These recollections of that fateful night
were recounted in the 1938 Fidelian,
at that time the School's Yearbook.
Rev. Bertrand Brookman, OFM Cap.
I never knew what horror was until I was aroused from sleep that terrible night and found myself groping about in a black cloud of fumes and smoke. The thought of sixty-five precious lives in the dormitory above filled me with a terror I shall never forget. Nor can I ever fail to remember the joy that I felt when I heard that the students were safely out of the building.
Old St. Fidelis is gone. Our friends wish us well, and tell us that a new and greater St. Fidelis will arise from the ashes. But a greater St. Fidelis, a more modern St. Fidelis will never replace the old St. Fidelis with the precious memories that clung to its hallowed walls; nor will it restore the treasured records that linked the past with the present. But we shall never cease to thank God and our holy patron for saving the lives of those who were so close to a horrible death.
Father Victor Green, OFM Cap.
I can't think of what might have happened without a slight attack of "nerves” and a fervent “ Thank God!” With corridors filled by smoke there was nothing left but see the boys to safety and pray that our clamor would wake Father Director and the others in the old building. Never did I feel quite so lonely and helpless, never did I so wish for the faculty of bi-location as when I stood on the landing directing traffic and thinking with fear of what might be happening elsewhere in the building. That no lives were lost we owe first of all to an ever-watchful Providence. After God and Saint Fidelis we owe it, I believe to the general discipline of the Seminary (not always appreciated, naturally enough, by those who live under it) , to the admirable behavior of the students in general, and to the excellent, cool-headed action of a few in particular.
We’ve suffered a great loss, but friends in need have shown their fine spirit from the very night of the fire. Others will rally to the cause of a new Saint Fidelis. God bless them all!
Edward S. Gallagher, ’41
Edward was the future Fr. Otmar Gallagher, OFM Cap. (+2012)
“Get up, the Seminary’s on fire!” These were the words John Martin shrieked as he threw open my alcove curtain. Through my half asleep brain echoed that last word, fire! Our school on fire! Impossible! The dense smoke brought me to my full senses. After arousing the boys, Martin and I led them down the stairs past Father Victor, who had told us how to get the fellows up, while he was still on the second floor after being awakened by Richard Aman. We found all the doors in the basement locked so we reached safety through the gym and tower windows. We aroused, by our shouts our beloved Father Director, Father Timothy, Brother Jerome and Mrs. Acker.
The priests and students did all they could to extinguish the blaze until firemen arrived. Then we had to stand by, helpless, and watch our Alma Mater burn to the ground. Il seemed like a terrible nightmare. But, alas! The flames were spreading rapidly and in no time the attic and dormitory of the old building were ablaze and now it was impossible to control the flames. A few hours later 126 broken-hearted students departed for home.
God grant that we may soon return to school, ready for prayer and study on our way to God's altar.
John J. Martin, ’41
John was the future Fr. John Martin (+1996)
Very seldom does one benefit by restlessness at night. On one tragic occasion I happened to be restless and could not get to sleep, and that restlessness benefited me on that particular night. I was just dozing off to sleep after a few hours tossing in my bed, when I thought I smelt smoke. Saint Fidelis is on fire! The priests and students will be burned to death! Thoughts such as these ran through my mind. I sat up in bed to see if it was real or only a dream, rather I should say a nightmare. However there was a fire! I jumped out of bed and began dressing. The students must get out! This was the foremost thought in my mind. While I was dressing I uttered a little prayer that I would keep calm and do the right thing. Just then I heard someone run past my alcove. I thought it was Aman and my conjecture proved to be right. I followed him to the stairway where I lost him in the smoke. I felt certain he would 
arouse Father Victor. I managed to get back to Gallagher’s alcove and wake him up. He was dazed for a while but became very calm. We made our way to the stairway and looked over the rail; Father Victor saw us and told us to get the students up. I rang the bell and Gallagher shouted for the students to keep calm. We told them to get dressed because all had to go outside. The entire student body left the building as calmly as such an exit was ever made before. Once outside their shouts aroused the priests, and for the remainder of the night, with tears in their eyes and sadness in their hearts, they watched Saint Fidelis Seminary, their school and home burn. We all finally realized that the nightmare which everyone imagined it to be, was true, sadly true.
Read the account of the 'Priest Hero'
from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette