Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-11-24
The Burning OF the Crowded
Ensame Asylum ut st. Peter
Mimi.

hhtliAO <Asy ttAhh ~ ~ -
Mimi.
ST. PAUL, MINI, November 16.
"A bulletins from St. Peter says
1.-The number Of lives lost by burn
ing and freezing at the Insane Asy-
lum is vanously estimated at from
twcnty to fifty
The whole catastrophe is a heart.
rending one. The poor dazed in
mates of the asylum who had es
capped the flames were at large, halt
clothed, and were to be seen in all
directions flying in wild fright from
those who attempted to save them
The air was bitterly cold, and the
poor wretches, with half-naked bod
les and bleeding feet, were rushing
about, hiding in alleys and dark
corners for some time. The capac-
ity of the building has been tried
TO its utmost. There were about
six hundred patients, and every
inch of space was utilized, What
will be done with these poor Great
ures, turned out in the cold and
their malady increased by the ex-
eitement of the occasion, is a serl-
Gus question. There are two 9th er
buildings situated in the town
which arc used, but they are al
ready crowded to their iull capacity.
The asylum at Rochester is iull,and
will doubtless be unable to provide
accommodations for any Of the in
mates at St, Peter turned out in
the cold by the terrible catastro-
phe.
DIFFICULTY IN CLEARING THE @uILD-
Another special says While the
flames were slowly progressing tia
matron OF the famale department
made all haste to get the inmates out,
and many Of them ran shrickiug in
to tie snow-drifts in their night
clothes. even burying themselves
in the snow, and had to be dragged
into the barn and sheds, while those
near by wrapped blankets and
saawls around them. Hence in
tense suffering could not be avoided,
as they had to re taken about fiji
teen or twenty rods through the
snow TO the nearest shelter, which
was on hill Immediately in the
rear OF tie south wing. The actu-
al number OF burned cannot be got
at in way at the present. time as
many are known to have wander
ID away in the intense excitement
that prevailed throughout the prem
ises. Several ladies were taken out
OF some Of the rooms and halls, and
several persons we're got out into
the halls, when they seemed deter
mined to return to the flames. One
room, occupied by two men, was
broken into, and while one OF the
occupants had to be dragged out
the other was determined 10 remain
in his warm bed, and, when drag
gcd out, lie insisted on waiting tC
be dressed.
An old man named Adams
brought here from Minneapolis, wa:
taken out dead.
The principle cause of delay ii
getting a stream OF water or thu
fire from the hospital hose aros
from the fact that it had not beer
in use fer SO long that it required It
be wet from end to end on the out
Isids with hot wafer. Meantime tn
flames spread very rapidly from tn
basement, filling the halls complete
ly full of smoke and making it i'm
possible to do anything at saving
the inmates Of the north wing only
by putting up ladders and pryinl
off hre-scrcens from door, taking th
occupants out and actually carry
ing them down-without clothing
in many cases. At some OF tn
windows there were three or fou
Begging to be saved from death
while the flames wer' bursting fror
the adjoining windows at them
One poorlcllow was dragged thrOug
halt open screen and badly man
gled. Assistance has been tele
graphed for TO Rochester, Mimi
and St. Paul for food, clothing, am
shelter for the men. Two thirds O
Tho Loon,to1 10 saved The walls q