The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-11-24
ANOTHER HOLOCAUST.
"A Wing of SIT. Peter. HIfnn.. Insane Asy-
lum Rurmeu-Great Loss of Lage.

"A W1ng of ST. Peter. sItnub., Insane Asy-
lum Burmea-Great Loss of Lafe.
On the 10th inst. fire broke out in the
North wing Of the Insane Asylum, at st.
Peters, and it rapidly spread until the entire
wing was sheet of flames. AS soon as it
was found that the fire was likely to prove
serious, DR.. Bartlett, Superintendent, gave or
ders to have the patients all released and
cared for as we'll as possible. The matron
Of the female department made all haste to
get the inmates out, and many of them ran
shrieking in their night clothes into the snow
drifts, even burying themselves in the snow
and had to be dragged into barns and sheds,
while those near by wrapped blankets and
shaWls around them. Hence the intense
suffering could not be avoided, SIS they had
to be taken about fifteen or twenty rods
through snow. The scenes at the burning Of
the hospital were heart-rendering ii the ex-
treme. So appalling sight has rarely been
witnessed. The patients in the annexed
wing were males. Many Of them refused to
leave the building at all. They were scream
ing and crying, and acting like Bedlamites.
They were, of course, those that could not
be coaxed nor forced out of the building.
and became the unhappy victims of the
flames and suffocated Others were saved,
some by ladders and some by leaping from
the windows. Some were nearly nude,
some shoeless and hatless, and all were ex-
posed to the exceeding cold Of the night.
Many of the poor, demented and crazed in
mates fled as if for their lives, and could not
be overtaken or confined. Their sufferiDgs
can better be imagined than described. The
whole catastrophe is fearful to contemplate
and impossible to describe The poor,
dazed inmates of the asylum who had es-
capped the flames were at large, half clothed,
and were to be seen in all directions, flying
in wild fright from those who attempted TO
save them The air was bitter cold, and the
poor Wretches, with half naked bodies and
bleeding feet, were flying about hiding in the
alleys and dark corners. 1t is sight which
once seen is never to be forgotten. For
some time the capacity Of the building had
been tried to its utmost. There were about
600 patients, and every inch Of space was
utilized. What will be done with these poor
creatures who have been turned out in the
cold and their malady increased by the ex-
element of the occasion is Q serious question.
There are two other buildings situated in
town which are used but they are already
crowded to their full capacity The asylum
at Rochester is full and will doubtless be ur-
able to provide accommodations for any Of
the inmates at st. Peter
The whole structure, which was ten years
in course. of erection, was only finished three
years ago and cost over half million dollars
Loss, from 100000 TO $3.50, 900; 10 insur-
ance, the State having neglected to take this
precaution. The origin Of the fire is IN
known, though it is located in the basement
Of the north wing, which was destroyed.
The reports of the loss of life are indefinite
and conflicting. Different rumors place the
number of victims from two or three to fifty,
but no bodies have been found and no one is
surely known to have been lost.
-------az esaas>p = --------------ss