SCHOOL ABLAZE

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 98, 20 January 1938, Page 9

SCHOOL ABLAZE

Terror-Stricken Boys Trapped 30 FEARED DEAD Many Leap From Fourth Story By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received January 19, 5.5 p.m.) St. Hyacinthe (Quebec), Jan. 18. Panic and death spread among 160 pupils and thirty brothers and priests as a blaze destroyed Sacred Heart College at a a.m. when everyone was asleep. With the total dead not yet determinable because of confusion still existing after the fire, it is already, indicated that 30 are possibly dead, chiefly boys. Seventeen bodies have been recovered and at least 13‘are missing. Outside a tremendous frost, 8 degrees below zero, covered everything with ice. Many raced for the fire escape, from which they were pushed by pressure from behind, falling to the ice and being badly injured. Church bells summoned townfolk when a workman discovered the lire and ran to obtain assistance. Hundreds hurried to the scene, but were unable to approach near enough to the blazing building to help the trapped pupils. Terror-stricken youngsters ran hysterically in all directions in the fireblocked corridors as the conflagration rapidly enveloped the entire structure. Twenty have been sent to hospital seriously injured, including those who jumped from the fourth story. The onlv identified person among the dead i s Brother Jean Pacptiste, aged 64, a teacher who leapt thus. Alany boys are being treated, for burns, broken bones and other injuries in the school hospital nearby.

The escapees, all scantily clad, were taken in by surrounding householders. The school structure was T-shaped, with dormitories art the top of the fourth story. The ground floor burned most rapidly and the building quickly collapsed, but 10 hours after the discovery of the fire firemen were still compelled to pour in water as the blaze was still not extinguished. One journalist declared that half an hour after the discovery of the fire all the exits were wrapped in flame and no firemen were able to enter. Those inside had to save themselves as best they could. The cause of the fire hag not been determined.