Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 148, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 January 1904 — Was In the Seminary Fire. [ARTICLE]

Was In the Seminary Fire.

Miss Elsie Lebold, of Wheatfield, is visiting her aunt Mrs. John Remley, for a few days. She was one of the students at St. Catherine’s Academy, in Kentucky, when that institution whs burned on the night of Jan. 2nd and 3rd. The fire started about 11 o’clock at night, and bad gained such headway when discovered that the girls in the dormitary bad barely time to escape with Their lives, and in their night clothes. Miss Lebold says she had just time to seize one shoe, being all of her outer clothing that she saved. As the fire occurred just before the end of the holiday vacation only about 40 of the 100 regular students were present. The fire started in the academy end of the building, in the drying room in the basement. The other end of the building, which included the ohuroh and rooms of the sisters did not burn so quick, and much of the bedding was saved. This proved very useful to wrap the girl students in. for the night was bitterly cold. They were taken to St. Rose College, about a half mile distant, and made comfortable until they could *be sent to their homes The burned academy cost about $300,000 and was insurred for only 165,000. It seems uncertain whether it will be rebuilt very soon or not.