The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-09-04
BURNING OF THE NEW YORK QUARANTINE
BUILDINGS
ONE MAN SHOT AND FIVE FOUNDED.
THE DEAD AND DYING EXPOSED TO THE OPEN
AIR.
[From the Now York Herald, clpt. g.

The fire at quarantine on Wednesday night appears
have been of much more serious nature than at
first supposed Nearly every building within the quar-
antine grounds was totally destroyed with the exception
OF the principal female hospital, known as the st. Mich
olas.
The excitement at Staten Island most intense
hundreds Of persons being congegaed and about the
landing talking the affair. The scene indeed, was
beyond description the grass was covered with the
sick-many of them suffering the most intense agony
large majority of the sick, however provided
with every accommodation in the prison house the only
building standing As To the of the fire there
is doubt but that it arranged by the ncendares
to fire the buildings Wednesday night as the manner
in which IT was done shows that their plans had all been
we'll arranged before the work commenced. The
first that know of the intention to destroy the build
ngs the appearance of about five hundred persons at
the upper gate the line the west wall DR. Thompson
! instantly made Of the fact when he ordered
the stevedores to be aroused He he given
the above order than the old small pox hospital on the
upper end of the grounds discovered to be fire
Every one within the grounds awake but it
found that the mob too strong for them to at
tempt to drive them away DIR. Bissel, soon as he
the fire, took his gun and up to the small pox
hospital, where he found large number of straw beds
piled under the piazzas and burning at tremendous
rate. He demonstrated with the mob but to purpose,
they Instantly drove him from the place They then
proceeded to the shanties extending along the west
wall-ten in numbcr--and fired each of them, first,
however, removing the sick--anong them of the
smallpox patients, about fifteen in number The mob
appeared, while destroying the shanties in great
shanties not fired and straw bed and then take
il TO where the fire was, setting the beds fire after
which they would return with the burning beds and
throw them into the shantics In this manner they de-
stroyed every one, When DIR. Bissc first went out to
remonstrate against their conduct he knocked down
and compelled lily for his life After the shanties had
been fred they proceeded to the barn house, several
small outhouses the dead house. cc-house and carriage
house, all of which they fired, and which totally de-
stroyed They even took the dead cart and another
wagon that on the ground and ran them into the
fire. Inc coal yard, containing about GOO tons, was
next visited by the mob and all the coal destroyed In
several the shantes about twenty fifty tons OF
coal, which also consumed. The baggage-honse,
containing large amount of baggage also totally
destroyed together with the engine and ESQ feet of hose
thus cutting of any chance for using the same to arrest
the progress Of the flames The mob at IL O'Clock then
proceeded to the residence of Dr. Thompson Here they
ordered every person out of the house Mrs Thompson
who confined to her bed, had to be conveyed from
the house in a chair and taken to the residence of
Mr. Fountain on the outside of the wall. Dr. Thomp
succeeded in getting portion of his library before
the flames drove him from the dwelling Some OF his
furniture also saved. The building was, however,
totally destroyed.
During the attempt made by the stevedores to extn
guish the flames of them, named Frank Matthews
was shot in tho neck with buckshot. He brought
to the New York Hospital but his recovery is considered
doubtful.
The mob remained in and about the quarantine grounds
until near daylight, when they all left Among them
were many well known citizens of the island none Of
whom disguised. 1t is said the work of firing the
fsst building done by two persons Of whom the
stcvclores attempted to arrest but he afterwards lib
Grated by of the doctors connected with the luaran
tine.
The sick that removed from the shanties were
placed by the mob about two hundred yards from the
fire. This morning, however, many were yet lying about
woman lay up beside the stone wall with the small
pox in its worst stages piece Of canvas was erected
her to keep the off She appeared to be suffer-
ing very intensely, but attempt made to
her On The p
with yellow fever, one OF whom was said to be dy-
ing. Strange to say, lives lost but it is sup
posed several will die from the excitement and their
posure to the night air.
Tho dwelling Of Dr. Thompson, the health officer was
burned. not timber Of it remaining In Short all the
hospitals excepting the at the entrance gate, which
used principally for ship fever and general dis
orders destroyed and into this crowded
the patients from all the hospitals combined Some sixty
passengers from the steamer Empire City were landed in
the afternoon previous, to remain five days. who made
their escape in the confusion attending the burning
There is little excitement about the place. and bus
ness is proceeding inside the walls usual One
shot, is said accidentally by of the physicians
He brought up to the city for treatment The peo-
pie outside the walls generally give credit to the phys
clans for their and determination in saving
and caring for the sick, temporarily There have been
destroyed in all two brick hospitals five shanties the
dead house. and DIR Thompsons dwelling stables, and
outhouses and also the doctors private papers, of
which have been picked up by the residents of the vii
age, and have not as yet been returned.
The cause Of the cor r'agration has been traced to
resolution the board of health of Casteton declaring
the grounds nuisance too ntoerable to be bornc and
recommending the citizens to protect themselves by abat
ing the nuisance These resolutions posted through
out the island, and Wednesday evening large con-
course of the residents of Staten Island from all quarters
assembled at Fort Hi of the forts thrown up ty
the essians during the revolution The resolutions were
submitted TO the meeting, carefully rea1 and they were
then asked if they would would not support the board
of health The result was that procession formed
and proceeded to the quarantine grounds, where the
work of destruction commenced. The Herald adds
zine scene however as described to us, must have
been really heart-rending Sick maimed and enfeebled
people of all countries unable to leave their BEDS and
feebed too by the influences of southern Cline hud-
died as they WERE and borne without notice into the
cold atmosphere and the frghtfu glare of tho urd
lagration They were cared for well they possibly
could be- the infectious patients promptly
to Randals Island whilst the yellow fever, smallpox
and other accommodated in the only building
left standing, which formerly used jail, and
stands the entrance at the Quarantine gate All the
other buildings azeed to the ground and the only
private residences left standing Mr. Lockes DR. Wa
scrs, and the gardeners. Dir Thompson residence pre-
really melancholy sight OF this beautiful
house nothing remains but the shattered walls. |
About the gardens strewn books, pamphlets medical
works, classical authors and private memoranda tossed
by the gddy winds about"
The excitement became very intense on Thursday /
morning in the neghborhood Of the Quarantine grounds
and about Eve hundred of the mob held mccn. and
naca a,d