The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1880-11-17
FIRES.
The North Wing or the MiEn> >s0ta
Insane Asylum Bnrned.
A xunber OF Live. Lsst-Heari Read.
inE scenes
HAIR or the city or Mannoth, Gala.
In Ashes-
Two Hunared Families Homeless In
Newport. Ark.

eight last night 1t was announced that
the insane asylum was on fire. Every
body was appalled, at the prospect Of
over 500 patients being turned out Of
doors during such tel rible night; still
more disagreeable were the prospects Of
going more than mile across the bleak
prairie and facing the cutting wind,
Our people responded nobly, many made
the trip on foot, but a large number Of
wagons and other conveyances were
soon on the road, while the rumors Of
the loss OF life reached town. The sky
in the direction OF the hospital was
lighted up and n dense volume OF smoke
rose over the scene and was carried
across the river. The probability was
that the whole structure, costing half
million dollars, would be destroyed.
The scene Of the conhagration was
grand, the whole northern wing Of the
structure was one sheet Of flames As
soon as 1t was found that the Gre was
likely 10 prove serious, DIR. Bartlett,
superintendent, gave orders to have all
the patients released and cared for us
well MS possible. but before the
fire was discove red one or two had be-
come choked with the smoke, and 1t
was impossible 10 relieve all the pa
tients. No one knows how many per-
ished, but quite n number must have
been burned alive. Some say there
were fifty.
The fire originated In the northwest
corner of the basement, north wing,
and about the same time there was
fire in the basement OF the adjoining
section; there was no fire kept in that
part OF the building, and the origin Of
the fire Is a mystery. would not ven-
ture to estimate the number Of lives
lost, not even the officers know; per-
haps because some of the patients wan
dered of and may have perished from
cold. Most Of them were taken to a
large barn, granary and wood cellar.
Fortunately there was time to carry
out most OF the bedding and clothing.
The court house and large school build
ing opened and teams were busy for
hours bringing them TO town. 1t is
believed that about all the patients
were housed. The fremen finally pre-
vented the flames from entering the
main building and thus two-thirds Of
the structure was saved. The north
wing was occupied by men and the
south wing by women.
LATER.
The Loss or Life Not 30 Great.
st. Paul, Nov. 16.-A dispatch to the
Pioneer-Press from st. Peter, says:
The number Of lives lost by burning
and freezing at the insane asylum are
variously estimated ut from twenty to
fifty. Loss on the building three hun
dred thousand dollars. A special dated
at a. m. says: The scenes at the burn
ing Of the north wing OF the hospital
were heart rending in the extreme. So
appalling sight has rarely been wit
messed, and trust may never be again.
The patients In tho annex wing were
males, and many Of them refused to
leave the building Mt all. They ran up
and down the halls screaming and cry
ing and acting like bedlamites. There
were Of course those who could not be
coaxed or forced out Of the building,
and became unhappy victims Of the
flames, and suffocated in the pit Of fire.
Others were saved, some by ladders and
some by leaping from the windows;
some were nearly nude, some shoeless
and hatless; and all were exposed to
the exceeding cold Of the night. Many
OF the poor demented and crazed in
mates fed rs IL for their lIyes, and
could not be overtaken or confined.
Their sufferings in this frightful con-
dition can better be imagined than de-
scribed. The whole catastrophe is fear
full to conte mplate, and impossible to
describe. The poor dazed inmates of
the asylum who had escaped 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 alleys and dark corners. It was q
sight once seen never to be forgotten.
For sometime the capacity Of the
building has been tried to its utmost.
There were about six hundred patients
In this wing and every inch of space
was utilized. What will be done with
these poor creatures, turned out in the
cold, and their malady increased by the
excitement Of the occasion, Is serious
question. There are two other build
ings situated in town which are being
used, but they are already crowded to
their full capacity. The asylum at
Rochester is full, and VIII doubtless be
unable to provide accommodations for
any Of the inmates at st. Peter.
fI A ea5. 600 Fire.
San Francisco, Nov. ;16.-A fire at
Mammoth City, Sunday. broke out at
about half PAST ten o'clock in the morn
ing, says q Bodie, dispatch, in the roof
Of George w. Rowan's store. 1t rapid
H communicated to the adjoining build