People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 October 1894 — VICTIMS OF FIRE. [ARTICLE]

VICTIMS OF FIRE.

An Infirmary Is Burned at Houston, Tex. Two Staters of St. Joseph Perish and Another Is Badly Injured—Two Patients Are Missiug—Business Houses Destroyed. Houston. Tex., Oct 17.—The worst fire in the history of Houston broke out at 2:40 a. m. Tuesday and before it was got under control, at 4:30, not only had a large amount of property been destroyed, but two Sisters of St. Joseph were burned to death, two infirmary patients also perished and a third Sister was dangerously injured. The fire originated in the San Jacinto hotel, "a boarding-house at Franklin and San Jacinto streets, from which the blaze spread rapidly to the adjoining small buildings of St. Joseph’s infirmary on Franklin street, destroying a large two-story frame annex and then the new four-story brick main building. Loss of Life. The destruction of these buildings was accompanied by loss of life. Sisters Doleral and Jans were burned beyond all possibility of recognition, while Sister Clothilde was fearfully burned about the face, neck, breast and arms, her recovery being in doubt. Two patients are also missing, but there is not the slightest doubt that they also perished. On San Jacinto street the fire spread to a one-story cottage and next destroyed Alexander’s three-story board-ing-house, managed by Mrs. J. J. Hussey; the three-story brick building of W. N. Lhaw, occupied by the S. M. Rushmore Grocery company, and J. W. Hancock, stationer; A. Chiene’s three-story furniture house and W. L. Foley’s dry goods house, the largest in the city. The total loss is about $438,000; total insurance, §151,500.