National Republican., 1880-11-17
A DIREFUL DISASTER.
Particulars of the Terrible Fire at st,
Peter, Minnesota.
A Terrible Tale of Death and Suffering
Frantic Dencanor of the Crazed In-
mates-uiie Preferred TO Frost.
Tho uurnlpe Insane Asylum.

CHICAGO Nov. l6.-Thc burning OF the state In
zane asylum vt st. Peter, Mimi, last night proves
10 have been terrible disaster, attended by loss
OF life, the particulars as to which have not
reached here. Only ono wing Of tho building was
burned. The structure occupied ten years in
building. and was completed three years ago at q
cost Of sj00001 The loss by the fire will be from
Sl0oOOl to $4,000, on which Vere is no insurance.
The cause Of the fire is unknown. It originated in
the basement OF the north wing. which was de-
ktroyed. Different, reports state the loss Of life
from three to fiity but no bodies have been found
and no one Is surely known to be missing. When
danger became imminent the superintendent or
dered The release Of all tho patients, aud II Is prob
able that some were overlooked I'm the confusion
and burned, especially AS some rooms quickly
filled with smoke and could not be- entered by the
rescuers. There were 6j6 patients in the hospital
last year. The liberated ones were cared for by
citizens. Probably some took advantage of the OPP
portnnity to run away aud Others wandered OF
From Twenty to Fifty Lives Lost.
ST. PAUL, MISs., Nov 16-A bulletin to the
Pioneer Press from ST. Peter says THE number of
lives lost by burning and freezing at the insane
asylum is variousy estimated ut from twenty to
nifty. The loss on the building is s3OJ,OoO.'
special dispatch dated q. m. says The scene
at the burning OF tho poor inmates In the hospital
was heartreuding in the extreme. 30 appalling n
sight has rarely been witnessed. Tie patients In
the annex wing were males Many of them refused
TO leave the building at oil. They ran up and
down the hail screaming and crying. aud those
who could not be coaxed nor forced out of the
flames or were suilocOted. Some were saved by
ladders and others by leaping from the windows
Some were nearly nude some shoeess and hatess
and all were exposed to the exceeding cold of the
night Many of the dementod aud crazed inmates
fed as If for their lives and could not be overtaken
or confined. Thcirsunering, In this irightful con-
dtion can be better imagined than described
The whole catastrophe is Il heartrGnding one.
Those who had escaped the flames were
nt large half clothed and were to be seen In all d
Tections flying in wild fright from those who at
tempted to save them. The Dir was bitterly cold
and the poor wretchcs, with halfnaked bodies and
bleeding feet, were flying about hiding in alleys
and dark corners for some time. The capacity Of
the building has been tried 10 its utmost. There
were about 6OO patients and every inch OF space
was utilized What will be done with these poor
creatures turned out In the cold and their malady
increased by the excitement Of the occasion, is n
serious question. There arc two other buildings
situated in the town which are used, but they are
already crowded. The asylum at Rochester Is full
and will doubtless be unable 10 provide accommo-
datons for any of the inmates OF St. Peter.
Another special says While the flames were
slowly progressing the matron OF the female de-
partment made all huse to get the inmates out,
aud many OF them ran shriekng into The snow
drifts in their night clothes, even buryiug them
selves In the snow and had TO be dragged into the
barns and sheds, while those near by wrapped
blankets and shawls around them Hence intense
suffering could not be avoided, as they had to be
taken about fifteen or twenty rods through the
snow to the nearest shelter, which was on a hill
Immediately in the rear of the south wing. The
actual NUMBER burned cannotbe got at In any way
atthe present time as many are known TO have wan
dered away in the intense excitement that pre-
vailed. Several ladies were taken out OF some of the
rooms and halls, and several persons were got out
into the halls, when they seemed determined TO re-
turn to the flames One room occupied by two
men was broken into, and while one of the ocCu-
pants had 10 be dragged out the other was de-
tornined TO remain in his warm bed, and when
dragged out he insisted on waiting TO be dressed.
An old man brought here from Minneapolis,
named Adams was taken out dead. The principal
cause of delay In getting stream of water on the
fro from the hospital hose arose from the fact that
ii had not been In use for so long that II required
TO be wet from end TO end on the outside with hot
water
Meantime the flames spread very rapidly from the
basement filling the halls with smoke and
making II impossible to do anything ut say.
ing the occupants of the north wing, except by
putting up ladders and prying of fire screens from
doors, taking the occupants and actually carrying
them down, without clothing in many cases. Al
some of tho windows there were three or four beg
ging to be saved from death, while the flames were
bursting from the adjoining windows. One Door
aud badly mangled. Assistance has been tcle-
grHphed for 10 Rochester Mimi, and ST. Paul for
food, clothing and shelter lorthe men. Twothird.
of the hospital IS saved. The walls OF the burned
part are Standing entire.
A list Of those killed and hurt is not now obtain.
able. The superintendent says there were moi
more than Twelve lives lost, and probably as many
more persons were hurt and are suffering from the
bitter cold OF last night More pcOple are believed
to be injured aud dying from exposure to the
weather than from burns Other people say that
as many as twenty either peiisled In The flames OF
died on the hills during the night.
Governor Pllsbury heads q band Of workers who
are doing everything possible for the comfort O
tho distressed He says he can make arrangement;
Peter In the hospital houses.
Mr.. Carson OF Minneapolis has found the deat
body Of his iHthcrin-luw. Mr.. Abrams The run
arc being ovcrhOulCd as fast os possible in tht
search for the dead and the officers OF the instilu
lion are making every effort to discover the where
abouts OF the missing patients.