Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-12-03
PRO AND CON.
The Asylum Affair From Both Sides.
The Attendants Defended.

TIE Attendants Defended.
To the Editor of the Globe.
ST.. PETER, Nov. %, 18S0.-Will you al
low me short space In the columns of your
widely circulated paper to refute few of
the many false and malicious charges that
have been preferred against the attendants
at the insane asylum, in regard to their
conduct during the burning of portion of
that institution on the evening of the 18th
inst. f -s.ev
1t is said among other things that the at
PENDANTS upon hearing the first alarm rushed
from the burning building and left their pa
TENTS locked in their rooms to perish in the
flames.
1t is also said that the attend
ants saved their own clothing and let every
thing else burn.
Such as the above, Mr.. Editor, Is being
continually stated by certain parties, and, il
one half of these charges are true, ought to
send every one of the attendants to the PEN
itentiary for life.
But they are not true; they are false
false in every particular. The attendants
did not desert their patients, but did all they
could to rescue life. Had they, as it is said,
endeavored to save only their own personal
effects, but very few patients would have
been rescued, and the friends of the 243 pa
tients who were at the time of
the fire confined in that asylum
can thank the attendants, one and all, for
their heroism in rescuing the patients from
the burning buildings.
To prove all 1 may say herein, let me cite
thing or two: On the evening of the fire
there were 243 male patients in the part that
burned, and these 243 men were managed by
sixteen attendants, seven of whom were off
duty at the time the alarm was given,
leaving only nine men to manage 243 wild
maniacs, part of which number had re-
tired. just think of it, reader, and then
ask yourself the question, "Could I have
done better?"
The result is, briefly stated,
this: nine attendants rescued all the patients
that were under their control and lost near
ly all their own effects by the operation. If
this is not heroism and bravery what is?
j. G. Elliott, an attendant, after driving
out his own patients, Twenty-Five in num-
Der, did noble work in rescuing others. He
was among the first to ascend the ladders to
the third story, and, battering down the
window guards and doors, he entered, fol-
lowed by Mr.. Brady, another attendant, who
assisted him in carrying the nearly dead pa
TENTS to the windows and sent them down,
rescued from the fire.
These two men are not alone in this mat
ter; others did likewise, and it is folly-yea,
downright meanness-in any one to say that
the attendants did not do their duty.
But, B. Bornemann, of this city, says:
''No, they did not do their duty" Well,
what did Bornemann do? Nothing but look
on and smoke his old clay pipe. But who
is this man Bornemann? He is a poor mis-
cradle fellow; keeper of q low dirty saloon;
ragged and pestiferous hummer: drunk
ard and an cutcast despised and forsaken
wretch. This description is not an exagger-
alton, it is simply fact,
which none who know him will dispute.
Who is Charles Kohl, another man who says
the attendants are to blame for not saving
every patient? He is companion and chum
of B. Bornemann. Is this all? Known and
despised by men, this man Kohl stands to-
day upon record that can not bear inspec-
ton. He was confined sixty days in our
county jail less than year ago, for the helm
GUS crime of beating his mother-in-law.
These men, Mr.. Editor, are samples of those
who are railing at the attendants, and if they
are to be convicted, on such evidence, have
nothing more to say. 81. P. j.
The Asgtsssa Officers admit the Charges.
To the Editor of the Globe.
ST.. PETER, Nov. 2S.-The charges made
by your correspondent from this place rela-
tive to the late fire and signed B. Borneman
against the officers of the asylum are certain
ly of character that demands, not guber-
Material nor legislative investigation, nor
yet one by an employe (the coroner Of
NicoIlet county, OF the accused parties, but
fearless, thorough investigation by COM
petent court. The whole case is this: If
Borneman's charges are true somebody is
criminally liable; if not true, and the officers
of the asylum should, if innocent, hasten to
avail themselves of the first opportunity to
prove it, he should be prosecuted for an out
rageous libel. B. says he is ready,
and if the management of the asylum don't
prosecute him they certainly admit the
truth as stated by him in his communications
to the GLOBE. No whitewashing of coroners
or committees.
We have court who don't care for any
one, friend or foe, and we think we assert
what every man knows, perfectly competent
may easily be fixed on the parties. It is
either neurder or lSbel and SO 1t was two
years ago. But, bah! it don't matter. Moth
ing will ever come of it except money use
lessly squandered, and if an offense has
been committed, even with all the facts pre-
sented, it is no fault of the officers in the
burning up of thirty or fifty lives, and no
libel Or ofense to say it was their gross care
lessness and neglect. Yours, w. RI. G.
To the Editor Of the Globe.
ST. PETER, Nov. 90, 1SS0.-Monday the
18th, at 7:30 P. NJ. Folks after supper were
comfortably housed and digesting the victu-
als-some telling the news to the old woman,
another chastising his boy for not behaving
himself during the day: children having
their school books on the table to learn their
lessons; again others smoking their pipes or
cigars; some young chaps watching the hour
of rendezvous, and the town seemed to feel
comfortable, down to the cat under the
stove, but afraid to be chased away by the
missus; some complaining about the extreme
high price of frewood, ($3 for bass,) and
caution the boy not to waste it wantonly, at
the same time strong and cold northwest
wind-"a Minnesota No. Twas whistlinQ
through the streets. Be still! The fire bell
Up sprung young and old, rich and poor,
ladies and gentlemen, to run out of The
houses, many without mittens and overcoats,
only thinly habited, to see and help. The