The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-10-01
From the Cleveland Herald, Sept. 2sth.l

From the Cleveland Herald, Sept. 26th.l f.
We have rarely been called upon to record a
more serious and lamentable public calamity
than the nearly total destruction by fire, on
Wednesday afternoon, of the Northern Ohio
Lunatic Asylum at Newburg. The building
was a.splendid structure, 900 feet in length, the
exterior walls being entirely of stone. Two
large wings had just been completed, at a cost
of 100000. These increased the capacity of
the institution to 600 patients, fully that number
being on the books at the time of the disaster
SCENES OF EXCITEMENT AND TERROR.
1t was hoped at first that the flames might be
extinguished without creating alarm among the
multitude of inmates, the consequences of
which none could foretell. In the course of ff-
tween or twenty minutes, however, it was found
that in spite of every effort the flames had
worked downward, and were rapidly spreading
through the upper story of the building in every
direction. The sad truth was felt that at least
the centre portion was doomed TO destruction.
Orders were given for the immediate removal
of the patients, and a large number of the at
taches OF the institution and others addressed
themselves to this work with the greatest zeal
and energy, while others still sought by the aid
of hose, buckets and other appliances at hand
to check the flames. The scenes that ensued
during the next hour almost defy description
The officers and attendants throughout the in
SbltutiOu uiduc udSUe 10 UNLOCK bne doors OF the
various wards and cells, and directed the in
mates to leave the building at once. A portion
OF them complied promptly, and even rendered
valuable assistance in the rescue of others.
Some of the unfortunate were appalled, with
terror and became absolutely frantic uttering
piercing shrieks and cries. The extreme diff
Guilty of controlling six hundred lunatics under
such circumstances can be but family imagined
Many resolutely refused to leave their cells,
concealing themselves in closets or under their
hn1c nr1A
of any avail In many instances it was found
necessary to pull them out of their hiding
places by main force. In several cases such
stout resistance was made that the strength of
two or three men was required to overcome
single patient. In few of the worst cases
they struggled feaIfully fighting and resisting
with that almost superhuman power SO often
manifested by the insane Some of them i'll
sisted on taking with them all their clothing,
bedding and articles of every kind, and could
only with the utmost difficulty be forced to
leave without them. One man tied mp an i'm
mense bundle, that would have staggered a
pack horse, and was vainly Juggling to lift it
from the floor. He had to be actually torn
away from it by two men and dragged to the
place of exit. The female patients were even
more difficult to manage than the males. More
susceptible to excitement and alarm, many of
them ran hither and thither in frantic terror
some making all haste to escape, and others, as
in the case OF the men, refusing to leave their
sisting in every possible way with all their
strength Several patients, after being set at
liberty in the grounds, rushed back into the
burning building, to be again borne struggling
out. In that part of the building nearest where
the fire originated some of the wards were filled
with sitting heat and smoke before the last of
the patients therein could be conducted to
place of safety. Further from the centre the
wards were generally cleared before the fire
reached them. Hundreds of men and women
from the VILLAGE and the rpOioD adi 70
asylum were engaged in the work of rescuing
the patients in all parts of the building and the
excitement was intense beyond all power of ex-
preston in words. The fire, meanwhile, had
moval OF the inmates from the remote wards
had been completed the interior of the central
portion was one mass of flame.
A FEARFUL AND FATAL CRASH. .
Shortly after2 o'clock, three quarters of an
hour after the fire was discovered, terrible
an immense tank containing 5000 gallons of
water, kept constantly full for the supply ofth
building. The supports of the tank having
burned away it fell, the great weight carrying
it down to the basement, crashing through all
the intermediate floors. Miss Mary Walker. a
seamstress in the institution, was upon the
third floor, and had been gathering up a few
valuables belonging to her. She was in the
hall near the front, probably about to descend
the stairway, when the terrible crash came
the floor under her feet. In some way her
limbs got fast in the debris and it was impossi-
BILE for her to extricate herself. Joseph Turney
and John Dipley were in the reception room, on
the second floor, trying to save the piano and
other articles of value. Immediately after the
crash they discovered Miss Walker in her per-
ilous condition and made every effort in their
power to save her. Selling bed they shouted
to her to drop herself upon it, not knowing that
she was held fast by the timbers The stairs
had hnnp ~ rrad
to get to her. They took hold of the other foot
which hung down over the edge of the chasm,
and tried to pull her down, but without avail
The fire which had been carried down by the
falling tank blaZed up through the opening
and at length, scorched and weli-nigh suffocat-
ed with the heat and smoke, they were obliged
to abandon her. or inevitably share the same
terrible fate themselves. When they left her
her clothing had taken fire, and she was quick
ly enveloped in fame The men found them
way having been cut off. Mr.. Turney tied
some sheets together, and was about to descend
by that means when long plank was placed
up to window, and he got down in safety
MI Dlpey got out upon the roof of the veran-
da, and reached the ground by sliding down
some of the pillars.
ABOUT THE GROUNDS
the scene was one of the widest confusion
Hundreds of people were running in and out of
the building, after the inmates had all been re.
vast amount of bedding and furniture of every
kind was borne out and heaped upon the ground.
SIX hundred insane men and women were scat
tered about, many of them screaming and rush
ing wildly through the crowd. AS long as any
were IN danger within the building the only !
thought was to save life, and they were suffer-
ed to roam at will outside. AS soon as possible
an organized effort was made to gather them
together and care for them as well as possible
under the trying circumstances. The people of
Newburg did nObly, throwing open their houses
for the reception of the SICK who had been safe
ly carried out on beds, and such others as were
harmless and could be trusted in their charge.
They extended every facility in their power for
meeting the terrible exigencies of the occasion.
DISPOSITION OF THE PATIENTS
The majority of the patients were gradually
collected and removed In wagons to the church,
es in the village, all of which were Immediate
lytthrOwn open to them. Considerable difficult
ty was experienced in removing them from the
grounds. Some had to be forced into the vehi-
Giles by main strength and it was necessary for
attendants to accompany every load Pale,
haggard and wild beating the air and raving in
coherently, moaning and weeping in their dis
tress, uttering maniacal laughs, or sitting in
sullen silence, these unfortunates presented
spectacle that moved the stoutest hearts. By 4
o'clock all had been removed to the village or
neighboring houses. Similar scenes were wit
messed in the churches, where the greater nor
ton were collected. Few had sufficient reason
to comprehend the events of the day. Some
crouched down in terror, others raved wildly,
or INDUCED in singing, laughing, crying, shout
ing or swearing, the whole uniting to form a
terrible chorusithat seemed like pahdemonium
itself No words can give adequate portrayal
to the scene Nurses and attendants belonging
to the asylum were placed in charge of each
detachment and the men and women OF the
village, in far greater number than could pos
sibly be employed, offered their services to as