Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1872-10-03
! Northern Ohio Lunatic
f Asylum.
The Institution in Ruins.
Loss to the State About s4oo, 900.

The Institution in Ruins
Loss to the State About $4,000
Heartrending Scenes Anon.
the Patients.
1....-I p,
A fire broke out in the Northern Obi,
Lunatic Asylum at Newburgh abou
one O'Clock Wednesday afternoon. Sept
25th, and in five hours almost the en-
tire building was in ruins. The fir
was discovered in the eupoia on the cen
trail wing. \ couple of carpenters wer,
employed in placing lantern upon tn,
top of the cupola, which is the highes
point of the building, being III fee
from the ground. Near the the cupola
about ten feet distant, two timers were
employed in making repairs to the roof
and were the first to discover the fire.
THE BUILDING. -".,
The central portion of the asylum
was erected by the State in fhe year,
lS54-5, and received its first patients in
the latter year. The institution at that
time was only about one-quarter of its
present dimensions, and capable of ac-
commodating about one hundred pa
tients. About six years after the COM
pletion of the central building, two
wings were placed on the east and west
ends, increasing the capacity of the in
stitution to 375. Three years ago the
Legislature appropriated $15O,0OO for
making still further additions, and last
year two new wings were completed,
increasing the capacity of the institu-
tion to 525. A rear portion was also
built last year, containing kitchens, en-
gine rooms, etc. Last winter the Legis-
lature appropriated SIS, 600 for making
repairs in the old wards and the older
portions of the building had just been
put in good condition, and repairs on
different parts OF the building were still
being made. The. central portion of
the building was used as offices, parlors,
reception rooms, officers rooms, c.,and
the west wing was divided into wards
for the accommodation of the females
and the east wing for the males. The
building was four stories high, and
built of stone, having a front of S35
feet. ..
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
There are several causes given by
those in the vicinity of the fire for its
origin. 1t is claimed by some that the
fire originated from the fire pans
of the timers, but it was first
discovered by them in the cupola some
distance from where they were at work.
The carpenters employed On the cupola
say that the fire caught from the sparks
from the smoke stack in the rear of the
buildings. i. 9.
-.t,. 4,i THE CONFEDERATION.
The wOrkmen had been on the build
ing but short time after dinner when
the fire was discovered. They immedi-
ately made their escape to the ground
as best they could ,and spread the alarm,
and in an instant all was wild confusion
and uproar. A word converted a luna
tic asylum, under thorough discipline,
and moving along orderly and peaceful
ly under the supervision of the seventy
five attendants and officers, into scene
of terrible confusion, in which sane
people grew wild and insane people be-
came demons, fierce and terrible under
the intense excitement that aggravated
their disordered minds. ''Fire, fire."
rang out and was echoed and continued
along the mile of halls and wards in
the fated building, carrying dismay and
everywhere. Attendants
with pale checks and quivering hearts
sped in alright along the corridors,
where the poor inmates We're wander
ing in wild dismay at the panic. Men
women. screamed, lunatics
roared and yelled and laughed, while
others stood silent and strangely calm,
trying to cogitate some reason for the
uproar and confusion. @ Etf
The hose connecting with the water
tanks which were directly under the
cupola and the fire, were got out as soon
rs possible, and attempts made to throw
water upon the spreading flames, which.
had made but little headway yet, and if
water could be got into them immedi-
ately it seemed probable, and it was
possible, TO check and subdue them.
But no water came. Why should it
The tanks were below the fire, and Wa
ter does not run up hill unless there is
4 strong pressure in the rear. There is |
4 steam fOrce-pup connected with the |
but it might have been miles
away for all the good it done at the
time it was most needed. There was |
not ladder on the grounds, by which |
the roof could be reached from the out
side. There is no engine stationed in
Newburgh, no steamer nearer than
Cleveland, four miles away, and $G0a,-
BOO worth of state property at the mer-
cy of a fire which an inch stream could |
have checked, and the hungry flames,
made fierce by the winds ran swiftly |
among the dry timbers, with those who
have already assembled powerless to
prevent their progress.
MOVING AND REMOVING.
The sight of the fire from the village
md surrounding country quickly drew |
4 large crowd of men, not anxious TO
see but eager to work, and they lent
their assistance with hearty will to
The attendants in removing the patients.
Luckily the wards are some distance
from the fire, and after the first conster-
nation has subsidized every effort is be-
ing made to remove the unfortunate
,nes to Il place of safety. In thirty
minutes after the alarm not Il lunatic, as
'ar as has been ascertained, remained
II the building. The females were ta-
zen to the rear of the west wing, and /
he males were removed to the east of
he east wing, in the garden. The at
entiou was then turned to the saving
If the furniture and other movables.
AN AWFUL DEATH. --.r
In threc-quarterS of an hour the
lanes had spread all over the upper
portion of the central building. At
his time Mrs. Walker, a lady of about
'orty years OF age, who was employed
Is seamstress in the institution, and