Westmoreland County PA Archives News.....St. Xavier's Academy in Ruin 1868
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Donald Buncie http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00034.html#0008389 June 7, 2022, 12:36 pm

The Cambria Freeman. (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938: February 06, 1868 1868
Disastrous Conflagration - St. Xavier's Academy in Ruin. 
At half-past 3 o'clock on Saturday afternoon last, St. Xavier's Academy, located
between Latrobe and Youngstown, in Westmoreland county, owned and conducted by the
Sisters of Mercy, was discovered to be on fire, occasioned, as was supposed, by a
defective flue.  In an incredibly short space of time the entire building, with the
adjoining chapel, was wrapped in flames, and ere long the bare walls of the large
and imposing edifice were alone left to mark the spot. In addition to the buildings,
the bulk of the furniture, including beds and bedding for over one hundred pupils,
was consumed. The pianos, the wardrobes of the pupils, and some other articles were
saved; and this was owing mainly to the devoted and untiring energy of the Sisters,
who, with that self sacrificing spirit which ever marks their pure and holy lives,
directed all their efforts to the rescuing of the property of their boarders while
their own was being destroyed. By almost superhuman exertions the fine marble altar
in the chapel was preserved. The entire loss is estimated at $150,000, while the
insurance, we understand, is not beyond $30,000, scarcely more than sufficient to
cancel the debt against the institution. We can but join with every feeling heart in
the hope that there is enough of Christian charity in the land to erect for the good
Sisters another and more secure home than the one of which they have been so
suddenly and ruthlessly deprived. They whose lives are devoted to the education and
comforting of the human family, should not lack willing and useful friends when
misfortune comes upon their own household.

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