New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-17
DETAILS OF THE DTsAsTEP.

4
tie building is estimated at 100000.
DETAILS OF THE DISASTER.
CONFLICTING REPoRTs-GIRAT DIFFICULTY ~ or
TANNING PARTICULARs-So NAMES OF THs
LOST YET GIVEN.
CHICAGO. Nov. 16-The burning Of the State In
sane Asylum ut 81. Peter. Mimi. last night. proves
to have been terrible disaster, attended by loss Of
life the particulars to which have not yet reached
here Only ono wing Of the building was burned.
The structure occupied ten years in building and
was completed three years ago. at a cost Of
S5O00O0. The loss by the fire will be from
500 900 to 81 so 600. on which there insur-
ance The cause of the fire is unknown. It orig
mated in the basement of the north wing, which
was destroyed. Different reports state the loss OF
life at from three to fifty. but bodies have been
found
When danger became imminent the Superintend-
ent ordered the release of all rhe patients and il is
probable that overlooked in the confusion
| and burned especially some rooms quickly filed
with smoke, and could not be entered by tho
rescuers. There were $50 patients IN the hospital
last year The liberated cared for by
citizens. Probably some took advantage of the
opportunity to run away, and Others wandered or
aimlessly.
ST. PAUL, MIMI. Nov. 16.-A bulletin to Tho
PioEeer-Pr from ST. Peter says: The number Of
lives lost by burning and freezing at the Insane
Asylum is variously estimated at from twenty 10
| fifty The loss on the building Is $500, ,00O.'
a special dispatch, dated a. m, says:
The scenes at the burning of the poor inmates
in the hospital were heartrendng IN the extreme.
So appalling sight mas rarely been witnessed, and
| trust may never be again. The patients in ths
! annex wing were males. Many Of them refused TO
leave the building at all. They up and down
the halls screaming and crying OF course those
who could not be cOaxed forced out of the build
ing were suffocated, OF suffered a horrible death
in the Dit of the flames. The 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 aud craZed inmates fed as II for
their lives aud could not be Overtaken confined.
Their sutferngs in this frghtful condition can bet
ter be imagined than described. The whole catas-
trophe is a heartrendIng one. The poor dazed in
mates of the az lum who had escaped the flames
were at large haifclothed, and were 20 be seen IN
all directions flying in wild fright from those VINO
attempted to save them. The air was bitter cold.
aud the poor wIetches, with half-naked bodies
and bleeding feet flying about hiding in
alleys and dark corners for some time
The capacity of the building has been tried To
its utmost There were about 600 patients aud
every inch OF space was utilized. Nhat VIII 70
done with these poor creatures turned out in the
cold and their maady increased by the excitement
of the OCCASION is serious question. There two
other buildings situated in the town which
used but tney are already crowded to their full
pacItv The Asylum at Rochester is full and vii
doubtless b. unable to provide accommodations for
any Of the inmates at st. Peter turned out int
cold by the terrible CATASTROPHE
Another special says:
"While the flames were slowly progressing the
matlon of the female department made all haste TO
get the Inmates olt. and many OF them ran sarisk-
ng INTO tine snowdrirs IN their night clothes, even
| burying themselves in tne snow aud had TO be
dragged INTO he barns and sheds, white those near
! by wrapped blankets and shawls around theIn-
| Hence intense suffering could not be avoided, as
! they had to Oc tIken about fifteen or twenty nds
through The sno" 80 the nearest shelter Whlch was
on n hi immediately ~ The rear OF the south wing.
! The actual number burned cannot be got at in
any way at the present time. many are known TO
! have wandered away Ia the intense excitement that
prevailed. Several women were taken out Oi rooms
and las and several eI sons were got Out into me
halls wheu they seemed determined to return TO the
/ flames One room occupied BY TWO men was broken
/ into and while one Of the occupants hal TO be
dragged ont the other was determined 10 remain IN
/ hs warm bed. ANA when dragged out H. insisted on
waItlu1 % be d-a sd. An Old man brought here
! from Minneapolis by the name OF Adams, was taken
The principal cause OF delay in getting 4 stream
of water on the Ere from the hospital hose arose
from the fact that Il had not been m Use i0r so long
! tbq, ID required 70 be wet from enI to end che
on,sIe With hot water Meantime the lames
spread very rapidly from the basement. h.iing the
halls completely full OF smoke, ana making It M
/ possible 10 DO anything AT SAVING the H.
| mates If the north wing except " putting
up ladders and prylng OF ire screens from doors.
I taking the occupants out ana actuatly carrying
them down WItnOat clothing IN many cases AT
some 6 the windows there were three or four beg
ang De saved from death, While the niines we're
bursting from the adjoining windows at them. one
/ poor fellow Was dragged through a hat open screen
| au, badly mInglcd.
"A,Sisfance nas been teegraphed for to Rochester
Mimi aud -. Paul for food. clothing and shelter
for the men. Iwothrds of the hospital Is saved.
The walls of the burned part are standing entire.
THE NCMBEE OF DEAD RECUcED.
81. PAUL, Mimi, Nov. 16-A special dlspasch
from ST. Peter p. m. says 1t Is still dtficut to
get at the names and particulars OF the awful
calamity. list OF those killed and hurt is not
now obtainable DR.. Bartlett, superintendent of
the Asylum SAYS that there are not more
than twelve lives lost and probably as
many more hurt and suffering from the bitter cold
of last night. Indeed people are believed 10
be injured and dying from exposure 20 the weather
than from burns Other people say that as many a.
twenty INSANE people either persisted IN the hames
or died on the cold hills during the night.
So many patients have disappeared that IT cannot
lie told who dead and who ran away. The sui
fering has been terrible. Hundreds Of the patients
are as helpless, children, amt are seemingly
shocked and dazed 10 as 10 render them almost
lnsenSible.
Governor Pihbury heads band Of workers who
are dong everything possible tor The comi0rr OF
the distressed. Inc Governor saws he can make
arrangements for the accommodation Of most OF the
insane at St. Peter IN the hospital houses. Mr.;
Carson of Minneapolis, has found the dead
budy of his fatheT-inlaw, Mr. Abrams. The damage
20 tne hospital building viii amount to S2Oo.uoo
The runs are beng oyerhauled as fast as p0ssrole
m tie search tor the dead The officers Of the inst-
tuition are making every euort 10 discover
the Whereabouts of missing patients and
10 take care ei those sull here. Auange-
ments VIII be perfected before the night closes by
when an viii b. comfortably csred Tor ihe ieie-
granb office hers IS oyercrOwded with messages
from an parts # the State, and tho greatest dti-
cntg is met 40 receiving OF sending any news. IL IS
| innDssl hle 20 gat any nAmeS LO-nIeAt