The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1868-11-27
BURNING OF THE CENTRAL OHIO
LUNATIC ASYLUM.
Full Particulars and Incident
DISPOSITION OF The PATIENTS
THE BUILDING AS TT Is.

UfUt CCf iON vi I'LL I tiLiV
THE BUILDING AS TT Is.
From the Ohio State Journal.
The Central Ohio LuHatic Asylum
was almost entirely Destroyed by fir
on Wednesday night. The fire orig
mated in the upper part OF the north
east wing, and was discovered abou
nine O'Clock. Appearances indicat
ed that it had been burning for
considerable time, though the attend
ant states that she had been absen
but about fifteen minutes. The room
from which the flames and smok
issued at the time of discovery, was
n dormitory in the extreme nortl
end of the wing, was nearest th'
roof, and was separated frCm anoth
er dormitory by narrow hall. tn,
entire wing was occupied by women
and in this dormitory were severa
patients who appeer to have been suf
focated by tho first whirl of dens,
smoke that poured down from tn,
space between the ceiling and the
roof.
THE SITUATION.
The annual meeting Of the BoarC
of Trustees had taken place on Tues.
day, and a great number of the pa
tients with friends and officers oi
the institution were having a pleas.
ant reunion in what was known as
the Amusement Hall, when the alarm
of fire was given. This at first did
not cause much excitement, but
when the extent of the disaster was
discovered the utmost CONSERVATION
prevailed. There were in the build
ing about three hundred and thirty
patients, including sixty of the most
violent cases, which were in the hos
pital, building entirely isolated
from the main building.
The alarm brought the three en-
gines promptly to the ground, and
work was at once commenced. The
"John Miller" was disabled early,
and the "Ridgeway" was sent to
replace 1t. This engine is the one
that was laid aside some time since
on account Of some disarrangement,
and was of but little service. In
about an hour after the engines COM
menced throwing water, the snpply
in the Asylum cisterns was exhaust
ed.
REMOVING THE PATIENTS.
The fire had progressed steadily
all this time, and it became evident
that the building could not be saved.
AS soon as the fire was discovered,
the removal of patients from the
northeast wing commenced. The
flame and dense smoke made it al
most impossible to penetrate the
rooms in the vicinity of the fire, and
several persons who attempted to
enter, were carried off helpless--al-
most su1located. Among these was
Mr.. S. S. RickIey, who had pressed
forward to rescue inmates, said to
be in the room with the greatest
bravery.
Mr.. Louis Seibert, Thomas Kelly,
Mr.. Hawkins, and one of the attend
ants at the Asylum particularly dis
themselves in this effort,
and succeeded in taking from the
rooms the ifeless bodies of six pa
tients. Other patients were rescued,
with burns or other injuries, or in
such a state OF helplessness as to
revive only with the application of
proper restoratives. In making this
effort the gentlemen named were
burned and otherwise injured, but
they persevered until all were taken
put.
The patients in the portions of the !
not Immediately endanger-
ed, exhibited no undue excitement
with the exception of those aroused !
rom slumber.
All available omnibuses and car
-iages in the city were ordered to
he Asylum as soon as it became ev-
dent that removal was necessary,
and the transfer TO the new Deaf and |
Dumb Asylum building on town |
street commenced. This WAS attend
ID with much difficulty, but was
inally accomplished.
GRAND AND AWFUL sCENg.
The engine whistle by this time
lad sounded the terrible ''no water"
citizens were carrying and tossing
md tumbling articles OF furniture
rom the building; attendants and
were busy with the two
hundred frantic patients, carrying
some from the burning building half
dressed, seating and reseating others
N the carriages and omnibuses q
iew more unfortunate patients were
being taken from upper windows;
women were kneeling beside the six
ifeless forms placed upon the lawn
making vain efforts to restore fire
men lnaddened in their extremity and
almost powerless, with the flames
creeping steadily to the front of the
and flashing out ever and
anon from the central chinneys,
rushed about as directed or as they !
deemed best; the building, now half |
in flames, lOomed up as grand fire
picture as was ever beheld. and the
scene was grand beyond description.
PROGRESS OF THE FIRE.
Arrangements were made to obtain
n supply of water, from distant cis-
terms; the long line of omnibuses
and carriages moved toward the
Deaf and Dumb Asylum, seeming in
the strange light like funeral pro-
cession. And the city at last having
aroused from a seeming stupor,
poured flood of excited people into
the grounds. The fire from this
time progressed rapidly. There
seemed to be a space of three or four
feet between the ceiling snd the roof, !
and this being favorable to q draft,
the fire followed the roof around
until by one o clock il had enveloped
the west wing as well as the front
and east wing.
The roof was tin, was supported
by heavy oak timbers, and was very
to perforate in any way
The central wing, which extends |
north, midway between the east and |
west wings,was saved almost entire. |
In this were the kitchen, bake-house,
engine room, carpenter shops, &c.
All the engines remained on the