Sobbing Nun Tells of Horror In School Fire |
(Editor's Note: Nuns who were teaching classes Monday at Our Lady of the Angels School when it was hit by a tragic fire described the scene for a United Press International reporter. The nuns withheld their names.) |
CHICAGO, Dec. 1 - A sobbing seventh-grade teacher said she was conducting a geography class when the fire broke out. |
“I heard the fire bell,” she said. “All of the children stood up and I opened the door. The hallway was filled with smoke and it nearly filled the room immediately. |
“I tried to go into the hall but the smoke forced me back. I didn't see any flames. I just couldn't breathe. |
“The children began to cry. I told them to get down on their knees and to crawl out through the door one after another. I crawled out first and the first ones held on to my skirt. But they were afraid to go down the stairs. I carried down six and went back up for more. A couple wouldn't go down and I rolled them down the stairs. I rolled them down even though they screamed. |
“Finally I told all of the children who were left to get back into the room and stand by the window. We closed the door and prayed.” |
At St. Anne's Hospital, where the injured were taken, one of them stood in a hallway. She seemed oblivious to everyone around her. She fingered her beads and prayed. |
Another sister, a third grade teacher, said she “was lucky” to have only 20 students in her class when the fire bell rang. |
“They told me there was an explosion, but I didn't hear it,” she said. “I lined my children up and took them out right away and they were very good. |
“But when I got out I was afraid to look at the building. Smoke was pouring and billowing out of the windows all along the second floor. |
“I could see children standing there crying and banging on the windows. I couldn't do a thing to help them.” |
She wept. |