Morning journal and courier., 1881-01-08
News by Telegraph FROM ALLsQUARTERS. THE FIRE PEND Visits An AImshouse in
 New Hampshire. Thirteen Inmates Burned to Death, NO MEANS FOR ExTINGUlSHlNG THE
 FLAMES. ParneIPs Bold Stand in Parliament. A Bitter Choice For the Gov
 ernment.
ParneII's Bold Stand in Parliament.
THE FIRE RECORD.

An Almshouse Horror-A County Farm House in Flames-Thirteen Inmates
 Burned to Death-The Others Fleeing
 to the Woods-Driven Out in the Pier
 cling COld-Pitiful Scenes-Laclx of Fa-
 ciIities for Extfngrishing the Flames.
 DOVER, N. H., Jan. This morning at
 o'clock fire was discovered in the furnace
 room of the Stafford county farm house,
 four miles from here The flames made such
 headway that thirteen human lives were lost.
 There were many hairbreadth escapes. The
 main building and all of the county farm
 buildings and contents were entirely de-
 stroyed. When your correspondent arrived
 on the scene terrible spectacle presented
 itself. Several lunatics from the neigh
 boring asylum escaped to the woods,
 while lame, blind aud other inferior in-
 mates were fleeing from the flames in all direc-
 tions. some half dressed, others nearly naked
 in the piercing cold. When the flames sub-
 sided it was found that thirteen human lives
 were lost Burnham Nuter, aged 70, Farm
 ington, infirm Franklin Jones, 75, Great
 Falls, infirm Thomas McDermott, sO,Dover,
 infirm Che had been carried out but returned
 and was burned to death); Asa Hall, 65,
 Harrington, infrm; Ivory Hanscomb, 75,
 New Durham, infrm Forter Sargent 60, New Durham, insane Jefferson Holland, 25, New Durham, cripple; Joseph Edwark Cook,
 35, Rochester, lunatic; Lizzie Worth ington, 60, Dover, lunatic Clara States, 40, Dover hospital; Martha Jewell, 65, Great Falls, hospital (she had escaped but returned to get an easy chair and per ished); Sadie Abbott 7, Dover, orphan (she left the institution several months ago and returned Monday); Charlie Riley, two years old, Rochester. The main building was 84 by A. feet and four stories high. It was in the third story of this building that majori- ty of the lives were lost Here old men were domiciled. The ell was used as 8 hospital. Near by stood the lunatic asylum. The in- mates appeared fearfully agitated by the spectacle. Mrs. Twoznbly of Pennington and Emma Carson of Dover escaped to the woods. Neighboring farm houses and barns are being used as temporary homes for the homeless paupers, insane and sick. The total loss is estimated at $1OO, ,OOO, which is left this city soon after the fire originated. No water could be got in the neighborhood and the steamer was use- less The fire is said to be due to overheat- ing. The vicinity of the county farm at this moment is a Mecca of the curious for cir
 
 people of this locality will take care of the paupers and sick until temporary building can be erected According to Superintend- ent CaseWelPs account, the total number of inmates yesterday was 164. of which thirty two were lunatics and twelve sick in the hos pital Several inmates jumped from the sec ond floor of the main building and landing in two feet of snow below escaped injury. The sight presented this morning will never be forgotten by those who witnessed it. Pau pers fled naked from the flames while the sick were conveyed bareheaded aud barehead- ed to places of shelter. It was awful scene
 The excitement concerning the fire contin- ues to increase Dr. Fairbanks examined the furnaces just before the fire and found all right. In some way, however the wood work near the furnace caught fire and burned through one story before it was discovered It was then burning furiously, and in the ab- sence of facilities for quenching the flames there was nothing to do but save the inmates who were in fearful state of excitement Many were old, imbecile and helpless, and the spectacle as they rushed about the corri- dors in utter bewilderment, or crowded stu pid1y in corners obstinately refusing to leave the building, was terrible in the ex- treme. For some time the flames to have 8 fascination which in- escaped. Many of the children were saved by being thrown from the windows into the arms of those below. One poor Irish woman who has been 8 pauper four or five years stood nearly naked for three-quarters of an hour catching them in this way, Finally, after every effort had been made, the build ing was abandoned and the flames had every thing their own way. There was no fire ap- paratus on the premises. One engine from Dover got within mile of the place, but could get no further, and could have done no good even if it had been stationed on the farm, as there was no water to use and there has been none put on the fire to this mo- ment. The ruins are smoldering. None of the bodies have yet been removed. Two are now burning in plain sight of the door way. The sight is hideous and the stench is sickening. Those who escaped are under shelter of the neighboring houses. No cloth ing could be saved Contributions of food and clothing are being forwarded from Dover and Great Falls. There were many strange incidents during the confagration. l One woman who had come out in safety re- turned to get an old wooden chair and was consumed. Another went back to finish say ing her prayers and never returned A man in the asylum, insane on the subject of Chris 1 tianity, tore the bars from his window and sat calmly reading his Bible and pointed out the wicked tormented in the flames. Thousands of people are on the spot. Search for the remains of the dead will begin shortly. Among the lost is Martha Jewell, a widow er1v x,roDoinapt in noI