LOSS ABOUT £6.000 OVER INSURANCES.

Colonist, Volume XLVI, Issue 10708, 4 May 1903, Page 2 (Supplement)

LOSS ABOUT £6.000 OVER INSURANCES.

We stated yesterday morning that it was believed that the whole of the inmates of the Orphanage had been safely got out of the*building. and this is still believed to be the case, though one lad, named William Wilson, about nine years of age, could not yesterday be discovered by the authorities of the school. He was, however, seen by several of his schoolmates after the fire, and it is believed that he has taken the opportunity afforded by the confusion to run away. The police officers and several from the institution were out yesterday searching the neighborhood, but so far as we have been able to ascertain without finding any trace of the lad, who is stated to be of rather weak intellect. The Police were making investigations yesterday as to the cause of the outbreak, but there appears to be little more known than at first. It seems that- one of the senior boys was placed on duty as night watchman, and he yesterday confessed to having been asleep when the outbreak occurred, the firs*-- to witness same being a boy named O'Halloran, who slept immediately opposite the door of the dressing-room, where the fire broke out. The dres3ing room was situate just off the large dormitory upstairs, and it was the practice of the lads to disrobe there each evening, proceeding in their night clothes to the dormitory, this being one of the precautions taken against boys absconding in the night. One theory is that one of the boys while sitting had his clothes ignited by a spark, and unwittingly taken the smouldering garment upstairs and thrown it off in the cupboard of the dressingroom, where the fire is stated to have started. This, however, is pure conjecture. Mr Fitzgerald did not retire till about midnight, when he made an inspection of all the domitories. The insurances are £3,000 on the building, £500 on the furnitnre, and £100 on the workshops. The total loss is estimated at between £9,000 and £10,000, less the amount of insurance, so that it is safe to nay that the loss is not less than £6,000 over insurance. The staff, too, lose prac-' tically everything, and their loss is very severe. The Eev. Father George Mahoney, Manager of the Orphanage, spent the day at Sboke, and did not return to town until- very late, and under his | direction strenuous efforts were successfully made to provide accommodation for the boys. Twenty-one of the youngest lads were brought to town, and accommodated at the Convent, while the remainder are provided for by utilising the museum and laborers' cottages at the Orphanage. The Manager early yesterday morning made arrangements with Messrs Armstrong and Co. to open their es tablishment, and send out clothing for the boys. Parcels of clothing were also received from the Boys'

College, Mrs Ben Lewis, and Mr Tinline, and the Rev. Father Mahoney expresses his sincere thanks for these timely gifts. Gifts of clothing and donations of any kind will still be most acceptable and thankfully received. One fact that should be emphasised is the admirable conduct of the lads under the trying circumstances of =>arly yesterday morning. The lads were cheerful and obedient, and gave ao trouble whatever, thus earning ;he gratitude of the staff, who were sorely tried at the time, and they vill also receive the commendation )f all for their good conduct.