The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-04-20
FIRE AT THE ASYLUM.
ONE OF THE LUNATIC ASYLUM
BUILDINGS BURNED.

ONE OF THE LUNATIC ASYLUM
BUILDINGS BURNED.
No Lives Lost, the Lunatics Being
Rescued with Difficulty
by the Attendants.
Another Big Loss 10 the state for
Want OF Water.
Full Particulars of the Fire, and
scenes and incidents OF
the Occasion.
Thursday, at about fifteen minutes TO
one o'clock, the alarm of fire sounded
from the big bell on the hill. As no
ward was given in the alarm, firemen
and others were much puzzled TO know
in what locality the fire was situated.
This suspense was of short duration,
however, as the news soon spread that
the
LUNATIc ASYLUM WAS ON FIRE.
Ordinarily the alarm of fire creates an
among the general masses of
humanity which no other agency is
capable of producing, but in this instance,
when it was stated that lunatic asylum,
where is confined several hundred help
less and demented people, was burning,
feeling of horror pervaded the minds of
those who heard ii. The intense exciet-
ment caused by the first announcement
of the fire was exceedingly augmented
by rumors, which came thick and fast,
one of which was to the effect
that the inmates of the asylum
were all turned loose, and several burned
up. The firemen, with commeDdable
zeal and promptness, hurried to the
scene, the hose carriages and trucks be-
ing followed closely by Colorado
steamer. When the representative OF
the STATESMAN reached the ground, and
he was among the first to arrive, what is
known as
THE PAVILION
was completely enveloped in flames.
1t must be remembered, in this connec
ton, that the building is full two
miles from the city, and there was
no way of giving the alarm after
the fire was first discovered except to
send some one all the way to town
When the firemen arrived, therefore, the
burning building was beyond all hope OF
preservation, and the only service re-
auired of the department was TO prevent
the spread of the flames to the adjacent
structures.
The alarm was first given short tint
after twelve o'clock, about the time the
inmates were getting ready for dinner
by workman engaged on the building:
now being constructed there. DR.. Ora
ham states that when he heard the alarm
he rushed to the scene and discovered
the building to be on fire under TIT
roof. Several parties Immediately wen
to work to extinguish the flames, bu
having no appliances of any description
save some buckets of water brOugh
from an adjacent cistern, the task VS.
soon discovered to be a hopeless one
With single hose and nozzle, it is con
fidently asserted by several, the fire coulC
have been suppressed in few moments
Meantime the attendants, led and di
rected by the brave and faithful matron
Mrs. Carr. were laboring with all thei
strength and skill to
SAVE THE PATIENTS
domiciled in the building, some fcriy-si.
I'LL VI luClil Ills WI
no small undertaking, as the pa
tients, most of whom were as
sembled in the dining hall OF
the lower floor, becoming excited
wanted to hurry up stairs to their dol
mitorics, where certain and a horrible
death awaited them. By great deal o
persuasion, some force and deception
they were all finally rescued from tn
building and Immediately secured il
other quarters. Mrs. Carr says most o
them were induced TO leave the house b,
the attendants telling them to come t
the play ground, to dinner, and othe
pretexts of that kind, but that some hat
to be carried out by sheer force. On
patient, who had both legs broken b,
jumping from balcony som
time ago, mention of whicl
occurrence was made in the STATESMAN
at the time, had to be carried out. Righ
here 1t is desired to mention, for the pun
pose of commencing him,
MR.. zEINoeoE, AN ATTENDANT,
who, through devotion to duty, sacrificed
all his worldly possessions. He neve
thought of self, but bravely and nobl,
worked to save the poor and helples
creatures committed to his charge. H
lost his trunk, containing all of hi
clothing, 1920 in money and other pos
sessions He did not even have ha
when the fire was over. There wa
some talk yesterday of raising a subscrip
ton for his benefit. We hope it may b
done.
THE BURNED BUILDING
was situated about ninety yards from tn
main building, in northwesterly direC
ton, and about one hundred and fit
yards from what is known as he Mort
Building" The wind was BLOWN
strongly toward the main building, an,
the burning cinders fell in perfect tol
rents upon the roof of the latter Fire
men were on guard there, however, an
prevented any catastrophe in that qHal
ter Colorado company turned strear
hof water upon the fire, but, as nothin
could be effected thereby, it was dis
continued, and there was nothing
left but to wait until the flame
ceased for want of material upon whic
to flourish.
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
1t is not known positively how the fir
originated, but the superintendent an
the attendants think it was caused by
defective pipe, leading from the stove i
the sitting room out through the roof
DR.. Graham states, however, that this
the same stove and pipe which have bee
used during the entire winter past. Thi
being true, the accident can be accounts
for only upon the superstition that tn
pipe had burned through or had in som
way become displaced, thus commun
eating the blaze to the roof of the builC
ing.
THE LOSS TO THE STATE.
The loss to the state, counting tn
building and such portion of its content
as were destroyed, will amount to cor
siderable. The house was a two-stor,
brick structure, the contract price O
which, if we remember rightly, wa
$4,000, and upon which, of course
there was no insurance The buildin
was comparatively a new one, havin
been finished during the incumbency o
DR.. Wallace as superintendent, som
four years ago. 1t was found imposs
BILE, yesterday during the excitement o
the occasion, to arrive at any defnit
conclusion as to the value of the cor
tents of the building. that wer
| destroyed. 1t was stated that abou
$500 worth of new clothing was burned
This estimate may be found incorrect
after investigation, butt was the opinion
of the gentleman who had charge of tina
particular department. Some little o
the furniture on the lower floor wa
saved. but all of that in the rooms. hall