STOKE ORPHANAGE BURNED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12256, 28 April 1903, Page 5

STOKE ORPHANAGE BURNED.

BOYS ESCAPE IN THEIR NIGHTCLOTHES. ONE LAD MISSING. - SPLENDID DISCIPLINE. [BY TELEGRAPH. — ASSOCIATION*.] Nelson, Monday.

A little before three o'clock this morning the boys' orphanage at Stoke was completely destroyed by fire., Mr. Fitzgerald, the . headmaster, states that about half-past two he discovered the fire, and traced it to the boys' dressingroom in the upper storey, and at the northeast part of the building. In a very short time the fire spread to the rest building. He at once removed two 'boys who were in the hospital, and got the other boys from the burning place. There were 112 boys in .the institution, and, so far as could be ascertained, all were got out safely without mishap. They escaped in their night-clothes, but some of them secured blankets. .A small harmonium and some few, other things were saved from the downstairs portion of the building, but the lads were Left without clothes to wear, and had to be provided for in this respect. One boy, named William Nelson, BJt years old, is missing. It had been supposed that he had been seen by the other boys after the fire, but when tee roll was called he was found to be missing. Search parties were out all day on the hills, but so far he had not been found. The insurance is £3000 on the buildings, £500 on the furniture, and £100 on the workshops in the South British. Of this sum, £1000 is reinsured in the National and £500 in the New Zealand Office. ■• The splendid discipline at the school ensured the saving of the lives of the whole of the boys except the lad who is missing, and he may be on the-hills. When the fire broke out the schoolmaster (Mr. Beach) marshalled the boys and sent them back for what they could save. He then marched them downstairs like troops of soldiers. The loss over the insurance is estimated at about £10,000. The boys are housed for the present in a woolshed and J other outhouses, and a supply of clothing will be forwarded shortly after daylight. Donations of clothes,' books, etc., are -greatly needed, as everything is lost.