The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-18 00:00:00

THE FIRE IN A FRENCH LUNATIC

ASYLUM.

A Correspondent of the Standard, writing from Dinar' on
Nov. 9, sends the following account of a second fire which
had broken out at a lunatic asylum
Last week I sent you an account of a fire which took
place atethe lunatic asylum of Les Bas Foins, on the
night of Tuesday, the 24th ult., between nine and ten
o'clock. On Tuesday evening last the couvre feu bell
again began to ring out the warning of a lire, and
within a minute or two the big bells of the churches
of St. Maio and St. Sauveur re-echoed the intelligence
in tones which could,have left no one in the town in
ignorance of the fact that a Ere was raging. "It
is at the Bas Foins again," flew from mouth to mouth,
and crow's again marched off in the direction of
the asylum—many prepared to spend another night,
If' necessary, in assisting to put out the fire; many,
however, stayed on some high ground overlooking
the asylum' as a rumour (for which there was no
foundation) had got abroad that the lunatics had over-
powered the monks and set fire to the building. The
fire brigade with their pumps, were, of course, dis-
patched at the first alarm, and the soldiers from the
barracks were not long in putting in an appearance.
A ball, which was to have been the last of the season,
and which was just commencing at the Casino, came
to a summary termination, for as soon as it was
known there was a fire again at the Bas Foins
the maire and most of the gentlf men went off at
once to render any assistance in their power. On
arriving at the asylum it was discovered that the
fire had broken out in a thrret shaped building
which forma the south. eastern corner of the
quadrangle forining the north wing, and which serves
as the connecting link of four ranges of the building—
viz., the infirmary and a block of buildings containing
dormitories of lunatics belonging to the poorer
classes which form the two sides of the north wing,
untouched by the fire of Tuesday fortnight; a con-
tinuation of the same block also containing dormitories
,of the
„poorer lunettes, and which forms one side of the
next quadrangle; and a row of buirdllgs (a cohtinua-
tion of the iefirmary), which are, I believe, used as
offices &c, It will be seen therefore that this building
WAS the centre from which radiated the principal and
most populated parts of the establishment. This
turret contains a winding etaircase, made of wood,
leading to a room in which most of the linen is kept,
and in the mi&dle of the staircase, a few feet from the
level of the ground flyer, is a large iron tank which is
kept full of water, and it in the wooden walls of 'this
staircase just below the tank, that the fire broke out a
little after eight o'clock. Fortunately it was discovered
almost immediately, and asthe tank prevented it mount-
ing so quickly as it would othervsiee have done, it was
speedily put out, so that when the firemen arrived they
found little or nothing to do. The doors leading to this
staircase are locked every evening when the inmates go
to their dormitories, and are seldom reopened before the
morning; but on Tuesday evening one of the brothers
had occasion to go from one part of the building to the
other, and passing the top of the staircase noticed a
smell of smoke, and at once raised the alarm. Had it
not been for this circumstance the fire would probably,
have reached the linen room before it was discovered,
and thence have spread to the other buildings. Happily
this disaster was averted, and very little damage was
done. Two pumps and 14 firemen, with a picket
of soldiers remained on the spot all night in case
the fire might break out again. There is always
a night watch, consisting of four of the
brothers of the community • this was doubled, and
palmed
fortunately the night pad without any further
alarm, If the fire had gained ground and spread to
the adjoining buildings it is believed that the whole
establishment must have been burned down. I went
yesterday to the asylum and was shown the sceee of
the previous night's disaster. The brothers of the
order and the assistants were in great distress, as
there is no doubt that both the fires are the werk of an
incendiary; the staircase could oily have been entered
by some one having a key. Many of the lunatics,
however, have keys, as they are employed on work of
different kinds, such as washing, &se, which renders it
necessary for them to pass to and fro. Stringent rules
have, however, now been laid down; pipes were yesterday
forbidden altogether, and all keys and lucifer matches
were to be given up last night before the establishment
was closed for the night. Considerable excitement is felt
In the town about these fires, and speculation is rife as
to their cause. Some people think that as the institu-
tion is a religious one the incendiariem is the work
of anti-religionists. There is, however, little doubt
that it is the work of an inmate, or inmates of the
establishment. The large fire broke cut in two rooms,
some distance apart, simultaneously; and as I have
already explained, that of last Tuesday commenced in
a place which could only be got at by some one possessed
f a key. It is difficult to understand what could be the
motive for such an act. One of theTillan papers of last
week, speaking of the first fire, tells the following story,
which I give for what it is s“.)rtit :—" It is said that one
of the lunatics, struck with the brightness of the lights
du,inc a celebration in the chapel some weeks since,
said, 'The illumination will be much more beautiful on
• the fête day of Brother X.' It was, in fact, on the even-
ing of the fete day of Brother X, that the fire broke
out." • Tfie same paper goes on to say that the mad
people talk so frequently abent a fire that the attend-
estate take no notice of their remarks. I saw one-of
them enjoying the sight of the burning buildings.
"What a lovely bonfire 1" was the remark they Made:,
It is a ourious coincidence that the second fire'broke
out exactly a fortnight after the first, and at exactly
the same time. It is much to be feared that the fre-
quent alarm of fire will have-a very unhappy effect on
the poor lunatics. One who escaped during the first
fire said he did not wish to go back to the Bas Foins
to be grilled alive. The prohibition of smoking, too,
can only be a temporary measure, as the poor fellows
were very much upset at not being allowed the custo-
mary solace of their pipes yesterday. There is a
strong feeling, which is shared by the brothers
themselves, that 60 religieuses are not sufficient to
guard 600 lunatics, especially as several of the former
are very old. The number is, I believe, to be increased
at once to 100. The great fire has left literally
nothing but the bare walls along almost the whole of
the 150 yards of building which it destroyed, except
some massive stone pillars which formed part of the
library wall. The library was situated immediately
over a coal cellar, in which was stored a considerable
quantity of coals, and the heat from the burning coals
was so great that large blocks were chipped off the
stone pillars. The lower orders cf French people about
here take these fires very philosophically. "Oh lit is
a religious order, and a very rich one; they can easily
g a buildin it
a I have heard said over and over
Tuesday night, some artisans being
again
a o g
n a i n
T.
asked by some friends of mine where the fire was,
replied " Only at the Bee Foins."