The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-01-11
2 rIRE Tn WILLIAnfsBURG.
a P0RTION or THE EAsTERS
LUsATTc ASYLUM DESTROYER.
Loss, $40, ooo-No Insurance.

Loss, $4,000 NO Insurance.
Information of q fire st the Eastern luna
tic ASYLUM reached this city yesterday morn
ing. and for q time those having relatives
and friends In the institution were greatly
alarmed. II, however, soon became known,
and much to the relief of many persons, that
no lives were lost. The destruction Of pro-
perry was, however, considerable.
The following statement comes rom
trustworthy and intelligent gentleman wno
was present during the corfigration: me
fire was discovered about 3:25 a. n. Sunday,
and resulted in the complete destruction OF
large two-story building about one nun
dred and twenty feet long by forty feet WIDE
lin which was located the bakery, kltchen,
storehouse, chapel, and amusement nan;
| This building was new, having been erecteo
ip 1S71J72 with part OF the appropriation
made by the Legislature in 1870 for the eA-
tension OF the asylum. II was situated De.
tween the male wards and the tower build
ing, a little southwest of the former. Inc
fire is supposed to have originated IN she
bakery. which was in the north end Of the
basement, and is attributed to accident,
though some think it might have been done
by an incendiary, as tEe night. watch in
sDected the bakery at 2 A. M. and found no
fire there, nor traces Of any. Shortly after
this he 49,
SAW A LIGHT, So
which be thought was the baker come to
make up bis morning supply OF bread, but
when this light increased he gave the
alarm, and the officers and many citizens
were on the spot in very short time.
Every effort was made to save the building,
but by this time the fire had gone through
the small pantry just over the bakery and
iHto the chapel above. There being no fire.
engine at the asylum, and the pressure on tie
water not being enough to force stream
any great height, although the two large
water-tankS which are situated in the towers
far above any Of the other buildings were
nearly full, 4 good stream could not be got
ten until the force-pumps from the stationary
steam engine we're put in operation. Seve.
raj times the southwestern corner OF the male
sleeping apartments, adjoining the main cen
ire building, clught, but we're eXtinguished.
TIE tower building was uniDjured. The fire
then extended to
THE AMUSEMENT HALL
above, at the southern end, and to the store
room below it, consuming everything except
the stores, which were saved. There hap.
pened to be comparatively small supply Of
the latter on hand, and all were saved ex-
cent one barrel of oil. The loss is variousIy
estimated at from $4,000 to $4,000. The
building cost $4,000; the cooking fixtures,
&C., about $4,000; the chapel fixtures, fur
ture, melodeop. AID organ, were worth at
least 81 200; the large magic lantern and pic
SSGn. he
the stage fixtures, &C., in the amusement
hall, the bakery, storebouse, fixtures, Sc.
None of this property was insured--an in-
surance policy once having been taken out
but afterwards allowed to expire. The main
buildings are insured to the extent Of $40, 900
in the Mutual Assurance Society of Virgins,
but their loss will not exceed Sl50-to the
roof and cupola. 30 :, =rct., zz
| DR.. BLACK,
the new superintendent, had just arrived
the evening before the fire, and consequently,
being a stranger, was not in q situation to
act as be otherwise could. Yet be did all
in his power, and labored 10 maintain order
and direct the efforts of all in the best man.
ner. Dr.. Cloptop, the assistant physician,
rendered very efficient service. There was no
pauic among the patients, Those occupying
|
we're in danger ere removed to sife com
pariments, where they remained with their
ward attendants aooi from the excite mPnt.
all necessary preparations bad been made to
| r. move them in the event OF the other build
iugs going, and there was no loss OF life tc
| be apprehendtd even il the entire asylum
| b I'd be, n destroyed. Great credit Is due 10
! the citizens OF the town for lheir eXrrtion.
to save the States property. Astroug south
west wind was pouringa perfect ST. eim OF
| spa ks all over The man building, which a.
Hts nearest point is not over thirty feet from
the burnt structure, yet it vas but little
| damaged, so active were the exeItiouS TO save
| it. Where every one did all they could it is
| hard TO select Individuals.
| EXAMPLES FOR PRAISE.
Among those most prominent were Mr.
Charles Deane, to whose untiripg effor's the
saving of the centre building is mainly due.
lMr. M. Dunnegan, Archer Brooks, T. N.
Southall, A. Durfey, and j. L. Mercer rem.
dered Invaluable assistance. The latter was
precipitated some distance from ladder, ard
painfully though not dangerously Injured
At one time few of the patients in the
| tower building became excited, where some
| of the worst cases are confiBed-and one OF
| them seized bar of the iron grating of the
window, half an inch thick, in bis hands,
and broke it In two.
/ Dr. Brewer, the former superintendent,
has repeatedly, in his reports, alluded to the
necessity for better protection against fire,
and an appropriation, 1t Is said, was asked
for but never gotter. There was q very
great deficiency in hose, and that which was
on hand was old and rotten, so that 1t burst
in many places. Major Y. Valdez had control
Of the removal of the stores, and succeeded,
as stated above, in saving all. Considering
the direction OF the wind, the time of night,
and the insufficiency of tire.extiDguishing
apparatus, it is wonder that no greater