Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-02-04
INSANE ASYLUM FIRE.

Conclusion of the Investtgation-The Re-
sponsible officials Exonerated and the
Faulty Construction of the Building
Condemned.
Especial Telegram to the Globe.
ST.. PETER, Feb. 3.-The legislative inquiry
into insane hospital affairs was suspended to-.
day, after about forty witnesses were examin-
ed. According to the evidence taken, the loss
of life in the fire last November must be at.
tributed to the construction of the building,
allowing smoke to ascend in suffocating quan-
titles through the heating 1ues, ventilators and
other openings. Some patients were confined
in rooms because violent, or being sick, to
prevent,them being damaged. Others, paralyt.
les, were lost in the darkness, the smoke
having put out the lights. Some of the lock-
ed-in patients were rescued from the outside,
and one abandoned patient was afterwards
brought out alive, having laid him
self face downward on the floor
or hail. Only one attendant failed to attempt
to master the patients in his charge and move
Office to notify him. Found him gone, he
having before been notified, and claimed he
could not get back TO his ward because OF the
smoke. Part of his patients were taken out
through the outside door by DIR. Bartlett and
others. One was rescued from the outside
fully one hour after having broken the glass
of the window, and sat there while his back
was roasting until rescued.
None of the evidence reflects upon the con-
duct of the superintendent or other officers of
the institution.
During the fire the asylum hose was in bad
condition at times, not having been inspected
for seven or eight weeks. This seems to be
the fault of the engineer, but 1t does not ap.
pear that in the best condition it would have
saved any of the lost lie or property.
While the inquiry was mostly devoted to
the fire and the couduct of the officers and en-
ployees, Trustee schimmel, dealer in hides
and tallow from the hospital slaughter house,
was also inquired into. Steward Dryer swore
that Schimmel had no preference to prevent
sale to others; also would bid higher; that he,
Driver, had no interest or profit frem
the hide deal; that he had sold sheep pelts to
others who bid for them; that he had not re-
ceived higher offers for hides, and that Schim-
mel favors the asylum by taking the hides
daily from the slaughter house. Nothing
contrary was elected from two hide buyers
called as witnesses.
AS to the case of the patient reported to
have been fatally injured or frozen in the room
in which she was confined, it appears that she
was Mrs Curtis, from st. Paul, who died two
years ago. Dr. Bartlett testifes that she died
from disease of the heart and that her hus-
band was with her for twenty four hours before
she died. Mrs. Meyer, attendant, swears Mrs.
Curtis fell in fit in the hall and was
placed in warm room where she died. The
story appears to have originated from the
woman's skin turning blue and chilly while
yet alive, but unconscious, both symptoms
of disease from which she died.
One story as to abuse Of a patient by an at
tendant was inquired into, but the person
from whose statement it had come testified
there was no brutality or intent of hurting the
patient.
In short this committee has to exonerate the
responsible officials and condemn the architect
and whoever else had to do with planning the
building which proved such fire-trap last
November