Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-09-02
A BURNING MAD HOUSE.
Tragic Scene at an English Lunatic
Asylum.
Dcmentcd Patients VainIy Implorinp Aid
Heroic Efforts 10 Rescue Inmates
of the Building.

LONDON, September l.-Southall Park,
which is adjacent TO the Great Western
line, ten miles from Paddington, has been
the scene of teri e fire. A private luna
tic asylum, kept by DR.. Boyd, was totally
destroyed, and the proprietor, his son, two
patients and a cook lost Sheir lives, while
three or four other inmates were seriously
injured. DR.. Boyd, being in room with a
spring lock, jumped out OF the window,
thus escaping with a broken thigh and a
lut face. DR.. Boyd say his daughters safe.
Cy on to the lawn, which they attained by
means of fire escape that stood perma.
nently at the west end of the building;
and with the observation, 81 am afraid
they
DO not Understand the Danger
he returned into the house. A servant
who escaped says that subsequently DR..
Boyd aud his son appeared to be following
her toward window, but they never ap-
peared there. 1t is supposed that DR.. Boyd
went back into the house, either in solici-
tude for the safely of the whole of the in
mates or, being assured Of their safety, TO
secure some valuable documents, and his
son accompanying him, they both perished.
When the inhabitants OF the ad djOinng vii
lage, aroused by the screams of the in
mates, got to SOuthall Park about three
o'clock, they found flames issuing from al
most every window at the front Of the an
Cient mansion. The screams are said to
have been frightful. As 4 gentleman who
witnessed the scene observed, when you
hear the
Screams of an Insane Person
in a state of panic you don't easily forget
it," fireman states that ia the relieC.
ton caused by the fire just as the brigade
was about to start for the COnhagratiOn a
newspaper might have been read at Han
WE'LL a mile and half away. When the
Hanwell volunteer fire brigade, which was
The first to reach the place, arrived III the
park at o'clock, the mansion was envel'
oped IN one great blaze, while the flames
we're at the same time playing havoc along
the wings. ut was a fearful blaze was
the description OF a fireman. Mr.. Weber,
a farmer, two sous Of Mr.. Abbott, the fam
Gus bee keeper, the resident constable and
other inhabitants had meanwhile been
distinguishing themselves by attempts to
rescue the inmates.
UeartrCndIng scenes were witnessed
in the wings devoted to the patients. In
an upper window the Abbots and others
epgsged in rescue work saw
Cluster Of scared Faces.
The flames were stealing rapidly in their
direction, and those who were possessed OF
reason cried pierCinglv for help, while those
who were patients stared mutely at the
destruction around, making no effort for
their release They were got down by
meuns ri ladders the hbbots handing them
down: but il was only by the exercise OF
force that some of them were got out alive.
While the patients were being got out OF
the wings greater scenes of horror were
transpiring at the mansion. High up, and
on the very top Of the western tower, two
women could be distinguished in the tittul
light of the flames, which were making
greedy passage toward them Their doom
appeared certain. From the windows be-
low them the fire belChed forth, smoke
curled up to their very feet, and light
east wind famed the blaze that was
gliding along the roof. Beneath them
Every Avcnue Of Escape was Cut of,
and there they stood on piece OF mason
~, the supports OF which they could see
were being COnsummed. The situation
seemed hopeless. The iiremen had not
then arrived; there was none to handle the
apparatus for saving life: the only thing
available was a ladder, and that only reach
ed to the height of the lower VIM. Wom.
en- wept, and men ran aimlessly hither
and thither in their distraction. bright
glare from the ignited roof OF the main
building told that aid must be instant II
at all. The helpless girls in their Losi.
tion Of moral peril, clung togethe! and
turned to look aghast at their approaching
fate. From the obscurity OF the surround.
ing fields they could be seen from afsr,
outlined, in their white clothing and dis
heveled hair, against the sky. They hung
forth their srms, and asked, in wild and
hysterical tones. for mercy.
The Rescue.
Aid was at hand. Webber, the farmer,
and Doughton, the constable, volunteered
10 ascend the tower, and they did so In the
only way that was open to them: they got
on to the roof OF the lower wing, which,
happily, still held good, and drawing the
ladder up after them. with the exercise of
great persoual strength. they placed it
sgainst the tower, resting the bottom OF
the uprights in the leads, so that there
might be one more chance for them should
the roof beneath give way. So exciting
was the moment that the spectators OF the
daring act held their breath Only the roar
OF the FIRE disturbed the silence OF the night.
Through the black and eddying smoke
Webber, with Doughton, made his way,
now lost to the sight and anon disclosed to
il by burst of light At length the top
was reached. and sinewy brown arms were
seen TO encircle one Of the girls and place
her on the ladder She descended two or
three steps. and, whether she was stfAd
hy the smoke or whether her nerves failed
her is Dot known, but she
Lost Her Hold md Fell
with a crash on the ronf below. A sicken-
ing sensation pervadsS the crowd as they
heard her vail out II am dying The
second girl Was got down in safety, the
ladder was lowered, and in the next min
ute both were handed down 10 solid earth
amid he,.rtfelt cheers. The efforts OF the
tiremer were directed 20 the saving OF the
wing. but these are much Quilted. The
mar sion is mass OF rnins, which va:
ps rtly caused through some OF the walls
.aaving been pu'led down for safety. The
| psKei,ng in The TasLsiun and the many
! wood partitions in tsr -sClrn made tbs
| premises vsry rowhu.'.hs. The l's va
,yel H. 8 . c.o,G.