Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-11-27

From the Columbus (Ohio) Journal, Nov. 10. :
Burning of q Lunatie Asylum-Particu
lars OF the Destruction or the Central
Ohio Lunatic Asylum-Geven Lives Lost
Fearful Scenes. I'D.
The Central Ohio Lunatic Asylum was
last night almost entirely destroyed by
fire. The fire originated in the north
dormitory of the east wing and was dis.
covered about nine o'clock. It was amuse-
ment night and many of the inmates were
collected in the amusement hall. The
alarm was telegraphed to the engine houses
and the entire department was almost i'm
mediately on the ground. The flames
spread very rapidly and the work of res
culng the inmates was at once commenced.
la the confusion seven persons persisted in
the flames or were suffocated by the smoke.
The bodies were secured by the most
strenuous exertions, though the persons
who carried them out were very much
injured.
The water thrown by the engines seem ed
Tor time to retard the flames, bu5 about
ten o'clock the cinoers were exhausted
The scene at this time beggars all descrip-
ton. The frantic inmates being hurried
from the burning building, the whole east
wing OF which was now in flames coming
some Of them from beds OF slumber, and
worse, from beds of sickness taken from
windows and rushing out of door; tie
engines all at york; men tshoutiDg and
rushing from one point to another, carry
ing out furniture and tossing it from win
dows.
All this time the city seemed scarcely
awake to the great disaster, comparatively
.ew persons being on the GROUND. All
in r. " rf4
ordered to the asylum, and the inmates
were transferred to the Deaf and Dumb
Asy lum, where they were as we'll cared for
rs possible. The scenes attending this
transfer were Of the most startling charaC-
ter, but it IS believed no serious accident
occurred.
When the water in the cisterns in the
vicinity of the sylum was exhausted water
was forced from other cinterns In the city,
though this weakened the working force Of
the department on the ground. A strong
stream was poured upon the building for
hours after the asylum cisterns gave out.
The fire extended soon along the roof OF
the entire east wing, then along the front
part of the main building to the extreme
west end. For time the wings i'll the
centre and Oh the west extending north
we're free from fire but at this writing
lbWO n. III bllO aLiC thhV bG~
building will be entirely destroyed. The
greater part OF the furniture was saved,
though much of it III damaged condition.
There was no insurance on the building.
The names of the inmates who persisted IN
the flames could not be aScer;Glned with
any certainty.
Dr. s. NJ. Smith, President of the Board
of Trustees, was early on the ground and
remained TO the last, working with DR..
Peck, the superintendent, to manage to
the best. Numerous citizens spent almost
the entire night at the building, assisting
The fire departmentand Joining in the work
OF removing furniture.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
Columbus Dispatch to the Cincinnati Com
merciall
1t is now impossible to tell how many
persisted, but it is certain that seven were
suffocated. Their names are as follows -
Mrs. Bridget Brophy, of Columbus Lizzie
Herald, of Athens Mrs. Ansel, Mrs. Par
ker, an old woman known as Mother Muir
ray and two whose names your correspon-
dent was unable to obtain. Mrs Balm
and one other I know to have been in
jured seriously, but I think they will re-
cover.
DIR. Peck and his assistants. male and
i6mHle, dCIeu well, DSlu5 uHUout1IlJ SOo1
and sensible in this most trying emer-
gency. Mr.. Louis seibert, of this city,
also acted the hero, going into the burning
rooms time after time, and removing many
patients, until he tainted, and is now in d
critical condition. S. S. Rickley was also
somewhat injured by the heat.
At this hour (midnight the fire is gain
ing ground, and it is feared the building
will be entirely consumed. Conveyances
are now arriving.t to remove the patients to
some other portion of the city. The light
of the burning building attracted thou
sands to the place.
LATER.
The fire is Igaining ground, aud it now
seems impossible to save the building
The male patients who occupy the western
wing, who have heretofore been compare
lively quiet, are now growing frantic as the
fire approaches them but if human aid
can help them they will all be saved. 1t Is
supposed the fire originated from a detec-
tive fue in one of the sleeping rooms.
LATEST.
Nov. 19-1 A. M-Tho entire building
is now one sheet of fame and all hopes of
saving any portion OF it are given up. All
of the patients in the western wing were
rescued with one exceptional middle-aged
man, who was found suffocated IN one of the
lower rooms. Much of the furniture, bed
ding, &C.. is saved, and is being removed
to various portions of the city as fast as
possible.
A heavy snow is falling that only adds to
the desolation of the scene. [ understand
that about three hundred and fifty inmates
were confined at the breaking out of the
fire and to all who are familiar with the
building it must seem almost incredible
that SO few are lost.