Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 January 1890 — FATAL FIRE IN A SCHOOL [ARTICLE]

FATAL FIRE IN A SCHOOL

TWENTY-SIX YOUNG VICTIMS OF THE FLAMES. Scenes of Horror at an East London Institution A Destructive Fire in Havana A I’alace Burned Bismarck’s Blind Foreign News. A London cable says: Fire broke out during the night in the large building of the Industrial school, situated in East London. The budding was crowded and the alarm of fire produced an indescribable scene of confusion and disorder. The fire department promptly sent an efficient force to the scene of disaster, but despite their heroic efforts twenty-six children were suffocated by the dense smoke which filled the building. It is not yet fully known what the pecuniary loss is, nor has it been certainly ascertained whether or not any more lives were lost or how many persons were injured. The scenes in the death chamber, where relatives and schoolmates of the victims were viewing the bodies, was very pitiful. The school was filled with boys who had been committed to its care because of their incorrigible habits, and altogether the inmates were of a character from which little discipline or obedience might be expected in moments when both were imperatively demanded. As a rule, however, the boys yielded readily to the directions of their superiors, and to this fact is due the safety of scores who otherwise would have perished. Of the twenty-six who lost their lives only two were burned to death, the others being su located. Many of the latter were aroused, but became stupefied with smoke and crawled back to their cots to die. The hero of the occasion was a boy who acted in the capacity of monitor in the fatal ward, himself a boy whose vicious habits bad made him an inmate of the institution. Trough his efforts many boys were literally driven from the building, and ho ceased his work of rescuing his fellows only when he was himself driven out by the flames. He dragged several ot his companions, unconscious out of the windows, while others he carried into the air in his arms. Paris! cable: Friends of Mary Anderson characterize the story of her engagement to Antonio de Navarra, of New Yorn, which was sent from Nice, as absurd. They state that Miss Anderson has been'a member of the De Navarro family for many years, and that the report of her engagement is simply the revival of a rumor prevalent ten years ago. Much amusement has been caused in society circles in New York by the publication of a cable report from Nice, France, intimating that Mary Anderson, the actress, was engaged to Antonio de Navarro. Mr. De Navarro, who is the son of a wealthy real estate owner and elevated railroad capitalist, has been a devoted admirer of Miss Anderson for years, and their engagement has been frequently reported in consequence, but it is understood by friends of both young people that they will never be more than friends. Mr. De Navarro’s brother, who is here, says he has not been apprised of any such engagement, and places no faith in the story. A Havana cahle, via Tampa, says: The loss to the Spanish-American Light and Power company by the recent fire at their wharves here is much greater than was supposed. Nine thousand barrels of petroleum were burned. The company also lost one of their new wharves, several large barges loaded with petraJeum and several large buildings, one of which contained a great deal of valuable machinery. Four big petroleum tanks exploded, and to save the gasometers, which were located at some distance from the oil tanks, it was necessary to cut all communicating pipes. It is now believed that the loss will reach $250,000. There was no insurance. The origin of the fire is believed to be due to spontaneous combustion oUburred petroleum. A Bruseels cable reports that the Laeken palace caught fire, and Princess Clementine, second daughter of King Leopold, had a narrow escape. In the effort to rescue the princess her governess was burned to death. The splendid art gallery with its collection of paintings, was entirely- destroyed. The palace is a mass of ruins. Nothing but the Gobelin tapestry and the plate was saved. Princess Clementine, her governess and a lady attendant were tho only persons in the castle at the time of the discovery of the fire. King Leopold and Queen Clementine witnessed the burning. It is reported that the lire was of incendiary origin. The German military attaches at Paris and St Petersburg are at present in Berlin. They were present at an extended conference with the Emperor and Prince Bismarck. They submitted such evidence of the martial activity of Russia and France as warrants Bismarck in asking an increased appropriation for the German army.