The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-31
a suRNaxG MADHoUsE.
rraxic Scenes ~ the Recent Fire In IN
English Lunatic Asylum.

4 OUUN1NG MADHOCBE.
rraxfc Scenes ~ the Recent Fire in IN |
English Lunatic Asylum.
Southall Park, which Is adjacent to the
Great Western line, ten miles from Pad
dington, was recently the scene OF ter |
rible fire. private lunatic asylum, Kept |
by DIR. Boyd, was totally destroyed, and
the proprietor, his son, two patients, ana |
q cook lost their lives, while three or four
other inmates were seriously injured.
Mr.. X. BOYD. being In room with
jumped out Of the window,
thus escaping with a broken thigh and
cut face. Or. Boyd saw his daughters
safely 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, 4" amafraid they
do not understand the real danger" he
returned into the house. A servant who
escaped SAYS that subsequently DR.. BOYD
and his son appeared 10 be following her
toward a window. but they never appeared
there. 1t is supposed that DIR. Boyd went
hack into the house, either In sohcitude
for the safety of the whole OF the inmates,
or, being assured OF their safety, TO secure
rome valuable documents, and his son ac-
companying him, they both persisted.
When the inhabitants OF the adjoining viii
lage, aroused by the screams Of the in
mates, got TO Southall Park, about o'clock,
they found flames issuing from almost
every window at the front OF the ancient
mansion. The screams are said 10 have
been frightiul. As gentleman who
fha nhsgrtpn
YOU hear the screams OF an insane
person in state Of panic you don't easily
forget IT, A fireman states that I'm the re-
Election caused by the fire Just as the br;-
pade was about to start for the conilagra-
ton newspaper might have been read ut
Uanweil, a mile and a half away. When
the Hanwell volunteer fire brigade. which
was the first TO reach the place, arrived in
the mark, about 4 O'Clock, the mansion was
enyeloped in one great blaze, while the
flames were nj the same time playing havoc
along the wings. at was fearful blaze"
was the description OF fireman. Dir. Web
Der, farmer two sons OF Mr.. Abbott, the
famous bee-keeper; the resident constable,
and other inhabitants had mean while been
distinguishing themselves by attempts to
rescue the inmates.
THE PATIENTS.
Ueart-rending scenes were witnessed in
the wings devoted 10 the patients. In an
upper window the Abbotts and others en-
gagged I'm rescue work saw cluster OF
scared faces. The flames were stealing
rapidly in their direction, and those who
were possessed OF reason cried piercingly
for help. while those who were patients
stared mutely at the destruction around,
making no effort for their release. They
were got down by means OF ladders, the
Abbotts handing them down; but it was
only by the exercise OF force that some Of
them were got out alive. While the pa
tients were being got out Of the wings
greater scenes Of horror were Transporting
at the mansion. High up, and on the very
top of the western tower, two women could
be distinguished in the fitful light OF
the flames, which were making greedy pas
sage toward them. Their doom appeared
certain. From the windows below them
the fire belched forth, smoke curled up to
their very feet, and hight east wind fan
ned the blaze that was gliding along the
roof. Beneath them every avenue OF
escape was cut off, and there they stood
on piece OF masonry the supports OF
which they could see were being con-
sumed. The situation seemed HOPELESS
the firemen had not then arrived; there was
none to hand the apparatus for saving life;
the only thing available was ladder, and
that only reached to the height Of the lower
wing. Women wept, and men ran aimless-
ly hither and thitber in their distraction.
A bright glare from the ignited roof of the
main building told that aid must be on the
instant, II al all. The bapless girls, in their
position Of mortal peril, chung together and
turned 10 look aghast at their approaching
fate. From the obscurity of the surround
ing fields they could be seen from afar,
outlined, In their white clothing and dis
heyelled hair, against the sky. They flung
forth their arms and asked, in wild and
hysterical tones, for mercy.
THE RESCUE.
Aid was at hand. Weber the farmer
and Doughton the constable volunteered to
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 draw
ing the ladder up after them, with the ex-
erclse OF great personal strength they
placed IL against the tower, resting the
bottom of the uprights in the leads, so that
there might be one more chance Tor them
SUOluu the TOOL DtHtdtu give NdNs on
exciting was the moment that the specta-
tors 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 Weber, with Dough-
ton, made his way. now lost to the sight
and anon disclosed to it 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, wlieth-
er she was stifed by the smoke or wheth-
er her nerves failed her is not known, but
she lost her hold and fell with crash on
the roof below. A sickening sensation
pervaded the crowd as they heard her wall
out, " am dying" The second girl was
got down in safety, the ladder was lowered,
and in the next minute both were handed
down to solid earth amid heartfelt cheers.
The efforts OF the fremen were directed to
the saving OF the wings, but these are much
Quilted. The mansion is a mass OF ruins,
which was partly caused through some Of
the walls having been pulled down for
safety. The paaelling in the mansion and
the many wood partitions in the asylum
made the premises very combustible. The
fire was over by O'Clock.