Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-11-20

chilling announcement was made. ssNo tcq
teri" Nowonder strong men were bowed
down In utter helplessness. No wonder
were the members of the Fire Department
drawn up in line with idle machines, and
with folded arms and begrimmed faces
heard to deplore that sadly mistaken policy
which robbed. the Capital City of this great
State of Ohio of its most urgent need
waterworks. No wonder did tender wo-
men cry out in anguish. No wonder we've
the mOistened eyes Of an aged Christian
philanthropist turned reverently to Heay-
en- as he feryently breathed an audible
prayer for deluge; for there, before the
| yes of thepowerless multitude, was being
licked up by fire the grandest monument oi
a great Christian charity to be found in the
entire Union. The pride of the State of
Ohio, her model Retreat for the Insane, the
Institution which was looked upon as the
first of its class in all this country, was in
flames; the fire engines had ceased to work,
and the nearest ,oater, small city cistern, ,oas
fully three thousand feet .a,oay!
| HYENAs
Sneaked cowardiy into the grounds OF, the
doomed structure, and preyed greedily
upon the spoils which were everywhere
Exposed. Losing the semblance of men
while engaged in their nefarious work OF
plunder, watchmen failed to recognize
them, and tor the night they reposed in
their dens with their plumber, dreading to
look out at the light of the coming day.
Blankets, bed-linen, towels, wearing ape
parel and stores of general description were
seized upon, and drawers and trunks force
i ed open and their contents (money in one
case, at least), rified. Several arrests were
made yesterday, and we offer prayer for
the rendering of justice without mercy, to
each convicted scoundrel who chose such a
field in which to ply his devilish trade. -
| ,..,-. THE SPECTRE INMATE -.t- Il
Was the theme of universal conversation
among the masses within the area in rear
of the main entrance, during the progress
of the fire, but careful search by humane
men soon transformed the reported spirit
into poor frightened lady, who, escaping
death from the lcrumbling halls, had eva
ded her watchers and with wonderful
agility had climbed to the roof of the con-
servatory in the rear, where, in white
night dress she nimbly walked the ledge
singing the while, in apparent ignorance OF
the terrible doings. of the Fire King around
her. She was removed in safety.
THE HEROES OF THE NIGHT.
The noble men who, Sdisdaining death.
plunged into its jaws to snatch from thence
its passive victims, are entitled to most
honorable mention. Mr.. Louis Seibert, of
the firm of Seibert & Lilley, exhibited true
bravery in returning again and again 70
the burning rooms of the east wing, bear
ing away in his arms on each occasion an
inmate, ,untilat last encroaching fire serious
ly threatened to cut off his own retreat.-
La s.last visit to, the fatal east wing. Mr..
S.ibert narrowly escaped death. Against
remonstrance, he dashed through sea of
fire, followed by noble attendant carry
ing the keys of the hall, until
they together reached a room, the
door OF which was found to be-
already sheet of flame. Dashing
through, Mr.. Siebert directed the light of
small lamp. which he held in his right
ing it unoccupied, sprang out in the hall,
telling the attendant that the room was not
occupied by patient. On being assured
that the room was occupied, Mr.. Siebert
again entered, and casting the light from
his lamp around the room, discovered fe-
male crouching in a corner, to spring at his
throat. In her mad rush at him, he for
tunately caught her right hand in his left,
and throwing away the lamp, trusted In the
fierce ensuing grapple in the darkness to
secure her other hand. He succeeded, and
although a powerful man, found it neces-
sary to exert all his strength in bringing |
the inmate to her knees, in which posi-
tion he dragged her through fire
and suftocating smoke to place
of safety. The great exertion of the
wrestle, together with the long exposure to
the suffocating smoke and gas of the room,
overcame Mr.. Siebert, and he sank fainting
TO the floor. Drs. Peck and Smith imme-
diately administered restoratives, and in
short time he WAS again on his feet, and
away toward ti,r w.-st sing. ln a room in
the front building, he found sleeping man.
Extreme difficulty wa, experienced in in
ducing him to get up and follow,to place
OF safety, but by little good tact it was ac;d
Mr.. S. S Rickly was also overcome by
smoke, and was taken to his home in
He soon recovered.
Mr.. Albert 5. Ford did noble service, in
company with Mr.. Seibert in rescuing the
inmates, and to his bravery number of
the unfortunates are indebted for their
lives. Other citizens, whose names we do not
know, Joined the noble heroes above mem
toned, and by their determined bravery in
the awful emergency, gained for them
selves record lasting as Time itself.
SCENES ON REMOVING THE PATIENTS.
When it became patent to every mind,
from the frequent whistling of the steam
ers, sending the alarm of "no water"
that the whole of the beautiful building
must be burned, the fire slowly, yet surely,
along the front building in close
proximity to the west wing, where most Of
the male patients had their rooms, the ne
cessity of the removal of all the insane be-
came subject of anxiety. t III
REMOVAL OF THE FEMALE PATIENTS.
The females, inhabiting the east wing,
and the eastern portion of the south front,
we're cared for, by being conveyed to the
Deaf and Dumb Asylum in omnibuses and
close carriages of every description that
could be got together. Some of them,
forced from the burning building, were
wildly violent, but under the firm care and
Kind treatment of the attendents who for |