New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-02-15
Center
Wiz BuBdna NlIL
LIS feet. rs feet ionl Us tet
81 feet deep.


po was of the same hight, IS feet long and 60 feet
wide. The center building, az in the above diagram
shown was occupied as dwelling and Office by the
resident ply scian, DR.. Sanger hs family and assist
ants, the wings either side being occupied by pa
tients, one for males and the Ott er for females.
The Hospital proper afforded accommodation FOX
about sx hundred patients, though at the time of the
fire there were but five hundred and thirty inmates.
The walls were of blue stone and the rafers o
Georgia pine, the roof being of wood covered with
tin. The building from the outside presented ma
sive appearance, but for years past has been
considered unsafe, and the Board of Ten Governors
have expended many thousand dollars in brscing it
with iron straps and bands. Since the destruction of
the interior it plain TO be that the work wss
done in most sloveny manner; the outside wall pre-
seLttd fair appearance, but it was in reality filed
in with cObbe stones and it is said that loam from the
island was used instead OF sand. The walls for some
time pat had been bullying out and it feared that
some Gay or other the whole establishment would
tumble down.
AT the time aforementioned, the Waterman en-
ployed on this part of the island discovered fire aud
smoke issuing from the windows Of DR.. Sanger's
private kitchen. and Immediately gave the alarm Tue
fire had by this time got pretty well kinded, and be-
fore many persons could be aroused the flames had
burnt through the floor above into large room used
by DR.. Sanger as an office. In the center building
were fifteen persons, consisting Of DR.. Sanger, his
family, staff OF medical assistants ard servants Tho
apothecaries' office, which was well stocked with
drugs, was on the came floor with the Office.
The occupants of the main building thrown
into the greatest conformation, for, by the time
they were fully aroused from their slumbers, they
were nearly. suffocatod with the smoke, which
deDsey filed that portion Of the structure. II was inn
possible for them 10 dress think Of saving their
property, az the fire was now making rapid progress
toward the upper portion Of the edfce, aud nearly all
ran down stairs in their night clothes. 1t was now
discovered that the matron Of the institution miss
ing but che made her appearance on the balcony
of the second sor where she screamed Justify for as
sistapce. Mr. Simpson, Engineer Of the Alms-H,use
procured ladder, and succeeded in rescuing the
uatrop, who wss incumbered with the least possible
amount Of clothing. II seems that she had been
aroused at the fret alarm, but from SOME fanciod
security had again retired.
All those in the center building having been cared
for il now became time to look after the patients in
the wings. But little time was lost in unlocking the
doors, when the patients male and female, ponred
down the sairwsys into the yard with an slacry most
astonishing for sick persons. Fortunately they were
not obliged to go throus the center building ss oho.-
wise there must have been fearful loss Of life Those
who could not walk out were carried out the physi-
clans, guards, servants waidens and number of men
from the Pententisry under charge OF Warden Fitch,
rendering efficient service. hut in the excitement of
the moment, me of the womens wsrds had been over
looked and the person who had the key could not he
found. No tne was to be lost. Tmbers and stones
from other parts of the burning building brought;
the door was quickly battered in, aud there poured
forth pe NELL the most joyous crowd OF sick persons
that probably ever was seen. After il vac supposed
that al had been rescued last look was taken aud
one poor old man. scarcely able to speak from succa
ton, was found and rescued. Thus, By prompt and
energetic action, all Of the inmates saved though
many were nearly sufocsted Bicrs and litters were
soon brought to carry away the bedridden who wero
soon comfortably placed alongside the huge stoves in
the Penitentiary halls. The sick men were put in q
safe place near the burning building where they could
BE- kept warm while the women were safely housed il
the Pententiary which, by the way, was but f1w
steps distant. One womal in labor, and was de-
lvered short time after she was removed; another
came out Of the burning building with the body Of her
child which had died the day before and third lost
child few hours sftorward which had been previously
sick, and was probably affected by exposure.
The most strenuous efforts made 10 subdUe the
flames but from the combustbe nature of the material
about the establishment they spread with greater
rapidy and in less than threequaers OF hour after
the discovery of the fire. the entire structure in
blaze. The exposed Stuston Of the building, being on
the southern END of tho Island, between the Smallpox
Hospital and the PeniteDary, gave the ar free scope
on every s:de rendering it impossible to save thecstab
lslment. The ventatOr assisted to fan the
flames and the bitter cold prevented tdose presentfrom
making as efectual attempts they otherwise would
have DONE The building used ne q cook.house and
wash-house which contained considerable machinery
valued altogether at 10000 or $4,000, was saved
mainly by the eBorte Of Engineer Simpson and No
Hunt, master blacksmith. 10th stood msnfully with
their hose connected with donkey pump, in the wash
house IN dangerous proximity to the falling walls Of the
Hospital, fully determined to save their bull ling.
The Cnoton water introduced on the island about
TWO years since, and there is q reservoir holding
i''"'oV gallons, with fr-plugs scattercd about 10
coD'ehen' PAGES. There are also two small fire.
engines OF small cahber about two years old which
were Drought INTO requisition. About thirty of tue
most rusty pr-oter were brought from the Penten-
tiary, and number from the Work. House and in
short time after tho fA broke out the epenes were a.
worn. The fre-piugs, however, were out Of order
and cou not at rst DO used 80 that they had to draw
water from the river.
II was nearly O'Clock before labors were SUE
pended and then but little remained save heap of
ruins. DR.. Sanger, the resident physician, who
is very widely known, lost everything personal
properly. library. severi full sess Of costy sur
ersi instruments. and tho greater part Of the
manuscript Of q work on prostitution which hO
he'd jas. ga ready fox che Press. The DUctx sue-