Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1872-10-17
The Burning Of the Northern Ohio Luz
matte Asylum.

A hre broke out In the Northern ONO
Lunatic Asylum at Ncwburgh, four miles
from this city, about one O'Clock Yesterday
afternoon, and in five hours almost the
entire building was in ruins. The FIRE
was first discovered in the cupola on the
central wing. A couple of carpenters
were employed in placing lantern upon
the top Of the cupola, which is the highest
point of the building, being ia feet from
the ground. Near the cupOla, about ten
feet distant, two timers were employed
in making repairs TO the roof, and were
the first to discover it.
The workmcn had been on the building
but short time after dinner when the
fire was discovered. They Immediately
made their escape to the ground as best
they could, and spread the alarm, and in
an instant all was wild confusion and up
roar 4 word converted a lunatiC asylum,
under thorough discipline, and moving
along orderly and peacefully under the
supervision Of the seventy-tiVe attendants
and officers, into a scene of terrible con
fusion, in which sane people grew wild,
and insane people became demons, fierce
and wild under the intense excitement
that aggravated their disordercd minds.
"Fire!' fire. rang out and was COntiu-
ued along the miles of halls and wards
in the fated building, carrying dismay
and CONSERVATION everywhere. Atten-
dants with pale cheeks and quiyering
hearts sped in alright along the corridors,
where the poor inmates were wandering
in wild dismay at the panic Men shout
ed, woman screamed, lunatics roarcd and
yelled and laughed, while others stood
silent and strangely calm, trying to cogl-
tate some reason Tor the uproar and con
1usloh
Inc nose connecting WIN the water
tanks, Which were direciy under the GU
poIa ana the life, were got ont as soon as
pos7lble, ana attempts mace 10 throw
water upon the spreading flames, Whleh
had made but little headway yet, and II
water cuuld be got INTO them immediate
IL seemed probHhie, ana /! was possible
| 10 check anu Suhdue them. But no water
came, WY should It? The tanks were
/ beioW inc ilre, ana water docs not run up
hui unless there Is strong pressure IN
! the rear. There Is a steam torce-pump
connected with the buildings, but 1t
| might nave been mites away lor all the
good 1t done at the time 1t was most
needed, Ihere was not ladder on the
grounds by which the root could be
reached from the outside, There is no
engine stationed in Newburgh, no steamer
nearer than Cleveland, four miles away,
and 5000 coo worth of State property at
the mercy Of tire which an inch stream
couIu nave checked, ana the hungry
names, made hefce ny the winds, ran
swiftly among lhe dIy tluoeIs, WIN
thosc VINO nave already assembled power
less 10 prevent thelr progress.
Shortly before two O'clock, threc-quar-
tiers OF an hoHr after tkc fire was discov-
cred, terrible casualty occurred, causing
the only loss of life positively known up
to Wednesday evening, Near the center
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 entire.
" down to the basement. crashingthrough
all the Intermediate floors Miss Mary
Walker, a seamstress in the institution,
was upon the third floor, and had been
gathering up a few yauables belonging to
her. She was in the hall, near the front,
probably about to descend the stairway
when the terrible crash came. The fail.
ing mass passed near her, tearing up the
floor under her feet. In some way one of
her limbs got fast in the debris and it
was impossible for her to eXtricate her.
self. Joseph Tuney and John DipIey
were in the reception room, on the second
floor, irving to save the piano and other
articles of value. immediately after
tho crash tbav discovare3 Mics Wallar