The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-11-18
DIRE CALAMITY.
burning OF the Minnesota Insane Asylun
atst Pstsr-Thrllling Scenes and Frieht.
full Loss Of Life.

full Loss OF Life.
Tho Minnesota hospital for tho in.,ne. loo.t
cd st 1t. Peter, Nicollet county, was discovered
to be on IRE between Z and S O'Clock on th,
evening Of tho 15ta. The fire began in th,
laundry in the basement of th,
north wing, and considering the substsntia
character Of tho building spread with are.,
rapidity.
The asylum il located full mile from the
city proper, and the frat news Of tn.
conhagration was given by Dr.. Bartlett, super
lntendent of tho asylum, who telephoned from
the main to the temporary hospital, tho latte,
building being in the heart of tho city. The
alarm was ther made general and the hand fir
engine was hastened to the scene of tho confls-
CARTON while the populaoe turned out er
masse.
AID was summoned both from St. Paul and
hsnkst". special train was started PROMPT
~ from mankato with IN engine and 100 men
but in st. Paul there was great delay in secur
ing transportation, and it vas l q. m. before
the train with steamer, hose cart and equip
ments left the st. Paul depot.
Meantime terrible scene was in pro p,e.a =,
the asylum. The patients already craxed were
made doubly 20 by the alarm and excitemen,
OF the fire. The citizens gathered by the
hundred and though terror stricken at the idea
OF several hundred lunatics being turned
loose upon the community, worked manfully to
save tho patients. The wing in which
the fire was raging was occupied
entirely by males, Some of whom were found
utterly ongovernsb.e. Window gratinRs were
broken and ladders erected to bring the victims
out Al many as possible we're brought down
the stairways. The hall doors and all means
OF exit were thrown open and two OF three
hundred availed themselves Ct the opportunity
to secure their liberty. How many refused to
leave may never be known. The first
reports indicate that forty or fifty Lost
their lives, but the later advices may reduce
this.
Those who escaped were in pitiable condi-
t'on, and lilly prepared for the winter expos.
ure. Many of them we're almost naked, bare
foot and hatless, and prosaby as many q were
burned to death will be found to have perisbed
by exposure. With the characteristics of in.
sane people they sought dark alleys, out-build.
ings. and by ways throughout the city. Some
took to the woods and very likely will never BE-
heard from again. There was no means of &C.
curing OF caring for them, and they roamed 1T
will. The death list fror, exposure, when add
ed to those destroyed by ..ee, will make fear-
full aggregate.
The flames appear to have been confined to
tke wing where they originated, though At one
time it was thought that the whole magnificent
structure would be utterly destroyed.
While the flames were in progress, Vim.
Schimmel, secretary of the board of trustees.
telegraphed Gov. Pillsbury for aid in caring
for the burned out patients. The Governor
called upon the railroad for cara and secured
the promise of transportation to remove the
afflicted t. st. Paul and Minneapolis, or ueh
portion of them ~ could not be cared for at
st. Peter.
The building was begun in 1885, and was
planned on such magnificent scale that it
cost over half . million to complete it. 1t had
q capacity for 65y patients and for months has
been full to OVERLOOKING. The loss to the State
is total there being no insurance on the build
ing or furniture. How it originated is still
mystery and may never be known, but be that
as it may, the flames did effective service.
Gen. Pillsbury promptly visited the scene
of the disaster on the morniog of the 10th. A,
many as possible were accommodated in the
main building and south wing which escaped
the destroying element. Temporary habitatione
were also found for many while those who had
escaped or perished lessened the number to be
cared for. 1t will probably be several days be.
fore the loss of life can be known and
it is not certain that it will ever be fully as
certained. The deaths by exposure will probably
leave it matter of doubt forever, as to the
exact number who perished in the flames.
When the helpless and dangerous character
of the inmates 10 considered, and the multitude
of friends scattered far and wide, utterly pow
erless to aid, is taken into the account, the
calamity is tho greatest which ever befel th1
StAtA