Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1882-11-17
BURIED IN BED!

I =
Thirty Helpless Paupers Perish in tas'
Fiames-Heroic Firemen Hurled from
the Crumbling Walls while Men, Women
and Children Shrek for succor.
The Eastern and Provincial Poor Asvlum
an immense brick structure in the suburbs Of
Halifax, N. s., burned on the 7th, and more
than thirty of the inmates persisted in the
flames. Exactly how the fire originated is moi
very clear, but at midnight volume of smoke
rolled up from a bake house in the basement
and spread into the dormitorles, causing the
utmost terror among the four or five hundred
inmates of the institution. There was no i'm
mediate danger, so the officials of the asylum
did not take steps to remove any of them. An
alarm was sounded, and the stroke of the
bell had scarce commenced when reels were
run out OF the engine houses, as one or two
men happened to be about, and the few peo-
Pile who had not retired and others who lived
In the neighborhood ran to the building. They
found smoke issuing from the windows, but
no flames were seen. In the west wisg Old
women and children were crying to be let
out, and as they began breaking the glass 10
was feared they would throw themselves to
the ground. sturdy fireman dashed at
the door leading from this wing into
the yard. and with few vigorous blows of
crowded, and ont came procession of old
and feeble men, women. and nurses bearing
children. All were screaming. and as they
reached the fresh air they calculated their
thanks and then began calling for missing
friends or relatives, until all was a babel of
confusion. When it became known that those
in the upper wards of that wing were help
less, some of the firemen and wardens, Al
dermen, a clergyman, and others who were
among the early arrivals, hastened up, and
willing hands wo-e soon getting the blind,
halt, and lame uown the winding stairs The
work was necessarily SLOW, but finally the
wing was emptied In the meantime the
flames in the basement, which the superin-
tendent, engineer, and officials were trying TO
keep under, spread to the base of the eleva-
tor reaching to the top OF the main building
The draft swept the flames upward with tre-
mendous force, and in few seconds the roof
was mass of flames. The story just under
the caves was used as a hospital, and in it
were about seventy patients, most of
them perfectly helpless The heat
was Intense; lead poured down in
streams of brilliant fire, and states
flew everywhere in deadly showers render
ing any near approach to the building almost
certain death. Notwithstanding this there
were hundreds standing outside who would
willingly have entered II they could have
found their way through the place. Indeed,
several fremen did go in. but without guild
ancc they could do nothing. and they had
to retrace their steps to the yard. An
attempt was made 60 reach the windows. but
the ladders were too short, and the men were
knocked down by falling brick The fire
burst through the roof and the scene was one
never to be forgotten. Far above the roar OF
the flames and the crack of the bursting states
were heard the cries of the wretched patients,
who were roasting to DEATH Most Of them,
rs before stated, were helpless aud could not
leave their beds. and perhaps were stihed by
the smoke before the flames reached them.
But Others were seen to dash themselves
against the windows and ding to the sashes.
Ill their strength was exhausted or their
hands burned off, Ono. woman dragged
herself to the corner window. and fore
Ing her body half out till she could breathe
The cool air, remained in that position till her
head burned of OF the seventy patients in
The hospital. as far as could be-ascertaned,
5nly half dozen we're. carried ont bef1Te the
1ames cut on s2l--furthef apprpach W the
place. a medical man. who Is IN nposfrson "a
know, estimates tho total loss of life az not
css than fifty, all patients in the hospital The
I'D people and little children rescued from
he other parts of the building were huddled
ogether in a BAN some little distance away |
md were there packed around with straw
md blankets TO keep thom comfortable till
morning. As day dawned the fire ha
Exhausted itself, and nothing bu. |
he bare walls and tall turrets re |
naincd standing. The Hoard of Public |
,harities met on the grounds and made hasty |
to dispose Of the paupers. A
neal OF bread and hot tea was served ont, and
hen the workshop. a comfortable building |
rear by, was filed with beds, and the old |
women and children and sick we're moved
nto It, Later in the day the old Peniien'
iary was secured and filed with
torres, bedding, etc, to accommodate as
many as possible. The old skating rink in the
,ublic gardens was also lifted up to receive
hem. Gen. Sir Patrick MacDougall gener-
'usly offered to place 5vo blankets at the dis
,osal of the Government II required. In the
,ity Prison the news caused the widest ex-
itement. Many of the convicts implored the
Governor to release them long enough 10
earn the fate of friends and relatives in the
sylum. Commissioners have gone carefully
ver the books and find that thirty-one of
hose iDthe hospital persisted The building
ras constructed in 1865. IL was owned
" the province and city. 1t was
AIKEN possession of and the paupers
ran sfeired from the old Poor House, on the
pring Garden road. TO the new premises,
bout the LIST of November ls70. The removal
1 the old people on that occasion resulted
hortly afterward In the death of many. The
uilding cost ss3,ooo. and was insured for 49,
Do Some fragm OF charred bodies were
ecovered, but no extensive search has been
T can with safety be made among the ruins
a their present dangerous condition.