to the scene of the fire. They reached the scene in time to be of the greatest assistance in removing many of the inmates to their own institution, The deluge of water on the cupola extinguished the many of the inmates and some of the Sisters as a token of happiness for the dead and success for the institu tion in the future, By the time the inmates who were gathered in the west wing had all been safely removed into the street and forwarded to places of safety tho firemen had prevented the flames from doing much in- jury to the chapel, a main building, and as the floors fell the basement was soon filled by a mass of revegans! deringembers. V! ed from the ground in front it wa’ seen that the extreme eastern end of the building, 50 feet in depth and 25 feet wide, was completely gutted, /@ portion of each floor only being left, as marked in the diagram elsewhere given, the portion in black being totally destroyed and that dotted only partialty. SCENES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD When once the neighbors were fully aware of the na- ture of the danger which threatened the Home they spared no efforts to render all the assistance in their | Limited power. No time was lost in dopning unneces- sary clothing, and many of the men appeared at the scene clad only im pantaloons and barelooted. One gentieman who early discovered the progress which the fire was making, provided himself with the dinaer bell and rang an alarum through the neighborhood, which roused the deepest sleepers, The signal was significant of danger and a summons for assistance that even the women heard and regarded, The bulk of their assistance could only be devoted to assisting to places of sheiter the more fortunate of the inmates, who, having escaped from immediate dauger, stood perfectly dazed at = the _— spectacle presented by the burning pile and horror- stricken at the shrieks uttered by those beyond hope. Many of those so suddenly driven out of house and home could do nothing but mumble and mutter as they Pwore led away for protection from the weather and eltered in the houses thrown open to receive them. Others were removed only by force, so fascinated were they by the sight before them, The greater part had only eseaped with a minimum of clothing, and some had been so scorched and blistered that they were car_ ried away in blankets. The bearing of the Little Sisters ot the Poor during the trying scenes through which they passed elicited the highest praise from police, firemen and citizens, and all were impressed by the order and coolness that characterized their every movement, ough men rushea hither and thither among the dévris and wreck in efforts to battle the spread of the flames or remove the dead, and at every step they met amid the smoke devoted Sisters bearing blankets or coverlids to cover the charred bodies of the dead. The Sisters followed closely in the wake of the police and firemen, aud were unceasing tn their labors to pertorm their whole duty. There was at this time no noise, no con- fusion, no 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 Jooked on in surprise and admiration. THE DEATH OF CUMMINS. One neighbor, named Donohue, fully appreciating the danger, secured a ladder as soon as he heard the alarm, and harrying to the building essayed to save some of the inmates, who had made their escape to the roof and stood wildly screaming and wringing their hands Suddenly there appeared in one of the windows of the top dor- mitory, that on the third floor, an old man whose shrieks of “Save mo! save me; I’m burning up! For the love of God help me!” were heard high above the screams of the others and the roar and crackle of the flames, The smoke was all about him, but now and then it cleared off sufficiently to reveal his Ogure 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 Michacl Cummins, saw the efforts to rescue him he endeavored to clamber out to clutch the ladder, which appeared as if in its progress upward it would reach to the window where he sat shrieking. {t was too short by nearly a dozen feet, and when Cummins saw this he uttered a shriek that horrified the few who had been attracted to the spot below. He was about to throw himself down in the hope of catching the Jadder when Donohue ran up the rungs and shouted to bim to get asheet and lower himself, The man obeyed, and going back soon reappeared with a sheet, which he tremblingly made tast to the iron bed- stead nearby. 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 its end when, in common with the spectators, he realized that the shect extended less than halt the distance between the window and the ladder top. Mr. Donohue braced himself against the ladder and shouted to Cummins to drop and he would catch him. He attempted to obey, but in bis nervous- ness he had swung bimself partially around, and letting go his hold on the sheet at the same instant the move- ment threw him out of the direct Ime to Donohue’s arms, and as he fell he just grazed the side of the lad, der and his rescuer’s outstretched hands and shot down to the stone pavement of the area below. There he lay a quivering mass of fesh and broken bones, and a mo- ment after when he was picked up he was dead. SKARCHING FOR THE DEAD. As soon as the flames were extinguished the men of Engines Nos. 13 and 16 and Trucks Nos. 4 and 6 wero ordered to examine the ruins. They commenced their search on tbo lower floor, finding the remains of one old man there, who had been suffocated, and not much burned. The party was then divided into two, one section going to the upper floors and the other to the basement. On the second floor two corpses were found One seated in a chair, with his boots partially on, the right on the left foot and the left on the right, and it seemed as if he bad been unable to rise from the chair, and Sister Frances said that he bad been par- wally paralyzed. The otber corpse was prone on | the floor, Ha to the beams of the third floor were two ivelled and partially consumed | bodies, confined between the beams and the cot beds. But the most horrible sight was on the third floor itself, or that portion which the fre had left Nino bodies in various positions, denoting helplessness or unavailing efforts to escape, were revealed to the | gaze ot the horror struck firemen. One or two had nearly reached the windews, one had crawled under- neath his bed, as if to get away from the smoke, while only one lay on bis cot, so that every one must have had some consciousness of the dread disaster ere \jfe {tthem, The dead were carefully picked up in blan- | kets and conveyed to a little room in the basement | adjoining the washroom, While they were being removed the other section of firemen had been digging among the débris in the cel- | horrible state of partial calcination, They, together | with the other bodies and that of Cummins, wore | placed in the two rooms on the right and leit of the | wash room. This work accomplished and the fie to- | tally extinguished, Chief Smith and Fire Marshal | Keady investigated the portion of the building de- | stroyed, but could discover no other cause for the tire \a fective heuter in the refectory under the } smoking room, He then ordered the men to their quarters, and atnoon the last engine moved away, leaving the butidi ind ground to the hands of the police of the Ninth sub and Ninth precimet, who bad been on duty since four o'clock. } TRE SCENE IN THE MENT. | The scene in the basement of the building where the | dead were placed in diferent apartments seemed to possess u peculiar fascination for the hundreds of visi tors who Bled down the narrow stairs and past the | ghastly rows of swollen, charred, blackened ana half consumed bodies, For five hours, trom seven o’clock | inthe morning until noon, bodies were being dis covered and as fast as discovered were taken to the rooms in the basement and com. pletely covered from the scrutiny of curious observers with bed covering, Some of the dead were fully dressed, some bad on but a shght amount of | clothing. In ope room were laid in line the bodies of ten of the unfortunate victims tn frightful and dis. | torted attitudes that too vividly recalled the horrors of & | their verrible fate, All the furniture bad been removed | | from the apartment, which is ordinarily used as an | eating room, aud visitors had ample room to walk at either side and inspect the remains This privilege ‘was vory generally exercised, not only by those who came im the sad hope of finding the remains of thelr retatrece ond trivnd of flames in time to preserve its charred franhework | entire, while the cross upon its summit remained un- | Stained by smoke or fre. The omen was accepted by | lar, and had exhumed the bodies of three more in a | Strangers, whose morbid curiosity drove them to in- quire how those poor, aged victims looked whom death bad #0 suddenly and violently overtdken, Women came in whole troops aud joitered over the pitiable and repulsive picture, moaning and swaying as if bewail- ing a personal loss. But then many of them were from the immediate neighborbood, and no doubt they had become acquainted with the faces and the names of many of the inmates. Girls by the seore, with chil- dren in their arms, passed along the row, eagerly clus- tering about a biackened face or shrivelled form, while the covering was temporarily removed by more courageous hands. Next to this room was the kitchen and washing room, in which acluster of busy women—housewives of the neighborhood— wko generously volunteered to aid the Sisters in their distress, were briskly engaged washing and cleaning | the soiled and blackened clothes and linen of the in- stitution, Piles of bedclothing partially burned and portions of the garments of the inmates, where scat- tered everywhere about the floor, Still further to the east, ina little room that had evidently been used previously for devotional exercices, were seven bodies. Among these was the body of Cummins, who had been killed in falling from the burning building. He looked alone, of all the fificen so far seen, natural in death, Two of the other bodies in this room were more than half con- jumed by the flames. Across a narrow passage way ‘was a door opening into a sort of closet room, and in | this was another body that showed no farther signs of encountering the flames than a singelng of the white hairs and beard. ‘he poor old man had all his clothes on and had, no doubt, lost his life while endeavoring to escape from the fumes, Another charred body was found with the hands firmly clasped upon the breast and the knees drawn upas | in prayer. The poor man died with the words upon his lips. Occasionally among tho spectators might be seen a sobbing woman ora man with grave and troubled countenance. But there were no scones of violeut emotion such as follow great calamities where the dead are readily recognized, and young and old are the vic- tims, Here the inmates were in many instances dead to the outside world. Most of them had lived the full limit of their three score years and ten, and had passed | away of theirown accord from the busy world toa haven of rest just this side of the grave. Besides, if their friends were ever so much grieved they could not select from the great number of undistinguishabie dead | the one they mourned for. In the presence of the gen- eral horror individual grief seemed lost, LOOKING YOR RELATIVES, At the door leading to the chapel a man stood with & list of the names of the seventy-five inale inmates of the Home. On this list were checked the names of the saved, so that a momentary glance discovered whether those for whom friends and relatives inquired where lost or missing. Of course, a good deal of con- fusion arose from the fact that many of the rescued who found shelter in neighboring houses remained temporarily concealed and were, for the time, as much lost to the authorities of the Home as ifthey had perished in the flames. {[t was curious to witness the manner of some inquirers, One kindly-looking little woman, who called to ask for a friend that she had known for many years— a poor, solitary old man who, she said, had never mar- ried and hud no relatives living. With visible anxicty she awaited the answer of the man who held tbe list. “He is alive,” the man said who held the list, ‘and is now at St. John’s College,” The inquirer’s suspense found relief in tears which flowed just as treely as if she had heard instead that the old man was among the missing. Among those who claimed to recognize deceased rela- tives were John T. laudermann and a man named Kell Laudermann said he identified the face of his randfather who of his own choice had entered the ome with his wife afew years before. Kelly recog- nized his father, One son, Who came to the Home early in the fore- noon and made inquiries for his father, barrated a peculiar dream that disturbed the previous night's slumber. He dreamed, he sald, that his father was burned in a terrible tire, and the tirst news that greeted | his waking moments was that of the fire at the Home, In trepidation he hurried to the scone of the disaster, and after an investigation of the matter found to his | horror that his worst fears were realized and his sin- gular dream proved but too true, One of the most APPECTING INCIDENTS ‘was witnessed by the writer. Late in the afternoon a consultation was had between soveral of the clergy of the Catholic Church, Coroner Nolan and Sister Mary of the Apostle. They thought that if Sister Mary would enter the basement and view the charred bodies she might be able to identify some of them from their stature or other peculiarities. The good Sister readily consented to the suggestion, and the party, accompa panied by a number of journalistagrepaired to the room of death. Dr, Simms began to remove the covering in which the bogies were Lg =o and the devoted Sister shrank not from tho ordeal. When one or two bodies had een exposed a journaliet who had made a care.ul ex- amination of the remains, and knew that it was impos- | sible for apy one to identity any of the dead, gallantly came to the rescue of the Sister with the remark, ‘‘Sis- ter, you have witnessed enough of horror tor one day. I bave examined all the bodies, and no one can possi- bly identity them. It is merely imposing a disagree- able duty upon you, and you had better retire.” The suggestion, coming so gently trom a journalist, had its eltect, and the tired and uncomplaining Sister re- tired, The incident had its efiect upon the clergy, the reporters and the officials, who, with uncovered neaus, silently retired without @ further examination of the ghastly corpses. A woman whose eyes were red with weeping, thoughtlessly took a little child into the presence of the dead, and as a bystander lifted the coverings reyealing the blackened skull of what was once a i man, the child shrank back exclaiming:—'-Oh, mamma, mamma, take me away, I can’t look at roasted people!" Her words seemea to be taken to heart by more than one present, and the.coverings ‘were no more disturbed by that little knot of curiosity seckers. One of the old men who had long been an inmato of the Home, while the tears rolled down his cheeks, : I crawled out, and only wish I had time to others, for its po use of keeping your head up when smoke’s aroand.”? DIAGRAM OP THE HOME. The home is situated on tho corner of Bushwick avenue and Chestnut street, and consists of a man building, used ag a chapel, with two wings on either side, The west wing is occupied by tho female in- mates, and when the fire occurred there were housed in it 115 persons, all of whom are over sixty years of age. In the oast wing were located, according to the statement of Sister Mary of the Apostle, seventy-three aged men, These wings consist of a basement, two stories and an attic. Atthe eastern end of the men’s | ‘wing was a stairs built of wood, on the outside of the | building, extending trom the ground to the upper floor. A door from each floor opened into this irway, 80 | that it the doors were leit unlocked inmates could | easily escape by this means of exit, unless cat off by fire. A diagram of the institution ie here given:— afl Z| Fi jz \) Lie Sisters’ dence. | Chestnut street By a reference to the diagram it will be seen thata wall separates the male wing in the centre. This wall is of brick, about a foot thick The basement of the east end of the wing is used asa store room; the frst floor is divided into three rooms, The front portion of it being used asa smoking room and sroom for the repairing of shoes, The balance of the floor waa vc. cupied by cots for the use of the inmates, The first Boor of the west end of the male department wan used for th ere none mer The oped # | Bue side of the institution is a large yard, about 100 by | James Meon, lodged on the two floors above the dining room and the eastern section, Doors open through the wall on every story, 80 that im case of sudden panic or fire the inmates of the western section could be discharged into the eastern section of the male department, and from the eastern section to the outer stairs, which were reached as above stated by doors leading from each story. The only connection between the men’s de- partment and the female wing ig by adoor over the front of the chapel ou the second story. This door is usually kept locked, and is only used by the Little Sis- ters as a means of reaching the male dormitory with- out exposing themselves in inclement weather by the usual means of ingress from the piazza. The chapel and the wings are of brick, The residence of the Sis- ters in charge is atwo story wooden structure, de- tached from the main building. On the Bushwick ave- 300 feat, inclosed by # high board fence. THE DEAD. ‘The following is a list of the dead, as obtained from the records of the sisters:— Michael Reiley, aged ninety-three years. ‘Theodore Chagrot, aged seventy-tive years James Ryan, aged seventy-six years. George Donnolly, aged sixty-nine years, Frederick Elechard, aged seventy-two years James Connolly, aged seventy-one years. Daniel Gorman, aged seventy-six years. Jobn Cavanagh, aged seventy-two years, Peter Keliy, aged seventy-five years. Roger Farrell, aged seventy-one years. Peter Hayes, aged seventy-nine years. Patrick Healy, aged seventy-two years. Conrad Landemann, aged eighty-seven years, Michuel Cummings, aged seventy-eighyyeara + Jerry Sullivan, uged seventy years. These are known to be among the nineteen dead bodies recovered, The Sisters report that the following persons are MISSING. Michael Feefe, Henry Beunotte, Patrick Conarty, Martin Trune, John Rigney. Two Germans (names unknown. ) John Motherbom, John Castin, John Barroden, John Coly, Matthew Brennan, ‘Total missing, 1% All the other inmates of the male wing bave been accounted for, The impression seems to prevail among officials who yesterday visited the ruins that there are still more bodies buried under the debris that can only be recovered by a more thor- ough search, In this opinion Coroner Nolan acqui- esces, and to-day he will likely order a sufficient force of men at work to make the search complete. ‘THK CORONER'S JURY. ‘About noon Coroners Nolan and Simms appeared at the scene of the horror, and after a brief consultation witb Acting Captain Dunn anda cursory examination of the bodies they retired and scoured the neighbor- hood in search of a jury, Within half an hour they returned and the following gentlemen were empan- elled and sworn :— George B. McGrath, No. 64 Grand street N. Titemore, No. 413 Adelphi street. John Lambert, No, 12 De Kalb place. Albert Robinson, No. 13 De Kalb place, Patrick Malone, No. 11 De Kalb place. S. H. Hastings, No. 634 Kosciusko place Daniel Scott, No. 12 Patchen avenue. Frederic Herr, No. 778 Broadway. A. B, Du Puy, No. 222 Second street. Julius Breitmeyer, No. 1,114 De Kalb avenue Thomas Cutts, No. 884 Broadway, and Hugh O’Brien, corner of Evergreen avenue and Chestnut street. Escorted by Coroner Nolan, who will have charge of the inquest, the jury proceeded to the basement under the female wing of the building and viewed the re- mains, Coroner Simms removing the blankets in which the charred remains were wrapped, the better to enable the jurors to gain a knowledge of the condition of the bodies. But one of the bodies was in a condi- tion to be recognized, Coroner Nolan held a consulta- tion with the jury, and it was finally agreed to begin the inquest at the Brooklyn Morgue, corner of Ray- mond und Willoughby streets, at ten o'clock on next Monday morning. THE PUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS, Afver the jury had viewed the bodies and had been discharged, the Coroner gave permits to Mr. F. Tracy, ot Kent avenue, who bas had charge of Interments from the institution, to remove the bodies and prepare them for burial. Mr. Tracy stated that a requiem mass for the repose of the souls of the victims will be had at St. John’s chapel at nine A. M. to-day, and all bodies not claimed by friends before noon will be removed and interred in the Flatbush Roman Cathohe Ceme- tery where the Little Sisters of the Poor have a plow LOSSES AND INSURANCES, The Little Sisters of the Poor urst got possession of the frame building in which they live, near the corner of Bushwick avenue, about 1866 or 1865, It had pre- viously been occupied as a residence by Mr. Carma- yullo, once quite prominent in Brooklyn poliucs. The home they built in two sections. ‘Tho first section was put up in 1867 at a cost of about $30,000, and the other wing, now partially destroyed, was finished in 1870, at an additional cost of about the same amount, The en- tire msurance on the building was $30,000, distributed among the following compant Continental of New York. Nassau of Brooklyn. 7,500 = 6,000 6,000 Guardian 5,000 | Total... The fui tte, of Brooklyn, for $2,000, and in the Brooklyn Insurance Company ior $3,500. ‘Yhe promwptness of the firemen, When they once got to work, together with the fact that there were strong interior walls, prevented the fire from consuming the entire building and causing still greater destruction of | life as well as property. As it is, the damage to prop- erty by lire 1s hot very extensive, tor only one wing 18 destroyed. The water, howev pread all over the building and trickled through ceilings into hails, corridors, rooms and even exten to the chapel, at the extreme end of the opposy vuion, What the actual amount of this damage may prove to be eannot yet be accurately stated, but it 18 asserted that 1 can hot exceed, should it even reach, the amount of the insurance. A good deal of bedding and furniture bas been lost, but @ good many valuable articies, some Statues and Vestwents contained in the little chapel were safely removed betore being damaged. FIKK MARSHAL KKADY'S INVESTIGATION, Early in the day Fire Marshal Keady appcured at the Home aud opened an investigation mto the cause of | tue ure, At (bis sime the Littie Sisters were so busily engaged im caring tor the removel of the decrepid und inurm uuder their charge, and so utterly exhausted by the labors ana excitement of the moruing that few were iu a condition Ww give an iutelligivle account of their experiences, He, Lowever, touk the testimony of two Of the sisters as Loilow Matilda Laisue sworn, says:—l am the Assistant Mother (Mary of the Apostles), in charge of the House | for the Aged (Littic Sisters of the Poor), corner Bush- | wick avenue and Chestnut streets; we lad 183 mates and tiiwen sisters and six postulauts in the institution lastevening, supported chtirely by charity; the build- ing is heated by furnaces and Baltimore heaters; about hall-past three A.M. discovered ire in the east wing of the building, a brick building three Stories bigh; there wore seventy-three old men in this | Wing, and two sisters; | first saw the fire by the win- dow On the south sido of the building; 1 was im my room ju the south wing of the buriding at the time the lire vroke out; Sisters Augustine, Joseph aud Calebam were 1m charge of the menu's department last might Duriding is closed up and allreure at nine P. Uires Wore not unusually large last evening; was erected four years ago, and cost $35,000 with U chapel; it was sured ju the Nussau, Lennox, Latay. eile, Mechanics and Guardian for $10,000 each in two | and $5,000 cach in the others. @ Do you know o! your own kuowledge how the fire commenced? A. 1 only know what I lave heard trom other sisters; we hada cellar under the basement and kept coal there; the kitchen was over the cellar; the ashes were kept outside the building; I do not think the fire occurred from that, the old men smoked in « small room uear the dining room in cold weather; 1 saw them smoking outside om the gallery yesterday, Whilamina Betz (Sister Maxellande) sworn, suys:—I am one of the Little Sisters of the Poor, and Was charge of the old men's through the men’s de evening and saw th tn bed, and lueked all the doors, except one; there wus a heater in the sitting room and auother in the litte we ment; the kitchen fire was out; there were only two — Hires in that wing; I cannot tell woere the tire com. | menced; the sleeping room doors were not locked, but the main doors of the building were locked; no one couid get in from the outside to make a fire; Ido not know bow the fire occurred. POLICK STATEMENTS, Sergeant Buckhoiz, of the Nivth sub-precinet, states | that the alarm was sounded at five minutes past four A. M. “L was on reserve at the time and when | reached the tire the first floor was buruing, The tlames stoot- ing out of the Windows made 1t timpossiblo vo effect an enirance and by the time the truck arrived with lad. ders to reach the apper windows they were also Mied with flames, Two old men who bad climbed out on the Toof stood there crying for help, The ladders we had were very short, but by placing one close up to the wall the men were rescued, They were unable to help themselves where they stood, The excited meu below callea to them to hang their legs over tho eaves of the roof. In this position the fireman who ascended the ladder carried them one alter the other down tue | Jadder and into the arms of his comp mons low. Several others were rescued from t! ‘oot by Sergeant Healey and his men betore | arrived. Just as Four track arrived and the firemen were placing the adder avamst the wall, an old man appeared at ath | awoke about a quarter past three o'clock, and on | | | within a few days, so that the noble charity will be enabled to carry on its work without much interrup- | tho 6th inst, at the extreme age of 112 years. The jumped out and was almost instantly killed. His name ‘was found to be Michael Cammins, very old and teeble, Jeremiah Sullivan, in his efforts tu escape, jumped from a second story window, and was badly bruised and internally injured. ‘The women were sleeping in the west wing of the butiding, and we rusbed in tmere and aroused them as fast as we could. There was great coulusion among them for a while, but they were quieted a8 Soon as possible, and took refuge in the building occupied by the Sisters. The firemen and policemen worked as | bard as I ever saw them, and carried out as much fur- niture, bedding, &e, us possible. The Sisters them- selves, despite my efforts to persuade them to leave that partof the work to the men, took @ hand at saving whatever they could and worked in- cessantly, I have been a policeman and a fireman for a good many years, but I never saw such asightin my life The tire burped rapidly and the smoke was dense and blinaing. | saw Assistant Engi- neer Smith rash into a volume of flames in search of some one, and how be came out alive is a wonder to me, With popes means of escape it would have been almost impossible for more to have beeu rescued, for burned to death, The smoke was so dense that those above must have been suffocated before the tre reached them.’? STATEMENT OF A NEIGHBOR, Mr. Connolly, occupant of a cottage on Stockholm street, immediately facing the end of the wing in which the fire took place, said to a Heraxp reporter :—‘Be- tween three and four o'clock | was awakened by my sister-in-law with the cry that the Home was on fire. I rushed to the window and saw the fii coming out of the lower window, on the left hand side, and reach- ing to the woodwork outside of the Home. I dressed rapidly and went out, I met several men in the street and ‘told them to do the best they could, while I ran to the police station and gave the alarm. On my return the whole wall tacing my house was mass of ames. The ver: which extends halt way round this side, was burning too, and the wooden bay windows, extending up and out from the centre of the wall, disappeared like chai. While I was there an old man made bis appearance at one of the lower win- dows. With the aid of a short ladder we rescued him, and I have him in my house now. He is very old and paralyzed. His name is James Cox. His friends, who were hunting jor Lim, were in great distress, fearing he bad perished. They finally found him at my house, and went nearly crazy for joy when they saw him ENGINEER SMITH’S STATEMENT. Assistant Engineer Smith made a statement substan- tially to the following effect;—‘*When | got to the lire, about five minutes after the alarm had been sounded, L found everything about the place in the utmost conlu- sion; nearly all the east wing of the building was then burning, and several people were seen on the rool, As soon a8 { beard that a number of people were still withiv the walls of the burning edifice I lost no time in sounding # second fire alarm. To this we soon gota speedy reply and went to work at once with tue engines Owing to the fact that the hydrants were placed & good way apart, some short ume was lost be- fore the hose could be joined and connected. It took us something hike halfan hour to BEAT THE PLAMES DOWN in such a way that they could be controlled. Having done this, the firemen instantly set to work to search for the persons who were counted among the missing, but on account of the great excitement and confusion which at that moment prevailed around the scene it was impossible for us to tell the number of those who were missing, or if any were really missing at all, A few minutes sufticed to reveal the horrible fact to my men that two dead bodies were lying in the bed- the lower room on floor, These two un- fortunate persons lay on the beds; they were alf consumed, and so much charred and disfigured as to be beyond all possible recognition, The men placed these ghastly remains 19 blankets and carried them into the busement of the west wing ef the building, placing them there in the washroom, Further search revealed the jact that three more dead bodies lay in the cellar, immediately under the bedroom where the other two bodies bad been found. The three victims discovered in the cellar had been precipitated into it at the mo- ment when the flooring gave way, and they were partially covered with robbish and débris which had fulien on them. The firemen then ascended to the second floor, and here jound two more bodies, par- ually dressed; a circumstance which showed that the ill-fated men had been endeavoring to make their es- cape at the time when they wore overtaken and suffo- cated by the volumes of smoke and flame which must ae tilled the room and barred their exit. On the top joor THE MOST HORRID SPECTACLE met the eyes of the men who first penetrated there. Here we saw no less than nine dead bodies, the most of whom were burned almost toa crisp. It was imposst- ble to recognize them. This room contained eighteen beds, and if all of them were occupied, it is a wonder tome how any of the occupants managed to eflect their escape, for all the avenues of exit were cut off very soon alter the flames broke out. These bodies were all taken to the washroom, where, previously, the first two that bad been discovered were laid The remains were all placed side by side along with the first two bodies, the whole of them being covered with a bianket, Although it is at this moment an extremely dificult thing to say just how the fire originated, my opiuion is that it must have been caused by some defect in the heating ap- paratus, It 18 evident that the tlames broke out in the basement, or on the first floor of the east wing, and then extended with tremendous rapidity to the upper stories of the building. During the entire course ot my experience I have never belure known the firemen to work with greater energy or more effectively ; and yet, in spite of all their endeavors, the tre must have reached the westewing had jt not been for the brick wall in the centre of tue building which opposed an effective obstacle to ite further progress.’’ STATEMENT OF AN INMATE. Among the wmatds who made good their escape be- fore the tire had enveloped the upper stories Was an old man named Setler, wao, when he had recovered from the temporary stupefaction occasioned by his fright, betook himself to No, 17 engine house. He rambles alittle in telling his story, but of the accuracy of the essenual points of it he seems perfectly satis- fled. -‘After leaving the institution,” said the old man, “I hurried along thesstreet as fast as I could, The lower part of the house was then covered with smoke, and I could see the flames rising up from the ground floor, There was & bright blaze on all the houses around, but No one was astir at that hour, and about me the streets were quiet as death. | hurried along shouting ‘Fire?’ as I went, and when | reached the engine house I cried out, “Hurry up, for God’s sake, the Home is burning to the ground,”’ 1 was so excited that they dia not un- | derstand me at first, but when I repeated it they asked me where the Home for the Aged was, and gaid they knew no such plaice, I told them and urged them to make haste, but they hesitated. and think they did not believe me at first Before long, however, the fire bell began to ring and they then hurried of, A NARROW KSCAPR. One of the curious instances of escape from the flames was that of a short, stolid old man, who seemed | to preserve considerable coolness In the midst of the harrowing scene. He told the reporter that he was sound asleep when the fire broke out, and was only awakened by the noise the jntmates of bis dormitory made in flying trom their beds. “When | got up t pulled on my clothes as quick as I could and groped my way toward the door; but the room was 8» filled with smoke and there was so much excitement that I did not know where toturn, Then the fire began to burn in through the floor and the whole room became pitch black. Nearly every one was Tusbing ubout, shouting, praying und wailing. Somo old men who wore lame and feebie were hardly able to stir trom their beds, and in the confusion they aid not know what todo, I groped my way about as best I could, half cuoked by the smoke and heat, until I stumbled agatnst the window. It was open, and I Jeuned out of it and felt about me for something to catch hold of, ‘The roof hangs down low here, and it strack me that 1 might reach it. As 1 felt about me hand touched the rod running ‘up against the building. I | caught 1 with one hand, and, easing my body against the window sione work, I climbed up on the rool, from which I was taken when the engines came.” LOOKING FOR MOSK, John Murray, a young man employed in a livery stable in the neighborhood, was among the first to Teuch the eof the conilagration, and in conversa- tion With the reporter he said his morning [ glancing out of the window | noticed ared glare of Nght upon the houses opposite. 1 could not imagine What Caused it at fret, till it suddenly struck me that there must be afro in the neighborhood, 1 hurned out of doors, and on reuching the corner saw the fumes bursting out of the lower floors of the Home for the Aged. When | reached the tire I meta truckman engaged in the wire works opposite, and together we dragged oat the bose belonging to that buiding, aud had just got it uncoiled when | saw 1 was too short to reach tne ure. We them fan over to a fuc- tory where a hose was stowed, but before we had secured it we heard the clatver of an engine along, so we hurried back to assist the firemen, When T reached the building the upper stories were | burning too. A deuse mass of smoke rolled trom the | Windows aud hindered us from woticing any one thal appeared at them for a while, but I saw one gray haired old man clambering out, and heard him calling tor help. He hung for a while suspended trom window sill, but belore anything could be d u relieve him his bold loosened and be fell the ground, dying instantly.” Mr. Marray said also that | 5 was on the ground belore engine No. 17, med to him strange that it should reach the ire first, as it caine from the lower part of Williams. | burg, and No, 17 was the loca! fire company, REPAIRING THE DAMAGE. The grounds of the institution durin presented a sorr: not at all dis- mayed by the aii Fr which had overtaken them, had | commenced to renovate the cherished object of the: care, and all the damaged furniture, clothing and be ding were jhrowe out of the windows and spread on the afternoon ground to Feathers, halt burned and whole, were | llying in every direction; ‘but the energy displayed yes- terday is an cation that there is every prospect of clearing up of all tne débris hetore the end of the week, and it Is anticipated that ‘contributions suilicient to make good all loss will be réceived from the charitable tion, ‘THE SISTERS IN ChARGR are as follows :— Mary of the Apostles (Superioress); Mary of St. Peter (Mow at presect in New Urleans); Sisters Dougherty, Gregory, Mary Teresa, Mary Fanhy, Govsague Mary, Maxcliande, “Angel Joseph, Carolina, Alphonse, Mary me Josephine, Columbia, Victoria and St mien, DEATH OF A GENTENARIAN. Catharine ‘Campbell, a native of Tyrone county, Iro- land, died at the Alinshouse, on Blackwell's Isiand, om | Committee, aud the facts the: | mitted to the General Commitiee att] CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA, THE COLOMBIAN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED IN BES- SION—A SCENE OF EXCITEMENT AND THE HALL CLEARED BY SOLDIERS—THR PANAMA BAILWAY COMPANY AKD THE NEW LOAN. Panama, Feb, 26, 1876. The National Congress convened at Bogota on the Ist inst. The President’s Message, largely devoted to the defence of the course of the government, has been pub- lished. CLADUNG sKATS, Two rival deputations from the States of Panama and Cundinamarca putin their appearance for seats in the Congress. One set of these deputations is in favor of the Nunez candidature fer the Presidency of the Republic, and the other is for the Parra candidature. Congress decided that both deputations should withdraw until their credentials be duly considered and their respective validity recognized. SOLDIERS CALLED IX, A scene of excitement followed the members and among the spectators at the bar of the House of Répreseptatives. ‘fhe national troops were called in to clear the House. whtnst neither of the rival Up to the 5 eit! rival deputations had’ beou admitted to seats in the Rem citement in the city was pera to ab general war the Republic is apprehended Nunez and that for Parra lay claim to @ majority ia votes, in strength and ip 1y THE ae” In the Senate there was more calmness. A conserva- tive was elected President of this body. A proposition of Senator General Mosquera for an amuesty for ail political offences up w the Slst of Deceuiber, 1875, was rejected. A MALIGNANT POLITICIAN. One Gutierrez, a rebel candidate for the Governor- ship of Cundinamarca, was inarms. He had defeated a company of the national troops and was marching on to Bogota, THR PANAMA GOVERNMENT. The present government of Pauama has been nized by that of the Union as the legitimate govern- ment THE RAILWAY LOAN. Colonel G. M. Totten has proceeded to Bogota to ar- range the $3,000,000 loan, which the Panama Railroad Company offered to raise in England for the Colombian government, CENTRAL AMERICA, The Diet of Plenipotentiaries, to consider the confed- eration project, was opened formally on the 20th of Jauuary by the President of Guatemala amid a large attendance of diplomatic and other officials. All fears of the Central American war that was threatened have passed. In Costa Rica the idea of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company taking on hand and completing the Costa Rican Railroad is looked upon as a canard. A REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT IN PERU BY PIE~ ROLA PRODUCES A GENERAL ALARM—THR) FINANCIAL CONDITION—A CRISIS IN LIMA—' OBLIGATIONS ABROAD. Lima, Feb, 18, 1876, Owing to intelligence received here from the Cone sular agent in Valparaiso to the effect that Don Nicolas de Pierola had left that port for Peruvian soil and bent on hostile purposes, the government found itself obliged a few days since to send the gunboat Pilcomaye to southern waters, where she is ordered to cruise in- cessantly along that portion of the coast where it is thought probable Pierola may disembark. The gun- boat is now, very fast and bas a couple of companies of picked infantrymen on board, who will make short work of the enterprising visitor if they find him afloat; but should he happen to effect a landing and succeed im reaching his objective point—Arequipa—we will be again plunged into all the worries and disasters of a revolution, and a revolution which, in all probability, would prove fatal to the preseat administration. HIS MEANS OF ATTACK. Prerola’s flotilla, composed of a@ little side-wheel steamer and two small schooners, was still in Vai- paraiso at last report, possibly awaiting news from th chief as to the most favorable point for discharging the cargoes of arms and ammuuition. THE PEOPLE IN ACTUAL DEPRESSION. Sull, such is the teehng of depression in Lima rev garding commercial and tinancial affairs, that little in- terest is manifested in the political outlook. Business is becoming duller every day, the only activity no- ticeable is among the money changers, who do a thriving trade out of their customers, American double eagies, which were worth $22 in paper four months ago, now sell for $48. Silver money ts readily disposed of at sixty per cent preminm. Bar silvor ia worth fifteen hard dollars the mark, and the price of bbe dry goods, kc, is steadily on the rise, erchants—at least those of the wholesale houses— Teluse to dispose of their goods, as there are ot peege | to their principals in Europe. Exchango is now at thirty-three pounce per hard dollar, while two months since bills on London were obtainable at torty- three pence, A SILVER STREAK, Only one little gleam of light 1s visible on this dark horizon—and that comes from Iquique. The govern- ment has veen offered. many of the principal nitrate manufacturing establishments for purchase, in accords ance with the Expropriation law; these, t! purchased, must be paid for im bonds redeemable at two years sight, or less, The government will mortgage their lands and their production to some house abi hich, will, it is hoped, not only advance the funds necessary to cover the bonds, but also open a credit to the Treas- ury on account o1 the nitrate to be exported. If this ig. done, then the government would be enabled to pay off part, at least, of its heavy debt tothe banks in bills against such @ credit; exchange would soon rule at a | favorable rate; goods consigned from Europe would be promptly paid for, and the whole situation undergo w transformation for the better. THE GUANO SUPPLY. A discovery of 90,000 tons 0: guano has been mado near Casma, a town 200 miles north of Callao. The deposit is situate on the mainland, easy of access, and the fertilizer is said to be of excelieut quality. ‘This will add to the wational wealth some two million and @ half money. The Messrs, Drey re busily engaged in exporting the balance of the guano which they bought in 1869, and also that which they have to re- ceive in payment of heavy advances made to the Ex- Three hundred vessels ure now loading at s, Lobos, Pabelion de Pica and Independencia ‘These will carry off 500,000 tons or more. THE YORKIGN RONDHOLDERS. No further steps have been (taken toward alleviating the condition of the foreign bondholders; in fact, the government appear to be awaiting the result of the conferences which were to be held im London by those ill-treated capitalists, aud from which some definitive arrangement or proposition for arrangement is hoped, THE AMERICAN DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION, Americans here regard with a yood deal of discon- tent the proposed action of Congress reducing the Legation in Lima to @ third rate consulate, and ap- pointing one Minister frou the United States 'to all the Fepuvlics of the west coast. The number of Unit | States citizens in Peru is considerable—probably in all | 2.600-—and many ure engaged in business. These should certainly be protected in such an insecure coun. | try as Pera is, politically speaking, by direct represen~ | tation, and not by 4 consul who is obliged to consult tha Departinent of State at Washington it an outlay of $14 is Recossry for red cape or sealing wax, LABOR SUPPLY FOR PERU, Arrangements have been made for a large imports tion of Chinamen into Peru. BELLEVUE HOSPITAL VisirixG ComMITT£® FOR BeLuEvus AND OTHER Pestic Hosrirats, No. 62 East Twenueth Street, New York, Feb, 28, 1876. To tre Epitor or THe Heratp:— This committee has much pleasure in stating that the inefficient orderlies at Bellevue Hospital, to whom reference was made in their annual report, published in the Hexatp of February, haye been remo and their places supplied by competent men, who perform Vheir duties satisfactorily, In this connection we would add that the Bellevue Local Visiting Committee, composed of forty members, is divided into five sub committees, according to the divisions of the hospital, Each visitor visits ber ward weekly and reporta monthly to the chairman of ber committee, who pre. | sents a full report of the state of the wards in her division at the monthly meeting If in the opinion of the Executive Committee there are any statements which should require im. mediate attention by the Board of Charities and Correction a communication is addressed to that Board, At the end of the year. an annual report, Which i# an abstract o/ all the pgp reports, is prepared by the secretary, revised by whe Executi i stated verified by thé al Committee of Luspection, This report is sub- anoual meet tate Charl. efore, pers ing yt ug belo aad then presented to t ties Aid Association, The work is, u formed most conscientiously; still abuses, which ex-’ isting dai the earlier.part of the year and, in fact, up to the 1st of January, may be rectified during Feb- ruary, while the report is in press, This was the case in reference to the last drunken orderly, who was dise charged February and as the men holding these | id faihfal the committee are un~ willing to wait until another year to do them justice and, therefore, give this testimony in their behalf. E. GC. HOBSON, Predent, L. HOYT, Vice President, Mrs. EL, YOUMANS, dre ¥ M CLAFE, rs. M, CHURCHILL, | Executive dirs, W. F. SMITH, tte, Mise Wise,” | |Comm Mra J. KNAPP, AR INAWAY TEAM, deceased was admitted to the Hospital in 1807, Up to within # sbort time before her death she retained her facuities a'most unimpaired. Her interment will take V yesterday afternoon his horse took fright and ran inte a —— vecupied by Dr. and Mrs, Gyles, of No 112 te bit feo ay As Mr. B. F. Wing was driving on Seventh avenua *