Accidental Deaths in Nez Perce County Idaho
FIRE KILLS 6 INDIAN ORPHANS AT MISSION
Lewiston, Idaho-Fire visited the little Catholic mission
settlement lying in the Nez Perce Indian reservation 25 miles east of here at
midnight Saturday and took a toll of six orphan dead. Located five miles from a
railroad in a sparsely settled section, the boys dormitory at the mission where
31 youngsters lay asleep was wiped out by the flames while volunteer fighters
fought valiantly to rescue the entrapped youth.
Nuns of the mission heroically worked to arouse the sleeping
youths half dragging them from their beds to safety. The sisters were believed
to have escorted all the boys from the building when five of the lads-one only 5
years old-dashed back into the blazing building to rescue some companion they
thought was facing death.
The bodies of six were found closely huddled together by the
rescue workers who raked through the ruins. The victims ranged in age from 5 to
14 years.
Source: Appleton Post Crescent, Appleton, WI - October 5, 1925
Submitted by Shauna Williams
Lewiston, Idaho-Six
children lost their lives in a fire that swept the boys' dormitory
at the Catholic mission on the Nez Perce Indian reservation,
twenty-five miles east of here last Saturday night. The fire was
believed caused by explosion of a lamp. There were thirty-one boys asleep in the dormitory and
the heroic efforts of the Sisters of St. Joseph and others at the
institution saved many of the boys' lives. The building, an isolated one story temporary structure, was
of flimsy construction and burned rapidly. All the occupants were believed to have escaped after
the fire broke out, but five boys re-entered in an attempt to rescue
others they thought were still in the dormitory or to recover
personal effects.
BODIES HUDDLED TOGETHER
Their bodies were found huddled near one of the
entrances. The identified dead: Anthony Soyda, 7; Simon Broncheau, 6; Andrew Fogarty,
10; Edward Switzler, 5 Indian; Max Ostenberg, 14. The sixth victim was found in the ruins by searchers
Saturday night. He was identified as Lawrence Henry, 9. His body was
found in the south end of the building near the spot where his five
companions met their death.
SISTER SAVES MANY
Had it not been that Sister Angela, in charge of the
mission, remained up later than usual Saturday night to mend
clothing, the loss of life would have been far greater. The sister
discovered the flames raging in the center of the building, with
sleeping apartments on both sides. She at once entered the place and
forced the boys from their beds, in several instances being
compelled to drag them outside. Edward Jackson, severely burned, is in a critical
condition in a hospital.
Source: Sheboygan Press, Sheboygan, WI - October 5, 1925
Submitted by Shauna Williams
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