Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-09-30
The Burning OF tho Northern Ohio In-
sane Asylum.

We have rarely been called upon to record a
more serious and lamentable public calamity
| than the nearly total destruction by fire, We'd
nesday afternoon, of the Northern Ohio lunatic
asylum, at Newburg. The building was a
splendid structure, 900 feet in length, the exter
or walls being entirely of stone. Two large
wings had but Just been completed, at 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.
The crowded condition of the asylum was owing
to the fact that there were $50 patients from the
| Central Ohio district, the new asylum at Column
bus, upon the site OF the one burned two or
three years ago, not being yet completed.
1t was hoped at first that the flames might be
| extinguiShed without creating alarm among the
multitude of inmates, the consequence of which
none could torete In the course of fifteen 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 drec-
| ton. The sad truth was felt that at least the
| centre portion was doomed to destruction. Or
| derS were given for the immediate removal of
| the patients, and large number of the attaches
of the institution and others addressed them
| selves 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 at
lCLudAlS Throughout tue made haste
to unlock the doors of the various wards and
cells, and directed the inmates 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 unfortu-
mates were appalled, with terror, and became
absolutely frantic, uttering piercing shrieks and
cries. The extreme difficulty of controlling 900
lunaticS, under such circumstances, can be but
family imagined. Many reSolutely refused TO
leave their cells, concealing themselves in clos
cts or under their beds, and neither persuasion
nor threats were of any avail In many in
stances it was found necessary to pull them out
of their hiding PAGES 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 fearlully, fighting and re-
SiSting with that almost superhuman power so
often manifested by the insane. Some Of them
insisted 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 up an i'm
menSe bundle, that would have staggered
pack horse, and was vainly Juggling to lift it
from the floor. He had to be actually torn away
from 1t 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 thlther in frantic terror, some making all
haste to escape, and others, as in the cases of
the men, refusing to leave their cells. Scores of
them were taken by force, resisting in every
possible way with all their strength. Several
patients alter 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. Fur
Their from the centre the wards were generally
fl1a 6ror r1aIf i
of men and women from the village aud the re-
gion adjacent TO the asylum were engaged in
the work of rescung the patients in all parts of
the building, and the excitement was intense
beyond all power of expression in words. The
fire, meanwhile, had been making rapid strides
and before the removal of the patients from the
remote wards had been completed the interior
OF the central portion was one mass of fame
Shortly before two O'Clock, three-quarers of
an hour after the fire was discovered, a terrible
casualty occurred. Near the centre dome was
an immense tank containing 5000 gallons of
water, kept constantly full for the supply of the
building. The supports of the tank having
burned away it fell, the great weight carrying it
down to the basement, crushing through all the
intermediate floors. Miss Mary Walker, Il
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 falling mass passed near her, tearing up
the hoor under her feet In some way her limbs
got fast in the debris, and it was impossible for
her 10 cXtrlcate 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 perilous
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
been carried away, and it was impossible 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 well nigh suffOcated with the heat
and smoke, they were obliged to abandon her,
or inevitably share the same terrible fate them.
selves. When they left her her clothing had
taken fire. and she was quickly enveloped in
flame. The men found themselves in a critical
situation, escape by the stairway having been
cut Off. Mr.. Turney tied some sheets together
and was about to descend by that means when
a long plank was placed up a window, and he
got down in safety. Mr.. Dipley got out upon
the roof Of the Yeranda, and reached the ground
by sliding down one of the pillars. About the
grounds the scene was one of the widest confU-
sion. Hundreds of people were running into
and out of the building, after the inmates had
all been removed, engaged in saving movable
property. A vast amount of bedding and lurni-
ture Of every kind was borne out and heaped
upon the ground. Six hundred insane men and
women were scattered about, many of them
screaming and rushing wildly through the
crowd. As long as any were in danger within
the building the only thought was to save lile
and they We're suffered 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 cir.
cumstances. The people of Newburg did noby,
throwing open their houses for the reception Of
the sick, who had been all safely carried out on
beds, and such Others as were harmless and
could be trusted in their charge. They extend
ed every facility in their power for meeting the
terrible eXigences of the occasion.
The majority of the patients were gradually
collected and removed in wagons to the churches
IN the village, all OF which were Immediately
thrown open to them. Considerably difficulty
was experienced in removing them from the
grounds, Some had to be forced into the Vehi-
cles by main strength, and it was necessary for
attendants TO accompany every load. Pale, bag
gard and wild, beating the air and raving inco-
rently, moaning and weeping in their distress,
ultering manlacal laughs, or sitting in sullen
silence, these unfortunates presented spectacle
that moved the stoutest hearts. BY four o'clock
all had been removed to the village or the neigh
boring houses. Similar scenes were witnessed
at the churches, where the greater portion were
collected. Few had sufficient reason to compre.
bend the events of the day. Some crouched
down in terror, others raved wildly, or INDUCED
in singing, laughing, crying, shouting or swear
ing, the whole uniting to form terrible chorus
that seemed like pandemonium 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 possibly be employed, Of
iered their services to assist in caring for the
| needy.
Miss Walker, whose sad death has been men
toned, was most estmabe lady, about forty
| years OF age, She had been connected with the
| asylum for six years, and was universally held
in high esteem. Her friends live in Newburg.
MIR. Burgess was young married man, living
in Bedford. 1t was not known positively that
| he was Killed, but at dark his friends had little
hope left that he had escaped II was thought
| by some that two or three Of the patients lost
their lives, but it was the general belief among
| the officers Of the asylum that all were saved
| A lew of them were scorched but none serious
| ly burned. 1t will be impossible for several
| days to know whether any were lost Quite n
number escaped when they were released.
The loss to the state may be roughly esti-
mated at S5000O0 on which there was no insur-
ance. Olcourse prompt measures will be taken
| to rebuild the asylum, as it is an absolute ne
i cesslty 10 the state. What will be done in the
/ meantime with the six hundred patients is n
| question not easily answered.
|
The Annual Rush mt Yale,
| Since the DAYS when the term "rushO mnout