Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-07-20
I'M DrRyrxe or rHE UTIcA LuyA7

The DCKNING or THE I TICA LCSATIc ASYLUM.
-Afeetin1 .Scenes.-The correspondent Of the
New York Tims1, in giving an account Of the
burning Of the State Lunatic Asylum at Utica,
on the 18th inst, thus refers to the appearance
and conduct Of the unfortunate lunaticS, who
we're rescued and taken to an adjacent grove
PesIEaPs 6ft1 patients. all women, snms IN
straight WaistcOats, and others with their bandS
merely tied together, were scattered in groups
abou:, and all IN a high state Of excitement,
consequent on the fright Of the fire, and their
nnwonted situation IN the open air, surround
ed by a gaping, laughing, jeering crowd. No
efforts of tine keepers could keep the poor cEea-
lures still; the most that could be done was to
prevent them from Tunning away.
Here sat woman Of sioveuly aspect, sing
ing. Her song was chaugeIeSs both in tone and
Eords, but vas interrupted by frequent out
breaks Of subdued laughter. She seemed TO
think herself the cynosure of all eyes, and wore
smile Of the utmost con.placeacy-
Near her gTovelled on the ground gray
haired woman, With Roman nose, and with
figure Of much Portliness. She kept up sort
Of half Zibber, with her mouth agape and roll
ing from side to side, striking about with her
hands She was not long allowed to lay thus IN
the dirt It being found impossible to induce her
To set up. took hold With some other gentle
men and laid her on = bed which had been pro-
duced, and spread under tree.
Pacing gently to and fro, with book claspei
in her hand, tall, thin lady (she could not have
/ been over twentY-fiveJ was talking 20 the I'M
I heesiiHg crowd in tone whose touching, kindly,
I afectionate eaFncstness | have never heard
/ equaIIed The patient path0s with which she
I warned the laughing crowd to beware Of the
I Judgment which delayeth not, and the undiS-
1 tuFbed equaninity with which she smiled on, IN
/ the face Of rudeness, "t0uched me nearly. -
The kind creature vas talking ~ some little boys
| who had, in the shifting Of the crowd found
themselves before her. STOPPING over, she said
/ 20 = fine looking little fellow-''You love 20 go
| to Sabbath school, don't yOu?' The boy said,
YES, I do" She seemed delighted at the re-
sponSe and encouraged to manifestation OF her
affection for the little fellow, for the tears came
into her large eyes, and she laid her hand upon
his head. The boy removed his cap rcyeTentIy,
and looked up unshrinkingly iato her face
Then she took his hand pressed It in her oTn,
and STOPPING, imprinted kiss upon his cheek
! saw the tears coursing down her still calmly
smiling face as she turned away to conceal them,
and walked off
The next one who caught my eye specially
was As striking and horrible = contrast as per
baps could have been produced. She stood a
living embodiment ofrage and passion, Of fierce,
soul. tearing anger. Her hands were tied be-
hind her, and keeper was on her each side
With teeth sunk madIy into he's neither lip, with
features working eonvulsively, and eyes glarng
hereely, she stood and looked about upon the
crowd. Her eye met mine; It lighted up with =
yet wilder frenzy; scream Tung rom her bps,
and she made spring toward me. But her
keeper restrained her. Then she rayedI-
Gods! what oatbs what biIlingsgate, what fifth
from those bisated lips. Near her stood a wo-
man with a folded newspaper over her eyes,
engaged in fervent and unceasing prayer fOI
deliverance from the impending flames. She
was praying y hen / fFst entered the grove, and
she was in the same position when / left
standing alone by herself apparently neglected
by her keepers, 4 woman was engaged IN hasti-
ily arraying herself in ascension robes" Of