Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-11-08
THE HALIFAX FIRE.
A Scene of Deadly Terror and Peril
Fifty Sick and Helpless Patients
Roasted to Death.
Their Piercing Shrieks and Cries as They
Writhed in the Flames.


HALIFAX Nov q.
About ~ O'Clock Monday eve fire broke
out in the bake house in the basement OF the
immense poor asylum building IN Halifax
The smoke Of the smoulderiug wood spread
through the building into the dormitories,
and caused the utmost terror among four or
five hundred inmates. There was no immedi-
ate DANGER, for the officials Of the asylum did
not take immediate steps to remove the
inmates.
The firemen found smoke was Issuing from
the windows all over the building. but no
flames to be seen. In the west wing old wO-
men and children were seen at the windows
crying TO be let out, and as they began break
ing glass it was feared they would throw
themselves out. A sturdy man dashed at the
door leading from this wing into the yard ard
knocked it in. The stairways were crowded
and out came procession Of women, nurs-
ing infants, old, gray-hesded grandmas, and
feeble old men. All were screaming and as
they smelt the fresh air without they eJacula-
ted their thanks and then began calling for
this one and that one, till all was confusion.
Then il bedame known that those in the up
per wards of that wing were almost helpless.
Some of the firemen and fire-wards and alder
men, a clergyman and others among the
early arrivals FASTENED up stairs, and willing
hands were soon getting the blind, halt
and lame down the long, winding
stairs. The work was necessarily slow,
but finally that wing was emptied
In the meantime the flames in the base
ment spread to the base of the long air shaft
or elevator reaching to the top of the main
building The shalt swept the flames up
wards and in a few seconds the heaviest part
of the confiagration was in the top OF the
man building. The story just under the
caves in this building used as hospital.
and in il were about 20 patients, and most of
them perfectly helpless. The fire was now
fiercely burning right in the hospital and
above it the heat cracked the roof till the
lead poured down in streams of fire, and
states flew everywhere in deadly showers,
rendering any near approach TO the building
almost certain death. An attempt 10 raise
ladders even would be swept away In few
minutes, the attempt was stopped.
The fire burst through the root and the
scene was one never TO be forgotten. Far
above the roar of the flames were heard the
cries OF the wretched patients who were
roasted to death Most of them were help
less and could not leave their beds, and per
haps were stifled by smoke before the flames
reached them, but others were seen to dash
themselves against the windows and cling to
the sashes till their strength was exhausted
or their hands burned of and they fell back
into the flames.
\ woman was seen to drag herself to a
corner window and force her body halt out.
till she could breathe the cool air without.
She remained in that position until her head
was burned off. 1t is known that about 40
patients were in the hospital, and so far as
could be ascertained, only half dozen were
carried out before the flames cut OFT all fur
Their approach to the place. medical man,
who is IN IA position to know. estimates the
loss of life to be not less than 80, and these
were all patients.
The poor old people and little children who
got out OF other parts of the building, were
huddled together in barn some little dis
lance away. and were there packed around
with blankets and straw to keep them COM
Portable till morning. The building Is still
burning fiercely, and there is no doubt 1t Will
be totally DESTROYED. Ii is utterly beyond
the power OF the fremen to check 1t with the
small water power at their command. The
building was insured.
As far as ascertained 81 persons were
burned to death in the last nights fire, men
and % women.
The building burned cost $4,000. Some
fragments of charred bodies were recovered,
but no extensive search has been or can be
made with safety among the ruins In the
present dangerous condition.