The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-11-26
From the OHIO state Journal, Nov. goth.
Burning of the Central Ohio
Lunatic Asylum, tH

.cn near The northern extremity OF
he east wing of the Asylum, which
is occupied by the female inmates,
and dense smoke began to issue
rom those wards and cells in which
lro confined the incurable class of
patients. About two hundred of
the patients were absent from their
wards, having been conducted in
the early part of tho evening;;to the
large Amusement Hall, where they
had been joined by largo number
Of ladies and gentlemen from tho
city, and where both sane and insane
werc mingling together in friendly
intercourse and enjoying the OK
citing pleasures Of the dance. At
first discovery, the fire caused no
serious alarm. 1t was thought
that the flames could be easily sub
ducd, and the prompt arrival Of
tho fire companies, which had been
tolcgraphed, strengthened tho con,
fidence Of all in this belief. But
tho fremcn were able to do abso-
lutely nothing 10 check the pro.
gross of the flames. The water
thrown upon the building floatcd
off the tin roof, and ran down TO
the water'spouts like rain. The
iron CRATES or bars broke the iorco
OF the streams of water turned
against them, and prevented tho
water from penetrating the rooms
except in tho form of spray. And
instead of drumming tho hose through
the halls OF the building and beat.
ing the flames back from within,
they were driven forward by at.
tacks in the rear from without. In
brief time it was announced that
the supply water in tho cisterDs
was exhausted, and then tho fear.
ful truth flashed upon tho minds
OF all that the entire Asylum was
lost. The whole of this magnifi.
cont structure was at once aban.
doned to destruction. One Of those
indcscrlbable scenes then followed,
which are bcheld but once in u
life time, n faithful impression Of
which cannot be conveyed to those
absent'lrorn the appalling spectacle.
The flames had cut off communi.
cation between th6 extrcme end OF
the cast wing and the main build !.
ing, 30 that tho only hopo OF ros.
cuing tho worst class of female in.
matcs from their perilous position
was by breaking lhro' the heavily
barred windows, or cutting pas
sago.way through tho tin. plated
roof. Ladders were thrown agains.
tho Asylum's walls, tho strong iron
grating covering the windows was
torn away, and tho shricking luna.
tics were toudcrly taken in tho
arms Of strong, bravo men, and
borno down tho long ladders to the
ground. Some were led along the
steep roof of the Conservatory
building, and thonce handed care.
fully down TO q place OF safety;
others wore dragged through holes
cut in tho ceilings Of their cells,
and passing ont upon tho high rool
OF the main building, moved
through tho storm like spectres
walking in the mir or upon the sen.
Many Of these unfortunate women
were almost cntiroly nude. Some
had nothing on bnt their night
clothing, some had sheets or blan.
kets wrapped about thoir heads
others with thei. haii streaming in
tho wind, looked like furies lot
loose, Tho feet Of almost all were
without covering, and not q few
without covering upon the uppcl
portion of thoir persons.
A stranger spectacle was pro
sonted in another part of this OK
traordinary scene. All tho female
patients whose rooms could bC
reached had boon assembled in th,
large Amusement Hall, and hat
there boon locked in to prevent
their escape, Almost all tho guards
and attOodants being engaged il
saving property and life, lhesC
congrogated maniacs were lett tC
indulge all the wild faneios and
vagaries Of thoir distemperod
minds. Somo kneelod down and
engaged in earnest prayer, some
engaged in loud exhortations, some
declared that they had just reached
the place of final torments anC
that tho flames around them were
tho flames OF holl, whilo others in
dulgod in loud laughter and jests
now uttering horrid oaths, now
lifting thoir eyes in supplication
and again dancing in n perfect
ecsLacy Of delight, Ono immense
woman sprang With ono bound up
on tho beautiful piano at the heaC
of tho room, and with her heavy
shoes danced solong and with sucl
violence upon it, that although The
lunatic's neck was not broken, The
instrument was completely destroy
cd. 'u.. ....
In the removal OF these ravins
mAniaCs in carriages and omnibusel
they generally presented u very
quiet domcanor and gave but little
trouble, except that some manifest
cd an unaocountable disposition L
rush back into tho flames irou
which thoy had Just been rescued
Sleeping in rooms next 10 the on,
in which tho firo originated wcr,
thosix i'll, ,fated women who sufTero,
tho agonies Of death by sufocatiol