The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-03-16
EsrRucrroS ar pAxvlLLr
The State Hospital a, Chat
Place .Buraei.


/ DAsvILLE, Pa, March 6.-Yestcr {.
day the state hospital for the insane
at this place was one OF the mos'
imposing public edifices of this see.
ton of the state; to-day It is a lnass
OF smouldering ruins For years its
construction has been actively pros.
! ecuted, and only in 1881 could It's
completion be obtained.
The cost to the Stale for the cree
ton of the buildings which are now
almost entirely destroyed, has been
at least 100000. These buildings
covered an area of nearly two acres
lof ground anil had a frontage OF
$40 feet. II was a substantial strnct-
ure of stone, situated about a hall
mile to the east OF Danville.
At about S:l5 last evening fire
broke out in one of thcfemale wards
OF the east wing, temporarily unoc-
eupied for the purpose of repairing
lit. The cause OF the FIRE is yet un-
eXplaine |. Efforts to stay the pro-
gress the flames were rendered
abe .ye by the fact that the fire
originated in o closet wherein the
water plug and hose are situated,
and the pipes soon became 50 heat
ed that the water could not be turn
ed on. Attention was then turned
to rescuing the patients, some five
hundred Of whom were then under
treatment in the institution. For
tunately most of the females were
at that hour attending services in
the chapel and those were at once
transferred to the bakery, and other
! detached buildings in the rear. Ma
turally the fire caused much excite
ment among theseunfortunates, and
very different was the effect upon
many of them. Some of them be-
came greatly frightened, whilst 9th
ers considered it a great treat gotten
up for their enjoyment. These lat
ter stnbbornly resisted all efforts to
remove them. Some of the attend
ants were roughly handled, and the
more athlete Of the inmates were
only taken to places Of safety by
main force.
/ No lives were lost. The bad con
dition OF the roads prevented prompt
assistance from the town. The asy-
lum was at too great distance to
Utilize the fire pressure OF the Holly
system of water works here and a
team OF horses conveyed the Friend
ship steamer to the scene as the
main building broke into flames.
The Friendship and other fire com
! panies of the town have been doing
all in their power but the scarcity OF
water prevented very successful
work Adjacent towns were tele-
graphed to for assistance but the
steamers from Sunbury and Milton
did not arrive here until ) o'clock
I this evening. Had they responded
promptly it is probable that the en-
tire west wing could have been saw
ed. From the east wing to the CEN
tre, thence to the west wing the fire
spread rapidly, the heavy cornice
under the tin roof greatly assisting
in this whilst inside, the Carolina
pine flooring, doors, etc, were greeed-
/ lily Tapped by the flames. In their
efforts to remove the inmates many
iof the attendants lost their Driyate
effects, bat most of the movable
property Of the hospital was saved.
There remain ats present but sec
ton OF the extreme west wing, con
sisting Of about six wards. The
hospital was insured for S250,000.
The ruins are still in flames despite
the continuous efforts of the fire
menl None of the detached build
ings Of the hospital base been in
iured. c.