Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-11-17
AN INSANE ASY LUA
Burned-A Number of Inmates Roastt

Burned-A Number of Inmates Roasted
ST.. PAUL, November l6.-Dispstches
to the latest editions OF the morning
papers, Indicate that the fire in the ST.
Peter Asylum, was not so serious q:
feared last night. Only one wing Of the
building was destroyed. The whole
structure, which was ten years in the
course Of erection, Was only finished
three years ago, at a cost Of over q hai
million dollars. The loss by the
fire will be from 100000 to sl5O,OOO.
on which there is no insurance, the
State having neg ected this precaution.
The origin OF the fire is unknown,
though it is located in the basement OF
the north wing, which was destroyed.
The reports OF the loss OF life are indef.
mite 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 sure identified
as missing. the superintendent ordered
the release OF all the patients as soon as
the danger became imminent, and it Is
probable that in the confusion OF the
night some were overlooked and burned.
This probability is increased by the fact
that some rooms quickly filled with
smoke, and couldn't be entered by the
rescuers.
CHICAGO, November l6.--There were
a hundred aud iiity.six patients in the
hospital during the past year. The in
mates were cared for last night by the
citizens. Some provision will be made
for them to-day by the State authorities.
A bulletin to the Pioneer Press from st
Peters says: The number Of lives lost by
burning and freezing in the insane asy-
lum is variously estimated from 70
TO 80. The loss on the building was
three hundred thousand dollars. A
special, dated at 4 p NJ, says: The scenes
at the burnirgof the south wing of the
hospital were heartTending in the ex-
treme. So appalling sight has rarely
been witnessed, ana trust may never he
again. The patients in the annex wing
were males. Many OF them refused to
leave the building at all. They ran up
and down the halls screaming and cry
ing and acting like bedlamites.
They were OF course those who
could not be coaxed nor forced
out of the building and became the uH-
happy victims of the flames. Others
we're saved, some BY ladders and some
by leaping from the windows; some
were nearly nude, some shoeless and
natless, aud all were exposed 10 the
exceeding cold OF the night Many OF
the poor demented and crazed inmates
fled for their lives and could not be
overtaken or confined. Theirsuiferings
in this frightful condition can better be
imagined than described. The whole
cata.rophe is fearful T. contemplate
and impossible TO describe. The poor
daz al inmates OF the asylum who had
ESCAPED the flames were at large, hail
clothed, and were To be seen in all din &C.
tions, hying in wild fright from those
attempting to save them. The air was
bitter cold, and the poor wretches with
hall naked bodies and bles ding feet were
flying about, hiding IN alleys and dark
corners. 1t was sight once seen never
TO be forgotten. For some time the ca.
pacitv of the building has been tried 70
its utmost. here were about 600 pa
tients. and every inch Of space was util.
lied. What will be done with these
poor creatures, turned out in the cold
and their malady Increased by the ex-
citement OF the occasion, Is a serious
question. There are two other build
inps situated in the town which are
used, but are already crowded to their
full capacity. The asylum at Rochester
is full, and will dobutless be unable t.
provide accommodations for any Ct the
inmates at -. Peter.
ST. PAUL, November l6 Another
special SAWS: While the flames were
slowly progressing the matrons OF the
female department made all haste to get
their inmates out. and many oil them
Ran shrieking in Their Night Clothes
in the snow drifts. even burying them.
selves IN the snow and had 10 be dragged
inf, harms and sheds. while those near
by wrapped blankets and shawls around
them. hence the intense suffering could
not be avoided, as they had to be taken
abont fifteen or twenty rods through the
snow to the nearest sheltsr, when was
on a hill Immediately in the rear of the
south wing. Yet when We turn TO the
male departments our blood runs ccl
as We yaz. into those burning walls ana
realize v hat was the doom OF more than
one moor lamented man. To night they
were crowded into the long corridors oil
the south wing and stood around moan
iny and shivering like poor dumb brutes'
The Actual Number Burned
cannot be gotten at in any way a
the present time, a. many are known
TO have wandered awsy in the iht:ns'
excitement that prevailed throughon'
the whole premises. several oo'iies
were taken out OF some OF the roomi
and halls. One room. occupied by two
was broken open, and while one VA
dragged out the other was determined
10 remain 10 her warm bed, AMI wher
dragged out, insisted on waiting to b'
dressed. An old man name! Adam'
Was taken out dead. The engine tele
orsph,d for from ST. Paul did not ar
rive. ii at all. in time 10 do ary good
There were about 60J in all at thu
asylum. The
Planes Spread Very Rspidly
from the basement, Hing tie hall
com pletely full OF smoke and making
imro:sible TO DO anything at 'aving th
| inmates OF the north Sing. only by pnt
ting up ladder, aud ply n, Of the mr.
screens from the dODis. taking 'hem on
and actually bringing them down Ii
their arms vi'hou, clU:ling, IN man
csses. WLie a, the other window
there were three or four begging to b
saved irom death, while the fam,s wef