The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-08
FIRED BY A LUNATIC.
Fifteen Of the Inmates Meet
a Dreadful Death.
APPALLING SCENES.
Names OF the Victins-Over
Forty Persons Rescued.
(Bx TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD

BIZ TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
BATH, N. Y, April I, 1873
terribly disastrous nre occurred here
little before one O'Clock this morning. The In
sane department Of the Steuben County House.
containing between sixty and seventy inmates,
was fred by l. G. Ford, one OF the inmates from
Hornelsvile. Fifteen persons, Ave males and ten
females, persisted In the flames, The building is
wholly destroyed with loss OF $4,000 The scenes
OF fatality beggar description and were horriIyng
in the extreme. one inmate besides those who
persisted was injured. More than forty were res
cued
HOW THE FIRE ORIGINATED
L G. Ford who was man subject to Ats. was
never known to do anything violent before, and
therefore was trusted and given fuller liberty than
other more insane inmates. lie was allowed to
smoke and have light In his room. 1t Is sup.
posed that he fred his bedding, for when
those in charge discovered the DANES Ford's
head protruded through the iron grating Of his
window and he apparently could not withdraw 1t
He must have put his head out soon az he re-
covered from the 1T and discovered his danger
the premises temporarily. His family and assist
ants worked hard. but 1t was too late to be OF any
avail except in resculng three ourths OF the help
less imprisoned inmates.
NOTICED FROM BATH.
The County House is about two miles north Of
Bath Court House Bridge. The light was noticed
In Bath just before one O'Clock A. NJ 1t did not
appear like fire in the distance, and at first
there was nothing done; but the nature Of the
glare OF light finally became apparent and the Bath
Fire Department was called out by the alarm The
distance and the first misunderstanding made
them Late and their services were all unavailing,
either to succor the burning inmates or to save
the building. The first and second floors, with
their naming contents, fell through to the base
ment, which was also occupied by some OF the
doomed inmates.
THE BUILDING DESTROYED.
The building burned two three hours and at
daylight there was nothing left standing but the
brick walls. AL the rest was In horrible OF
ashes, human bones, iron window gratings,
bedsteads and debris. 1t viii be impos.
sipie 10 recover any Oh the DOdles IN
recognizable form. The ashes OF the whole fifteen
lie buried in the ruins OF the burned building sit
uated about fifteen rods north OF the main County
House, which was far more valuable, and IL iortu.
VICTIMS.
The following are the Names ages and causes or
confinement OF the deceased male victlms:-
L c. FORD. aged forty-eght; fits.
DAVID CURTIS, aged seventy mine; cripple.
JOHN ALvIAN aged fifty eight; cripple.
JOHN MESSENGER, aged eighty-four; old age.
BUEL NJ. PAGE, aged forty.nine; hts and blind.
The names OF the deceased female victims are -
AxY RANGER, aged twenty-seven: idiot.
BETSEY SMITH, aged sIxty-t idiot
CHLOE NUDGE, aged sixty EIGHT; idiot.
JULIA DAVIS, aged thirty eight; IDIOT
ROSA WEIGH, aged twenty; idiot.
NANCY STONE, aged twcnty-six; idiot
ABIGAIL SHUTS, aged sixty.three old sge
CATHARiNE SULLIVAN, aged seventy. one OLD
age.
JENNIE MILLS, child OF four years.
MARY HEWITT, child Of one year
AFTER THE TRAGEDY.
At q late hour the ruins were In complete
Stiffness under pail Of a very dark night
The place was unmolested, except BY
the resident mourners, as It Is yet too
early for the news Of the holocaust to have
reached the distant friends OF most OF the victims
The dread locality VIII undoubtedly be thronged on
Monday, when the Coroner viii probably commence