The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-11-17
HOR RIBLE.
or an Insane Asylum.

Chicago, Is. - TTi6Hne's s.. Peter
special: At s. 80 tonight it WAS announced
that the Insane AsX lum was on fire.
Every body was appalled, at the prospect
OF over SEQ patients being turned out of
doors during such terrible night, and
the still more disagreeable prospect OF
going more than q mile across the bleak
prairie aud facing the cutting wind. Our
people responded nObly. Many made
the trip on foot, but large number OF
wagons and other convey ances were soon
on the rosd, while rumors of the loss Of
life reached town. The sky in the direc-
ton of the hospital was lighted up, and
dense volume of snoEe rose over the
scene and was carried across the river.
The probabilities were that the whole
structure, costing half million, would
be destroyed. The scene Of the conhagra-
ton was grand. The whole northern
wing of the structure WAS one sheet of
flame. As soon as it was found that the
fire WAS likely to prove serious, DR..
Bartlett, the superintendent, gave orders
To have all the pationts released and
cared Tor as well as possible,
but before the fire was discovered one
or two had become choked with smoke
and it was impossible to relieve all tn
patients. No one knows how many per-
ished, but quite q number must have
been burned alive. Some say there were
fifty. The fire originated in the north
west corner basement OF the north wing
and about the same time there was fire
in the basement Of adjoining sections.
No fire was kept in that part Of the build
ing and the origin of the fire is q mystery.
I would not venture to estimate the num-
Der of lives lost; not even the officers
know. Perhaps, because some of The
patients wander, of and may have per-
ished from cold. Most of them wer-
taken 10 the large barn, granary and
vo<,d cellar. Fortunately there was time
to carry out most of the bedding and
clothing. The court house and large
school building, were opened aud teams
were busy for hours bril- ging them To-
town. II is believed about all the patients
were housed. Firemen finally prevented
the flames from entering the main build
ing and thus twO-thirds Of The structure
were saved. The north wing was cccu-
| pied By men and the south by women.
St. Paul, MIMI, 16.-DIspatches to the
latest editors of morning papers state
that the fire in st. Peter Asylum was not
as serious as was feared asst night. Only
one wing of the building vas destroyed.
| The whole structure, which was ten years
in The course of erection, was only I'm
ished three years ago. 1t cost over $500. :
600. Loss, 500, 600 to $50. 900. No in
surance, the state having neglected this
precaution. The origin Of the fire is IN
| known, though its locality was in the
basement Of the north wing, which wai
destroyed. Reports of the loss of life are
| indefinite and conflicting diff rent rumor.
place the number of victims at two OF
three. TIE superintendent ordered tht
release Of all patients as soon a. danger
became imminent. 1t is probable iht
confusion of the night some were over,
looked and burned. This prObabili y i
increased by the fact that some rooms
quickly filed with smoke, and could no
be entered by the rescuers. Citizens csTeC
for the unfortunates last night.