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Show Two Hundred Orphans Rendered Homeless Fire at St. Vincent's Orphanage, North Denver, Con sumed the Main Buiding of That Great Charitable Institution, Involving a Loss of Over $70,000. Kind-Hearted Citizens of Denver of All Conditions and Creeds, at a Mass Meeting, Meet-ing, Pledge Bishop Matz Financial Aid in Rebuilding the Orphanage. ', '-.N-V -:.;r,. '' "' i S " fe: .j" ; i ' iyjui.voi.riMaiT tn t i. imhih. ti 1 1 i,miiiii7f-rwi i nwiflSii!j j-yjar.i'.riiiri iaf-tivtS!!!! ST. VINCENT'S ORPHAN ASYLUM, DENVER, DESTROYED BY FIRE. St. Vincent's orphanage in North Denver has been reduced to a mass of debris, from which rise a few blackened black-ened walls. Defective electric wiring is said to have been the cause of a fire that practically prac-tically destroyed tHe institution early Saturday afternoon, at an estimated total loss of $70,000. Two hundred and fifty children arg sheltered in various places in the city. The fire .was discovered about 1 o'clock by Mary Owens, 9 years old. who reported it to the sisters at luncheon lunch-eon in the refectory. The children had I finished their noonday meal and were j scattered throughout the institution ! when the alarm sounded. As soon as ' the fire bell pealed, the tots and sisters j ms.de dashes for the nearest doors and j escaped to open air without injury. Had the fire been at night, a death list would probably havebeen the result. READY TO JUMP. j Dramatic was the experience of littie I Sadie Dougherty, 12 years old. She was in a room on the third story when j she heard the cry of fire. and. frightened fright-ened to a high pitch of excitement, she i ushed to a window. Stepping outside, j on the ledge, she was preparing to hurl j herself out. when George Surdeet. the janitor, who had run to the scene from j his house, near by. saw the white-faced girl on the narrow foothold. Eanie as he is, he rushed up stairs, cried for her not to jump, and drew her back. As soon as the Hames were discovered the sisters made frantic attempts to send in a telephone alarm, but for some reason the instrument would not work. Meanwhile the flames had burst through the roof on the north side, anil James Sullivan. IS years old. who was mounting a horse at his home, close in the orphanage, saw them. He put spurs to his horse and rode at a mad gallop to hose company No. 4 at West Twenty-sixth Twenty-sixth avenue and Boulevard F. which., although two miles away, was the nearest station. The eom:any responded, re-sponded, hut arrived too late to save the main building. ST U D E NTS" T i M EL Y AID. The students at the Jesuit college were among the first to see the flames when they burst through the roof. "The orphanage is on fire!" shouted a youngster who was at play on the ball ground, preparing for the summer campaign cam-paign on the athletic field. His comrades com-rades took up the cry. and hastened to tell the fathers of the catastrophe. The priests were prompt to ac t. They j gathered the students about them and hurried down the road past Rocky i Mountain lake toward the blazing j building. The flames, whipped into a j fury by the wind, which was blowing fifty miles an hour, sprang high into the air and nerved the racers. It is almost, a mile from the college to the orphanage, but the distance was covered cov-ered in record time by the faculty and its young companions. When the rescuers arr.ived the brave sisters had already marshaled, the greater part of their flock on the vacant va-cant ground near the home. The students stu-dents and priests set about the work oi getting out those who still remained in the building and saving the furniture. furni-ture. The students worked with splendid splen-did courage, and again and again they penetrated into Uie building after Assistant As-sistant Chief Owens had warned them to desist. So determined were they that two or three were badly scorched. They laughingly displayed the wounds, but refused to quit the work. They remained re-mained until long past sundown, and only trudged back to the college when the" sisters had assured them that they cruld do no more. Vr. Jones, . Dolan and Edward Johnson were particularly brave. The flames penetrated to the annex, and it looked for a time as though that also must go. The fire was just under the roof, and the firemen, found it difficult dif-ficult to reach it. Finally they succeeded, suc-ceeded, and by superb work extinguished extin-guished the flames. As soon as it was safe to do so, the s'isters began fitting up the annex for the accommodation of the children. The students carried back the furniture and rearranged it. At night 125 of the orphans slept there. TRAMP ACROSS PRAIRIE. The remainder of the 250 children were divided between Che Jesuit college. col-lege. St. Joseph's hospital and .the Loretto Heights academy. The girls were sent to the latter institution. It 1 meant a seven-mile journey- across the prairies in the face of a cutting wind, which seemed to find Itsr'-way to the marrow. The tots were already blue from the cold, but, cheered and guided by the sisters, jhey began( the trip. Many of them had-Jt their o'ut6r 1 clothing; and - therefore, had little--to -protect them from the inclement blasts. Tears were noticed on begrimed faces, but. all in all, they bore it more courageously cour-ageously than might have been expected. expect-ed. At Loretto they were warmly received re-ceived and efforts made to render their stay pleasant. A large crowd was attracted by the fire, and among the spectators' were many non-Catholics. They were quick to tender thein services, and the sisters received more than fifty requests for j children. Everyone seemed anxious to care for the tots. Y. D. Todd, formerly I a member of the board of public works, lives in the vicinity. He threw open his doors, and a dozen of the orphans were taken in and provided with shelter shel-ter and food. Dr. H. C. Snitcher and others who lived in the neighborhood, did good work in caring for the infants and small children, while the sisters and priests were endeavoring to bring order out of chaos. They expressed a willingness to look after the little ones for an indefinite period, but the sisters would not impose upon their generosity. generosi-ty. The children had all .been given new dresses for Easter, and this loss was felt by them most keenly.' The fire, it may be said, was in the nature of a pleasure vacation to most of the little ones, and they watched its progress delighted, pausing only now and then to bewail t'he loss of -, the dresses. I RECORDS ALL DESTROYED. There were 250 children in the orphanage or-phanage with sixteen sisters. The children ranged in age from 2 months to 15 years. The sisters likewise lost all they had excepting- the garments worn at the time, and also a few trinkets. trin-kets. All records pertaining to the children chil-dren were destroyed. Father O'Ryan, who was early on the i scene, estimates the loss at $70,000, on which there is $25,000. The insurance policies were destroyed, hut the insurance insur-ance men say that the losses will be promptly paid from the records on file in the different offices. Father O'Ryan stated that the edifice would be rebuilt at once, and a meeting meet-ing of the board of directors was held to discuss ways and means. The directors are: J. K. Mullen, E. P. McGoverh,' Charles McPhee. Dr. P. B. Carlin and Rev. Henry E. Robinson. "I cannot speak too highly of the sympathy- manifested by neighbors." said Father O'Ryan. "I was especially impressed by the prompt response made by non-Catholics. I want to thank them through the News and to assure them that their actions constituted the one bright spot in this day of sorrow. It is good to know that American generosity gen-erosity is not to be circumscribed by any narrow sectarian lines." Father O'Ryan says that the orphanage will be rebuilt at once, but that no collection collec-tion will be made for that purpose at the present time, and warns the public that all persons -claiming to be collect-ing collect-ing to that end are frauds. Brief History of Orphanage. Sister Francis Xavier. the first mother mo-ther superior of St. Vincent's orphanage orphan-age and the founder of the institution, is still with the institution and was one of the busiest oi the confraternity eluring the fire, caring for the children and seeing that they were removed to places of safety. She was brokenhearted broken-hearted over the destruction of the institution in-stitution which has been her home for twenty years and in building up which the best years of her life- have been spent. After the fire was undjr control' con-trol' and the danger to the little ones was past she almost gave way under the strain of the exciting events and was compelled to retire to her room in the one wing of the building which was saved. Sister Mary Peter, the mother su- j perior of the asylum, said that Sister Francis was unable to see any one and that she was completely prostrated by the fire and Its attendant excitement. The story of the fire as told by the mother suierior is an eloquent ' al though unconscious testimonial to the heroism and devotion of the sisters in whose care the lives of 250 children were placed. While much of the furniture fur-niture and clothing in the building might have, been jjajved at the risk of the loss of life, the mother superior devoted de-voted all her "attention to the little children and the - , sisters associated with her in the asylum. Sister Mary Peter was in her room on the second floor of the building when the fire was discovered. She directed di-rected the other sisters to get the children chil-dren out of the building and then attempted at-tempted to use thesmeager means at her disposal to put out the fire. If there had been sufficient water pressure pres-sure to throw even a small stream to the. third floor she might have put out the fire before the engines arrived, but when she turned on the hose which is placed all through the buildings for use in case of fire there was not enough wa,ter. pressure to force the water out of the hose. Sister Mary refused to allow any one to go up into the upper floors after the fire gained headway for fear they might be cut off from escape es-cape and consequently all the contents con-tents of the building above the ground floor were lost, including all the records rec-ords and archives of the institution. Sister Mary Peter herself had to escape es-cape from the second floor by way of the fire escape on the outside of he building. The orphanage of Mount St. Vincent was founded by Sister Francis Xavier, who 'came from the mother house of the Sisters of Charity at Leavenworth. Kan., in 1S82. Bishop Machebeuf. then stationed at Denver, was instrumental in inducing the Sisters of Charity to I found the orphanage which has grown j to be one of the largest of the Roman j Catholic institutions in the west. When j it was first started there were only four or five sisters b?sides Sister Fran- j cis Xavier and the number of children in the institution was less than 100. Sister Mary Peter, the present mo-th?r mo-th?r superior, came here from Leaven worth five years ago. Associated with her. in the care and education of the children are Sisters Vincentia. Francis Xavier. Ann Theresa. Mary Margaret. Mechti'des. Constantia, Mary Basil, Mildred, Mary Antonio, Camilia. Mary Finvar. Claudia. Mary Kusteile. Mary Veronica. H'ary Clare and Bernardino. The chaplain of the home is Father Fede. , Associated with the growth or the institution from the date of its founding and for some years almost al-most the sole support of it is the society founded by Mrs. E. P. Jacobson of 165!) California, street. This society was started in 1SS2. soon after Sister Francis Xavier came' to Denver, and was called the Dorcas society. so-ciety. Its purpose was the care of orphan or-phan children and the relief of poor widows. Mrs. Jacobson was the first president of this society, and . Mrs. Lister, Lis-ter, secretary; Mrs. Batione, treasurer, and a number of other ladies promi-nentlv promi-nentlv identified with charitable work met with her at her residence and made garments for the orphans. The name of the society was later changed to "The Orphans' Aid society," and under un-der that name it continues carrying on its charitable work. Mrs. J. K. Mullen, the present president presi-dent of this society, had a movement started for the relief of the homeless orphans almost before the rb-e had burned itself out. She notified all the members of the society, and they will provide as far as possible for all the needs of the little ones in the way of clothing. To this end Mrs. Mullen and her associates will take, care of any donations do-nations that may he received from others for this purpose. Mrs. Mullen announced Monday that any one who , desired to give clothing for the orphans should send their donations to her residence. resi-dence. Associated with Mrs. Mullen in the Orphans' Aid soeiecy are Mrs. Jacobson. Mrs. Joseph Walsh. Mrs. W'.' H. Andrew, Mrs. J. P. Donley, Mrs. P. V. Carlin and nearly 200 other women., The scene at the orphanage was one of nitiful desolation. There was only one" wing of the building Intact, and in it were huddled fifty or more little ones and the sisters in charge of them were busily engaged in making arrangements arrange-ments for the care of the children during' dur-ing' the night. Pieces of broken rifni-'ture rifni-'ture that had been hurried'y taken ; I from the burned portion of the "uild- ; ing were scattered about :he de.solatf. : rooms, mingling in confusion with such i articles of bedding and clothing as ' had been saved. The kitchen, which was in this wing, and one other room, the laundry room, had stoves, but the other rooms, which had not lv;en used recently, were cold and bleak. In these rooms 'the sisters and their little ! charges spent the night, making them- j selves comfortable as best they could, but there was not one word of com- plaint from any of the children and the sisters only said: "It is God's wii! that we must suffer," and went about their work. . St. Vincent's orphanage was one of the favorite objects of the generosity of the owners of the Little Jonny mine. "J. J. Brown." said Mrs. J. K. Mullen, "always provided the boys in the home with new suits of clothes every Christmas, Christ-mas, and his partner, John F. Campion, tcok care of the little girls by sending them presents of clothing and other things on Christmas." Mass Meeting at Theater. Immediate rebuilding of St. Vincent's Orphanage is assured. At the mass meeting at the Broadway-theatre Broadway-theatre Sunday afternoon, held in response re-sponse to the call of I'.ishop Nicholas C. Matz, a committee was appointed for to ouroose of providing "at once" a home for the children temporarily deprived de-prived of shelter by Saturday's fire. In response to a motion of Father William O'Ryan, to the effect that a committee be appointed to provide as quickly as possible a home where all the children could be brought under the ministering care of the sister3, the following, on the suggestion of Stephen J. Donleavy, were appointed: Dennis Shevdy, chairman: chair-man: J. K. Mullen. Dr. P. V. Carlin, E. P. McGovern. C. D. McPhee, John F. Campion, J. J. McGinnity, John Cor- coran. John Hagus. Charles Hurd, William Wil-liam P. Horan and Eugene McCarthy.. ' ; A meeting of the committee was called by Chairman Sheedy to meet at Logan venue chapel Thursday evening at 7 ' o'clock, when definite plans for the re- j building of the orphanage will be an- ''. ncunced. It is expected work on the leconstruction of the home will be begun be-gun before the end of the week. The cost of the rebuilding was not discussed at the meeting, but pledges are already ' understood to have been received from i members of the committee and others which will make possible the construe- I tion of a home equal, if not much superior, su-perior, to the one which the elements destroyed. Enthusiasm, marked to a degree, waa displayed by the vast crowd which as- ; sembled at the theatre. Mingled with '.he manifestations of sorrow at the de- ' struetion of the home was a determination determi-nation on the face of every one that the reconstruction should be at once attended at-tended to. Seated in the body of the theatre, and crowding the boxes, were many prominent and wealthy peopie of : the city, Protestants and Catholics alike. IMMEDIATE ACTION. . Mrs. James I. Orman. Mrs. R. R. Wright, jr.. Mrs. W. S. Buckley, Miss Roberta Wright occupied a box near the stage. On the stage were Bishop Matz, Fathers O'Ryan, Callahan. Casey. Ca-sey. Robinson. Barry, and other priests: Governor Orman. Dennis Sheedy and j other prominent citizens. Bishop Matz called the meeting to order, and re- , ferred touchingly to the accident of Saturday, relating the sad occurrence- j and the utter demolition of the home j and the necessity of immediate action ) for the care of the children. "There are 2J7 representatives of the Lord to to be cared for in this institu- ) tion." said he, "all stretching forth their hand for care. I ana satisfied the re- i . . . ?r'nse to the rail to provide shelter for 1 ihem will ho hearty and generous. 12v-t 12v-t ry stone should and will lie moved by 1 li! chureh to restore this buildine, and i ve know everyone will heartily rally . to our support.' I ; ; The bit-hop related the purpose of the meeting, which was to choose a cnm- mittee to secure funds for a new build- '"IT. Two offers of assistance, he said, l l'"d already been made, one by Dean i 3'eck and anoilier by the Sacred Heart f college, the latter having offered to .' ' Kive an entertainment for the benefit I of the rebuilding fund. Dean Peek. ' I " li.nvever. had not expected that his of- l " .' f'-r would be aniicniiHi-il at that time, j J : as t'lie meeting was not one for re- - ceiving donations. j . T. F. Savage was chosen secretary. I . Governor James U. Orman followed 'J . I'ishop M a tz. pledging his support to j the movement. "The need for imme- J ; 'liale action is very pressing-," he said. I "and the case is a just one. The chil- , ,' r'ren musi be provided with a home at I cnf. and anything which I can per- I ' Sonally will .lo most gladly." ' .Governor Unnan suggested that a 1 committee lie at once appointed and a I p'-rmanent organization be effected. Stephen .T. Donleavy then introduced 'lie following resolution, which was I f 4 unanimously adopted: Whereas. The destruction by fire of j -. , 5-'t. Vincent's orphar.Hgv is a calamity 1 I , that appeals to the hearts of all citi- j f : zens. regardless of religious faith: and, I ! Whereas. The Sisters of Charily have I for an uninterrupted period of twenty- sen years laborer faithfully for the I upbuilding of the institution, and rje- . f -.- ' votedly for the care and protection of I Hie orphaned: now. therefore, be it f . . Kesolved. That this mass meeting of I : citizens applaud the noble and self-sac- J rificing work of the good sisters. We lender t hem our most cordial sympathy I in the heavy loss they have sustained 1 inrouKn ine oestruciiou ot wnat was to ; ihem and their helpless charges a home I i 5ti all essentials. We pledge ourselves I , , 10 aid in every way the effort now in- I ! '. Iiiated to replace the orphanage, and i j . hereby resolve to relieve the tempo- I t ' vary distress into which they have been Is! I'lunged: j i Kesolved. Further, that steps be f ! laken immediately to formulate a plan i i j looking to substantial assistance. finan- j ial and otherwise, so that the work of I . ' rebuilding the orphanage may not be I ! ' delayed unnecessarily: I ' : Resolved, Further, that this meeting, j 5n pursuance hereof, proceed to the se- : ; lection of necessary committees for the 1 ; ' : "purposes herein specified. 1 : ! The definite purpose of the meeting was then brought in a resolution by f Father O'Ryan to the effect that steps j lie at onee taken to provide tiermanent quarters for the children where they I i could be immediately cared for by the I sisters who have had charge of them I ' for so long. j "'When I went out there yesterday," fa id he. "the saddest thing about the "whole affair seemed to be the feeling ; ' ; -which the sisters demonstrated as the f children were taken from them by this ;t person and that who wished to give A i them temporary shelter. With tears in j '' . their eyes the sisters parted with their , charges, so dear to them through past j association. The last words of Mother is "Mary Peter were, -Don't let them go S - away from us.' I ', "It seems as though the children I ; should not be taken away from the j ' protecting and elevating influence of i the sisters, even for a day, and for that j reason 1 believe the home should be built at once. The experience of Sat- I urday was. however, one which made ! ; us all proud that we were men and . i : -women, for. despite the horror of the occasion, the sympathy shown by ev eryone, Protestantand Catholic alike, , was a glorious example of the fellow ship of mankind." The names for the committee were 1 then suggested by Mr. Donleavy, and ' , unanimously adopted. ; P.ishop Matz enthusiastictlly praised - the committee as being a practical as surance that the home would be at tirce rebuilt. ! Dennis Sheedy, chairman of the com- s ' mittee, added to the feeling by his re marks: i "1 know of no more worthy cause than this." said he. "and I am confident f of success, and that we will give hack I i f .. to the sisters the home which has been I ! : taken from them. I have personally visited the home, and have seen the . sisters there, all of them educated peo- l''e. with fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers, who made a sacrifice to help ' . '' "life which is near and dear to ihem. but which holds out no reward ' but that beyond the grave. 1 have seen it he children, scarcely from their mothers' moth-ers' breast, cared for by the sisters, and ' . reared to manhood and womanhood. They ask no iuest ions, every race, kind i. and color are welcome. When 1 heard i Jof the affair yesterday. 1 was verv sad, !1d when I saw the actions of every-I every-I body. I felt more than ever ibelore the power of the teaching teach-ing of the brotherhood of man. which rises above everything else ' , in the world. The event' is one that i ' will bring out the love and kindness ',n'l tenderness to be found in everyone and the cause is one which will bring i ! ' . o'it the help of every one from every class. The rebuilding of the home seems assured beyond a doubt." Dean Peck follower! Mr. Sheedy: "i ; ot here as a Catholic or a Pro- . testant." said he, "but on the broad I , Mat form of the Master, who said: Suf- j fei little children to come uio me. for I or' such is the kingdom of heaven.' A .' , plank of this plalf.-.rni was later added 1 i ''' Shakespeare, who said: 'One touch I nature makes the whole world kin.' I Father O Kyan has said that I would j K've SI"" toward the rebuildinrf of the i hom. 1 did not say that. ir 1 am j p rsonaliy tinablj to give iny. jut T 'I'd :' lii't I would get $100 o'n of rav - , . - church for the fund, and 1 consider it I , ' Kieat privilege to be able to pledge n urn on nenan 01 mv people CHANG K IN THE LAWS. - ' lean Peck refererd to the paucity of j , fr the care ,,f ornhans-in ' the 1 ' ".v- allo blani.-d the lax divorce laws j the stai- for the increasing number I ,r' "wd dependent on the various in- I , slitutions. il hope to see a time." said he f "when the laws will be changed, and I am glad to say this in the prsen.e - or our chief executive. Mv earnest ''ope is that a law will be passed soon ! which will make it obligatory on people when they are married to remain with each other for better or w orse; Then j j . ; U(' """uld not have so many orphan 1 I Mid children to care for." Dean Peck's I r marks were liberally applauded. I t ' ' : Father O'Kyan apoloiized for the ah- I 1 s. nee of Mjyor Wright, stating, how- - : '-ver. that Mrs. Wiight and .Miss n,)- ,t berta Wright were present, and that f '1-e.v would heartily endorse on his j brhalf any action which might be I taken, "not with the weakness of water. 5 hu! vvilh ! willingness like the flowing I ; "f the wine." i ' Father Parry of the Sacred Heart parish followed, pledging help for th ? movement. . ; "It '" " Kieat pleasure for me to stand I ' : or the platform together with the I " church and the state." said he. "Some- I limes their horns are interlocked over J matters of state, but now thev stand j together united to stand for the chil- I ' '''en of our Heavenly Father. It is our ' lllllv til I'limn 1.. ...,l: . 1 : : - ., ' "eiiei at once, j ' regarnless of church or state, and I am I -uie the appeal will met with a heart v ; response, and I am equally sure the : ; difficulty will be shortly overcome. s , small sum of 25 cents from each citizen 4 Jn the state would enable the home to I ' ,,p built. 1 am sure 1 can voice the f . sentiment of my parishioners and sav f i that Tbey will all do their best to place I : ; : ; a roof over the heads or these little j . ' , .nes. ' i i Tll 'Teeting then adjourned leaving i k , j 1 I ,h' further work in the hands of the ; i committee, which met on Thursday i . mgnt at the Logan avenue chapel. ; There is nothing by nature so un- ' ; pleasant as may not bv industry be ; 1 made full of grace and sweetness.' ' ' |