davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-17
Ans,cerins the Call for Help.

The fire department of st. Paul were
prompt to answer the first summons. The
dispatch came, ''The hospital for the insane
is on fire; use your own Judgment %
In response to this Chief Strong called
out picked brigade of men, and with their
apparatus they were soon at the depot.
Then followed remarkable spectacle of
daIliance.
The relief brigade were at the depot by 8
O'Clock ready to start for St. Peter. But
there was no transportation. Chief Strong
endeavored to secure the necessary accom-
modations, but while no one doubts the good
intentions or generosity of the railroad COM
pany, still there was most lamentable want
of anything like prompt action.
Meantime, while the question of trans
portation was banded about in most tardy
way, Chief Strong, for some reason, sought
more definite instructions from st. Peter.
An hour elapsed-sixty precious, golden
minutes-and still there was no action. The
men grew impatient, even the noble horses
champed their bits restlessly, and those who
had gathered at the depot to bid the boys
bon voyage, wondered what could be the
matter.
The minutes had crept around on the dial,
and another half hour was gone, each mo-
ment of which was perhaps fraught with
the death agony of q precions and childishly
helpless soul.
At 1920 O'Clock Chief Strong ordered the
men to reel up and return to their respective
quarters. They did so with feelings of
chagrin and laggard footsteps.
Fifteen minutes after the men had been
ordered home an engine and fiat Car steamed
up to the depot ready to furnish the desired
transportation. It returned to the round
house, Immediately after which Chief Strong
received another telegram telling him tocome
He Eordered out No. steamer and large
quantity of hose and started for the depot
This was not quite IL O'Clock. One box
and fiat car were gotten in readiness and
then ensued another miserable delay. This
time, the track was not clear. or the instruc-
tions were not definite, and so on and sc
forth to the end of the gamut. It is no use
to rehash the story; suffice it that at a quar-
ter to o'clock the word "go" was given and
tired ont, disgusted and impatient, the men
commenced to load the apparatus.
This was not slight undertaking and 9
great deal of valuable time was consumed.
Finally at 1:30 o'clock the engine pulled
out having in tow fiat box car and q ca
boose. But the worst was to come; the dis.
tance to st. Peter being seventy-fye miles it
was thought that the ran would ba made In
at least two hours. The inevitable DELAYS,
long, vexatious and tedious, ensued and al
7o'clock in the morning. after five hours
and half ride the little party reached St
Peter.
1t is hardly necessary to say that severa
hours before this the fire had been gotter
Under control and the worst was over.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-17
Fire and Terror.

By the time the alarm was transmitted &c
Supt. Bartlett the fire had gained amazing
headwsy. Someone thought of the alarm
bell and minute afterwards the welkin re-
sounded with the brazen clangor of the fire
bell. The residents of ST. Peter heard the
alarm with feelings of CONSERVATION and re-
gret. The news of the conhagration spread
even quicker than the fatuous flames, and In
a short time the adult male population oil
the city were vending their way to the hos
pital.
Meantime that most fatal species Of all
fear, the spirit of terror, seized upon the
wretched inmates of the asylum and along.
side Of the scene presented pandemonium
would have been an ark OF serenest safety.
It may be said with credit to the managers
and those in charge, that ooesidering the
friehtful nature of their task they acquitted
themselves with much more than ordinary
credit. Confined in the building were near
" 700 male and female creatures, all of
whom were beyond the reach of reason, and
many of whom were hard to handle under
the most favorable circumstances.
OF this number, over 200 men were in
imminent danger of losing their lives, while
prompt action was also necessary to remove
the inmates from the remaining portions
of the building. The imagination staggers
in contemplating the fearful nature of the
catastrophe. It was solemn and stupen-
dtous picture, the sight of which made the
stoughtest nerves burn with delerium. The
halls and corridors rapidly filled with smoke
which became go suffocatino as to make
resperation almost impossible.
Meantime hand engine was brought to
the scene and it did noble service. The fire
was spreading rapidly and all thought that
the building was doomed. Assistance was
summoned from st. Paul and Mankato. The
prompt action and speedy arrival of men
and fire apparatus from the latter city was
mainly instrumental in saving the other
buildings. The citizens of st. Peter worked
like veritable Trojans, risking their lives and
doing all that thought could suggest to res
cue the patients and stay the progress of the
flames.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-17
n Lifting GraUe.

One poor wretch was literally roasted alive
He occupied roam in the third story of
the corner where. the fire started. During
the fire he stood peering through the bars
of his living grave with the seeming calm
ness and fortitude of a martyr. The flames
crept stealthily upwards and he watched
their advance with the keenest interest and
composure.
He seemed infatuated at the prospects of
suffering fiery and awful death. Red, sim
uous shafts of fire darted upward and almost
licked his face; still he was unimpassioned,
merely dodging the flames by sharp turn
of the head. At last the cage became filled
with flames and he staid there unfxed, the
center of fiery furnace. Suddenly there
was a crash and the poor wretch went down
with the debris without uttering groan.
There were others who suffered similar
deaths, the exact number of the fatalities
not being known. It is thought that the
deaths will not exceed eight or ten persons.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-17
Removal of the Patients.

The female patients were hurrisdIy re
moved from the building and taken to the
city, where they we're kindly provided for by
citizens. A few we're lodged in the smoke
house, laundry, and other out buildings,
while the majority were taken care of at the
Nicollet hotel, the old asylum, the school
house, and court room.
The male patients were lodged in the old
asylum, and the commercial and Northwest
ern hotels.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-17
Ina,sirtea for the Dead.

All day Superintendent Bartlett has been
In receipt of kilograms from all parts of the
State from relatives and friends of the in
mates asking for information relative to the
fate of the unfortunates. To many of them
DR.. Bartlett was compelled to send an in.
definite reply, but when the safety of the
person inquired for was known he sent the
joyful reply with alacritY. The exact mum.
ber of the dead is not known, and no def
mite answer to the query can be given till
the debris is removed, which will be the
work of at least ten days. But one body,
that of Mr.. Abrams, of Minneapolis, has yet
been recovered.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-17
most dead from inhaling smoke. He died a

most dead from inhaling smoke. BE died a
few minutes after reaching the air.
All the female patients are safe.
The Mankato fire relief arrived between
10 and IL o'clock. At this time the fire was
at its height, and it seemed as if the entire
building had to go. The brave and heroic
efforts of the fremen and citizens kept the
flames from reaching the cornice of the
center building, and this is ell that saved it
from destruction.
At o'clock Tuesday morning the fire had
died out, and nothing remained but the
walls.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-17
The Patients.

A walk through the wards was most in
teresting. The patients for the most part
seemed to live in blissful Inconsistencies
that anything unusual had occurred. Others
were apparently irritated at the unusual
commotion about them and paced the cor
ridors with an impatient tread and threat
ening aspect. A few stormed a little, but
taken as whole they were wonderfully
well-behgved lot of maniacs under the cir
cumstancas. There were no cases of posi-
tive obstreperousness in the hospital, for the
guards were firm in their demeanor, and
commanded obedience. The curiosity seek
ers were the greatest annoyance experienced.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-17
The WGter Supply.

Fortunately there was en- abundance of
One large cistern, situated directly back Of
the building, contained $4,000 gallons of
water. Another cistern on the hill, parallel
with the roof Of the building, contained 65,-
600 gallons of water, affording pressure
enough to flood the entire structure. Be-
sides these there is oistern in the basement
of the laundry building containing $4,000
gallons of water.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-17
The Loss and Future Plans.

Gov. Pillsbury, during his visit to the
hospital, In company with several other ex-
perienced gentlemen, made careful examina-
tion of the burned building. They all came
to the conclusion that the outer walls are al
most wholly uninjured, and will not need to
be taken down. They are disf1gured in
few places by the chipping of the stone, but
these disfgurements can be easily remedied.
The partition walls are somewhat sprung,
and portion of them will have to be re-
placed. Gov. Pillsbury estimates that by
the expenditure of 100000 the building
can be put in as good shape as it was before
the fire. This amount, in his opinion, will
cover the entire loss on both building and
furniture There was no insurance on the
building or its contents. the legislature hav-
ing refused to make an appropriation for
that purpose, though repeatedly urged to do
SO by the trustees. Much invidious com
ment relative so this action on the part of
the legislature has been INDUCED in here.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-17

poor dazed inmates of the asylum who ha(
escaped from the flames were at large, half
clothed, and were to be seen in al
directions flying in wild fright from
those who attempted to save them
The air was bitter cold, and the pool
wretches, with half naked bodies and bleed
ing feet, were running about, hiding in al
leys and dark corners. It was sight onc'
seen never to be forgotten.
Most of the inmates are now provided fol-
at places in town. They have
been taken the best care of possible
Some are still at large. The side which
burned was occupied by men. The othe,
side was for women, SO the women are al
right.
another Account.
Sr. PErra, Nov. 16.--The MiDnesota
Hospital for the Insane Is on fire. The news
was communicated by DR.. Bartlett by tele-
phone, to Mr.. Dwyer, at the temporary
hospital, at 1880 o'clock this evening. The
permanent and temporary hospital are one
mile apart. On receiving this intelligence
Mr.. Dwyex caused fire alarm to be given,
and Immediately our city fire engines started
for the scene of the fire. The
fire was discovered in the
basement of the northwest corner of the hos
pital. Every exertion was made to check
the spread of the flames, but to no purpose.
The fire ran through the base
ment of the north wing.
Although there are massive stone walls di-
vlding the basement In many places with the
passage ways only sufficient for the minia-
ture railroads used for conveying pro-
visions, the flames seem to have crept
along through these passage-ways and to
have crawled up the wood work until the
whole inside was on fire. The many division
walls. however, rendered Ii slow work, and
1t took some three hours before the
whole wing was ablazs. The officers
and attendants Of the hospital. upon
the first discovery of the fire
extended the hose through that part
of the building but which from lying unused
SO long had become fattened, and it was
some twenty minutes before water could be
forc ed through Il. Had it not been for this
the fire could have been suDdued before
much damage was done. Every effort was
however, made, and, although
the flames were somewhat
checked, they could not be stopped. Our city
hand fire company rallied at the first alarm,
and reached the ground as soon as team
could haul their hand engine up there.
Though not equal to the emergency it did
good service and finally saved all
but this one wing. As soon az
it was found that the fire was likely
to prove serious, DR.. Bartlett gave orders te
have all the patients released and cared for as
well as it was possible to do, but before the
fire was discovered one or two of the halls
had become choked with smoke, and it was
impossible to release all the patients.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-17
The C0r0ner's Inquest.

No arrangements have yet been made for
the holding of an inquest over the remains
of Abrams. It is thought it will not take
place till the ruins have been searched and
all the bodies of the victims exhumed, when
thorough inquiry into the cause of the
disaster will be had.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-17

northwest corner of the building. How. il
caught is mystery. The next most reason.
able theory is that the fire started in the
location named and caught from the spark Of
a cigar or pipe, smoked by two of the in
mates.
The fire must have burned some time be.
fore its discovery, which took place few
minutes after O'Clock, when one of the at
tendants observed smoke coming through
the registers. An investigation was made
and the fright of the attendant may be i'm
agined when the northwest corner of the
wing in the basement was discovered to be
in flames.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-17
Orfnin of the Fire.

Like all great fires, the origin Of this
most extensive confagration seems to be lost
in profound mystery. On the statement Of
every person connected with the manage
ment of the asylum, no one has the slight
eat idea of how the fire originated. Of
course, thsre are number of fine spun and
very plausible theories. The one generally
accepted at ths hospital and in st. Peter is
that the fire started in the basement of the
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-17
Second Dispatch.
Especial Telegram to the Globe. |

ST. PETER, Nov. 1e, 8 A. M.-The GLOBE
representative has just returned from the
scene of last nights fire. conversation
with Superintendent Bartlett resulted in in-
formation which leads to the belief that the
sacrifice of human life is not nearly as large
as at first reported. At this hour % a. NJ
traces of the fire have disappeared, save q
few smouldering timbers.
It is stated that the loss of life will not ex-
ceed twenty-five persons.
ALI the women were saved.
The fire was confined to the northwest
wing of the building, which contained over
200 patients, nearly all Of whom were gotten
out.
Especial Telegram to the Globe.
ST. PErEs, Nov. 16.-The Mankato and
st. Peter fire departments did heroic work.
Il was their efforts that stopped the spread
Of the flames.
The total loss is about 100000, with in
surance. Following is the story of
AN EYE WITNESS.
AT 7:45 last evening heard the cry Of fire.
I went to the door and saw the State asylum
for the insane In flames. When I reached
the building the fire was just breaking out at
the north side of the building. On, cam
not describe the horrible scene.
There were men at the windows
in the third story, some
looking calmly at death, others making
grimaces at us, and the groans and screams
of the dying were terrible. went in with
an attendant and we got one man. Just as
VIC were leaving saw another and was about
to grab him when he rushed back in the
midst of the flames and smoke, and to his
doom. was nearly suffocated. then
went around with the attendant to another
room and we got one man half dead and
another dead, suffocated. went around to
the north side of the building and saw five
or six jumping up before the windows in the
building. Two of Denny's men and got an
ak. This was in the first story. We sue
oeeded in breaking through two set of bars
and rescued two more men. I then
assembled ladder to the Sec
ond story, and after work
ing twenty minutes got hole through.
This room contained Frenchman. He
worked like giant in helping me- to break
the window open. I got him out and then
myself and two or three others went into the
halt and found one man dead. We heard q
man groan and went through
considerable smoke and dust
and in room about 10xl2 we saw crib
about three feet high that contained man
with hands and feet tied and padlock's on the
door of his crib, cut his feet loose and we car.
ried him out. If his hands had not been tied
he would have been dangerous customer.
10 say how many have been burned to death ]
cannot, but the number must be over so.
Every one was excited. the women and girls
were saved. The insane were at liberty in
large numbers during the night. which was
very cold, and almost gale was blowing from
the northeast.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-17
Search for the Remains.

Search for the Remains.
Search for the remains will be made to.
day, as the debris was too hot, yesterday to
permit of work.
While assisting in removing goods, MIR.
Thomas Wright. citizen of st. Peter, fell
and had two ribs broken.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-17
LINCOLN couNTY-orr1orAn.

Hancock, liz. Garfield. 1853. Congresmen,
Poehler, 119; Strait, 462. Legislature-Senator.
8. D. Peterson. $50. Representatives, g. W..
Braley, 507; Enos Birum, I.
RENvuILE CoUNTY-oFFIcIAL.
Hancock 598; Garfield 1,452. Congress
Poehler ss5; Strait 1910. Lsgislature-Rep-
resentatives, 1T. Cornish $50; Jas. s. Niles
624; I'd. O'Hara 24B; o. 8. Raishus $50; Peter
johnson SIS.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-17
The Trssskees' Meetina.

Gov. Pillsbury, Hon. Loren Fletcher, of
Minneapolis, Maj. Fl. B. Strait, of Shakopee,
and Messrs. Ssckett and Schimmel, of st.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-17
The Textbook vo 9.
rsroo;., r.,.or,r, A. ~. c,oh. !

Especial Telegram to the Globe.l
PINE Cry, Nov. 16.-The official vote of Pine
county on the Minnesota textbook Law is a.
follows} Fer the law 121; against it s.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-17
Incidents.

For two years past the father Of Hon. E.
T. Hyland, x-Representatiye from Dakota
county, has been receiving treatment at the
hospital. Yesterday morning MIR. Hyland,
having purchased new suit of clothes for
his father, was on his way to this city to pay
him visit, wholly unaware of the great ca
lamity. On reaching st. Paul junction he
purchased copy of the GLOBE and was hor-
rified at the intelligence it contained. One
can imagine his anxiety Ga1-ng The remainder
of the trip. On arriving here he took the
first conveyance for the hospital, and was re.
joiced to find his father safe and greatly i'm
proved in health. Father and son started
for the home of the latter, who declares he
will never suffer him to leave again.
One of the estrays, harmless young
fellow, was found sitting in the waiting room
at the depot by Hon. Loren Fletcher. The
man was determined to go home, but did
not seem to know where his home was. Mr..
Fletcher tried to induce him to return to the
hospital by assuring him that that was his
home. The man was obdurate. Mr..
Fletcher told him he should not be SO foolish
as to go travelling without his clothes, and
advised him to return for his trunk. The
man seemed to divine the purpose of Mr..
Fletcher, and with knowing wink and q
chuckle he laid his hand on bundle by his
side, saying "Here's my trunk" Other
persuasions proved of no avail and sterner
measures had to be adopted, which proved
more successful.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-17
Sstfocated.

During the excitement patient named
Abrahams was carried from the building al
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-17

nicated to the second floor of the north
wing which was soon in flames.
At this time the inmates Of the asylum be-
came panic stricken and then was seen one
of the most awful sights that man is ever
called upon to witness. It is said that the
attendants were as bad as the patients. On
observing the rapid spread of the flames the
attendants rushed from the building, leav-
ing the patients locked in the corridors, with
barred windows, thus offering no means of
escape.
This is not diabolical, it ia fiendish. The
shrieks of the maniacs, the hiss Of the
flames, the groans, curses and maledictions
and terrible tumult of the inmates was most
awful.
1t ia estimated at this writing that no less
than hundred perished in the famass later
intelligence Will reveal the correctness Of this
story, the south wing of the building lis in
tact
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-17
Description of the North Hing.

To give the reader some idea of the SEQ
ton destroyed, it will be necessary to briefly
describe the building. The structure, which
was magnificent in its proportions. consisted
of the central building, four stories IN height,
and 60x120 feet in dimensions.
Running at lateral length to the centre
building were the north and east wings,
three stories in height, each wing two
returns and three sub-wings each. The
north wing proper was 165 feet long with
two returns 40x70 and 80x60 feet in dimen-
sions. This wing was used as dormitory
for male patients, of which there were about
27O. It was substantially built of brick,
having about 200 rooms, each room being
separated by fre-proof wall made of
brick.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-17
1hs Scene of the 0onrasration.


At an early hour in the morning reporter
of the GLOBE paid visit to the scene of the
confsgration. As was to be expected, every
thing was in the direst confusion. The
officers and guards we're hurrying to and fro
in the corridors and the wards, disposing
of the patients who had been burned out as
best they could. This was no easy task, as
the main building and eastern wing were
already crowded to overdowing. By making
changes here and there, however, all were
temporarily made comfortable. The efforts
of the officers were somewhat impeded by a
crowd of idle curiosity seekers, who thronged
the corridors and persisted in asking sense
less question and poking into every room
and ward in the building.