The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-05-08
A HUMAN HOLOCAUST.
Shocking Occurrence by tho Burning
Of a Michigan County
Almshousc.

Hartford Mich Teiegram.l

Hartford tMich) TelcRrAin.I
The Van Bufen County Poorhouse, situated
two and one half miles cast Of this village, was
burned 10 tho ground this morning. Fourteen
panpcrs were burned to death, and many others
narrowly escaped with their lives Tho cause Ut
tho tire II unkn ,wn. IL originated In tho In
mates sitting room on the trst tloor, and when
discovered waa beyond control. The county
farm les midway between the villages Of Hart.
ford and Lawrence. three miles from each. and
beyond assistance from hfcinen, but when tho
iancs were discovered tho buildings were al.
ready 40 involved that help would have been nHc-
less The bnildtnyscompriaeda large two story
frame upright, with wing extending cnat md
u two-story addition projecting south from the
rear Of the mntn building. The latter was occn.
prd by Superintendent Cash. his family, AMI
the hired help. One of the latter nnmcd llalsey
was aroused ny tho cries OF the inmates. Going
down the hail he opened the door TO the two
BY n volume Of flame and smoke that burst out
lie had barely time To give tho alarm In The Su-
parihtcndents quarters, THO pnupcfs In the
addition were already past help. The occupants
II the front building only escaped with their
lives, nothing else being saved but two or three
articles ot furniture.
ished: Jimmie johnson, from Covert; Henry
Hankes, from Maverly: BENJAMIN BogarduH,
from Brsel,syille: Thomas saMyer. ,colorcd,
FREQ ra
-. Myers, from Wavcrly: Potter Golden, from
keclcr; Caroline Lang, from Covert; Caroline
SNcfcf, from covert. Mfa curtis, from BrCcdH-
vile; Mrs. Wilson and her s-year-old daughter:
Ann Maria and Debby Gravel, of Bangor.
When morning came the ruins presented q
alcks ming sight. The victims Of tho eonnngra-
tion, when taken from tho ashes and half con-
sumed timbcrs Of the building. were 10 burned
NJ to he unrceognixahle, horrible masses Of flesh
and lone, impossible to identity, being viewed
by hundreds Of visitors.
The addition con tanned sleeping nccommoda-
tions for about twenty. and the only ones who
escaped were n hoy named rker who jumped
from the second window, and two little boys
of Mrs, Wilson. Their mother and sister per-
irhed In the flames, Tho remainder Of tho In
mates were In u detached building known N
the jail" They comprised the idiotic, violently
insane. ctc. between that and the main struct-
urc there was another detached building, tho
distance scpa rnting the two being perhaps, forty
feet, which delayed the progress OF tho flames
till the inmates Of "thc Jail" could hc saved.
Une Of the occupants OF the Superint sndcnts
quarters was his daughter, just recovering from
m attack Of typhoid fever She was saved.
The inmates who were lost comprise the hct-
ter class Of naupers, those In a comfortable
condition and allie to assist about tho premises.
The county authorities have made provisions In
the ncivhborhood for the temporary care OF tho
remaining inmates. There were about sixty &C.
cunants Of the burned buildings.
The loss to tho county on building and con-
tents In about sln,aNo, on which there In $4,000
insurance Mr., Cash the oyerseer, lost all his
goods, 10 the value ot about $500, on which there
was no insurance.