Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-11-26
i,uumrIng ur Lunatlc CA Asylum. /.
Full Par iculars aud incidents.
Disposition of the Patients.
~- The EuiIding as It Is.
EroA The Columbus Journal of last Friday.

FreiH the Columbus Journal of last Friday.
The Central GfIiu I4',natic Asylum was
almost entirei: .;v;,sQyed by fire on
"Wednesday mig IL. HE fire originated
in the upper part of the northeast wing,
and was discovered about nine o'clock.
! Appearances INDICATE that it had been
burning for a considerable time, though
the attendant states that she had been
absent but about fifteen minutes The
room from which the flames and smoke
issued at the time of discovery, was a
dormltory in the extreme north end OF
the wing, was nearest the roof, and was
separated from another domitory by a
narrow hall. The entire wing was occu-
pied by women, and in this domitory
were several patients who appear to have
been suffocated by the first whirl OF
dense smoke that poured down from the
space between the ceiling and the roof
The annual meeting of the Board of
Trustees had taken place on Tuesday,
and great number OF the patients with
friends and officers of the Institution
were having a pleasant reunion in what
was known as enc 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
prevailed. There were in the building
about three hundred and thirty patients,
including sixty of the most violent cases,
which were in the hospital, building
entirely Isolated from the main building.
The aiarir brought the three engines
promptly to the ground. and work was
at once conmenced. The John Miller"
was disabled early, an'd'tile !" kidgeway"
was sent to replace it. This engine is
the one that WAS laid aside some time
since OH account of some disarrange-
ment, and was of but little service, IN.
about an hour after the engines COM
menced throwing water. the supply in
the Asylum cisternS was exhausted ,.,.
The fire had progressed steadily all
this time, and it became evident that
the building could pot be saved. As
soon as the fire was discovered, the re-
moyal of patients from the northeast
win commenced. The fiame and dense
smoke made il almost impossible to pen
etrate the rooms in the vicinity If the
fire, and several psrsons who attempted
to enter. were carried off hslpless raiinostI
suffpcated. Among these was Mr.. ). ).
Rickiey, who had pressed forward to-
rescue inmates, said TO be in the room,
with the greatest bravery. ..
Mr.. Louis Seibert, Thomas Kelley.
Hawkins, and one of the attendants OF
the Asylum particularly distinguished
themselves in this effort, aud succeeded
in taking from the roon,s the Hleless
bodies of six patients. Other patients
wera rescued, with burns or other jnjufv,
or in such a state of helplessness as to re J.
vive only with application OF proper re-
storatives. In making this effort the
gentlemen named were burned and 9th.
erwise injured, hut they persevereduntil
all We're taken out. .lF To .rpI
The patients in the portions OF the
building not Immediately endangered,
exhibited no undue excitement with the
exception Of those aroused from siuInber.
All available on busses md carriages
in the city were ordered n the .Asyluin
az soon as it became evident thai re-i
m0yal WAS Necessary, ana. itli. transfer
to the new Deaf and Dumb Asylum
building OH Town street .t:ommsnced.- p
This was attended with much difficulty,
but was finally accomplished.
The engine whistle by this time had