Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1882-11-16
A HORRIBLE NI0HT,

: HALIFAX, Nov. IA fire broke out
about IN dnight in the Eastern and
Provincial asylum, an immense six
story brick structure, containing about
400 people. At 1870 half the building
was a mass of flames. The fire origin.
ated in the bakery where 81 cords Of
wood were stored. Tho flames catching
this, spread with lightning rapidity,
soon enveloping that part of the build
ng used as hospital. The inmates
about the building in great confusion
The work Of getting them out was very
difficult. 1t is thought most of those
confined in the hospital were saved,
but it is feared a number were lost.
The entire fire brigade were on the
scene but could do but little as hardly
any water was obtainable.
FULL PARTICULARS.
About l2 o'clock last night FIRE
broke out in the bakehouse in the case
ment of Elmcz poor ASYLUM buildings.
How it originated is not known. The
smell of smouldcring wood spread
through the dormitories and caused the
utmost terror among the 400 or 500
inmates in the building. There was
no immediate danger, SO the officials Of
the ASYLUM did not take steps to re-
move the inmates. An alarm was
sounded and the stroke of the bell had
scarcely commenced when the wheels
we're run out Of the engine house. A
few people who had not retired and
others who lived in the neighborhood
ran to the building and found that the
smoke issued from windows all over the
building, but no flames we're to be seen.
In the west wing were old women and
children seen al the windows crying to
he let out and, as they began breaking
the glass, it was found they would
throw themselves to the ground. The
stairways were crowded and out came
women nursing infants, old grey headed
grandmothers and feeble old men. Then
it became known that those in the up
per wards and wing were helpless. Fire
men and others who were among the
early arrivals hastened up aud willing
hands were soon getting
THE BLIND, HALT AND LAME
Down the winding stairs. The work
was necessarily slow, but finally tina,
wing was emptied. In the meantime
the flames in the basement had spread
to long airshaft'or ELEVATOR reaching
to the top Of the main building. The
draught here swept the flames upwards
with tremendous force and in few
seconds the heaviest part Of the con
hagration was in the top of the main
building. The story just under the
caves in this building was used as a
hospital and in it were about 20 pa
tients, most of them helpless. The fire
was now fercely burning right in the
hospital and above, and the heat " as
SO in,ouse that lead poured down from
the roof in streams of brilliant fire and
sparks blew everywhere in deadly show.
ers, rendering any near approach TO the
building almost sertain death. Not.
with.tanding this there were hundreds
standing outside who would willingly
have entered the building if they could
have found their way through the place.
Indeed,
SEVERAL DID GO IN,
But without guidance could do nothing
in the immense building and had to re.
turn to the yad. An attempt was made
to raise ladders to the windows, but the
lldders were to short, and after fire,
man was knocked down by falling brick,
and it was seen that the ladders even
would be swept away in few minutes,
the attempt ceased. The fire burned
through the roof.