One day last December, Miss Harrison, a teacher in the female
department, who had been for some days indisposed, was suddenly, and
while performing her duties in the school, seized with a paralysis of
the tongue. The spectacle of their teacher in this distressing
condition, naturally suggested to the children that she was faint, and
required water. At all events, the word _water_ was uttered. It was
repeated. It became a cry; and the cry excited the idea of fire. A
notion sprang up that the school was on fire. That was enough. The
floor was in an uproar; and the noise so created in one department was
communicated to the others. The whole school was seized with panic!
Now commenced a rush towards the various doors. Out of each poured a
flood of children, dashing wildly to the staircase. The torrent jammed
up, and unable to find outlet by the stair, burst the balustrades, and
down like a cataract poured the maddened throng into the central well,
falling on the paved lobby beneath. The scene was appalling. 'Before
the current could be arrested, the well was filled with the bodies of
children to the depth of about eight feet. At this juncture, the alarm
reached the Ninth Ward Station-house, the fire-bell was rung, and a
detachment of the police hurried to the scene. Here a new difficulty
presented itself. The afternoon session of the school having
commenced, the main outer-doors, which open upon the foot of the
stairs, had been closed. Against these the affrighted children were
wedged in masses, and as the doors open inward, it was some time
before relief could be given them. The police fortunately effected an
entrance by a rear-door, but for which timely help, many more of the
children would probably have been suffocated.

'Much commendation is due to the teachers for their presence of mind.
Miss M'Farland, one of the assistants in the primary department,