The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1885-01-22
ROcEEDINGS AT THE INQUEST,
Insane Asylum Horror.

was discovered. The woodwork OF
VI building being pine, it burned very
lpidly. The building was occupied by
) patients, G attendants and | night
Tatchman. Seventeen patients are
Kissing.
THIRTEEN CuARRED BODIES
lave been recovered. They are burned
|eyond recognition. All of the patients
we're intirm and incurable. The bed
hidden ones were rescued first, and
hose who were able TO help themselves
IA not realize the danger, and they
we're the ones who persisted.
Nhe attendants lost their personal ef-
ects, and many narrowly escaped with
leir lives, one of them having to tie
10 clothes to escape. There were no
hcilities for putting out the fire, the
cate having made no appropriation.
he building was a new one, and cost
bout $4,000. 1t is total wreck.
THE FOLLOWING Persisted.
Henry Brown, Rock Island.
s. ii. Webel, Galesburg.
George Bennett, Morris.
Joseph Colbert, Chicago.
Orlando Ellis, Pontiac.
J. w. Galloway, Macoupin.
Thomas Hockey, Springfield.
Mathew Hogue, Chebanse.
Thachner, Stevenson county.
Thomas Hereby, Chicago.
A ichas gor S%' ,e Chicago.
j. Nathan, Chicago.
A. lanyard, Winnebago county.
Q. ratz, Chicago.
J.1. Taylor, Chicago.
ID. Weymouth, Putnam county.
Thomas Hereby was the brother OF
be late Senator Hereby.
THE BUILDING
Eas two.story stone and brick, with
10 wood about it except the iloors and
snirs. 1t was COMPLETED last August. 1t
tas used as AN intirmary, and con-
ained- forty-fVe insane inmates
twenty-three on the first floor and
w6nty-two on the second. Attendants
prewn and Rose and the latter's wife
We're sleeping on the second floor. At
endauts Reid and Williams and Fire
nan Iceberg slept on the first floor. The
building was heated by hOt-air fur
mace. It was u degrees below zero
when a Waterman named Cobb discov-
bred smoke issuing from the floor,
Immediately about the furnace. lie
Invoke the attendants. The smoke at
bnce became drawn through the hot air
lues and along the halls and stairways
% all parts of the building. The fire
spread so rapidly that all efforts to save
h9 buildings in the absence, Of fire
III facilities to fight the flames were
ound i'll vain. w. A. Reid began
DRAGGING OUT THE PATIENTS
Ind carrying them to places of safety.
Many of the patients were clad in their
hight clothing only, and rushed from
he bitter cold air back into the building.
Mr.. Reid, at the risk OF his own life,
truggled on until twenty of his twenty
bur patients were rescued, when he be-
rrt..I
ON THE SECOND FLOOR,
attendant Rose al his wife heard the
Farm and escaped before the stair fell.
attendant Brown, sleeping on the
aiAe floor, was awakened by smoke
Ind attempted TO save the patients in
he adjoining room, but failed, and
Hiding down by means of sheet from
bis window, jumped to the ground. :,
Superintendent h. s. Dewey reached
he scene and with ladders climbed to
he second story window, smashed the
Window and was able to rescue some
Satients thereby. Almost all the pa
tents refused to cooperate in the efforts
kade to save them, and
ERE only rescued by being
RreYented from returning.
A MARVELLOUS ESCAPE
tas that of an inmate who fell with the
econd floor, struck the burning debris
bove the furnace and bounded through
he window to the ground uninjured.
Fhe remains of the bodies of twelve pa
ients have been taken from the ruins,
Burned to fragments, only to be identi-
led by the locations in which they were
bund. The dead thus identified, with
heir ages and residences, were an
ounced at the corOner's inquest this af-
brnoOn.
LEGISLATIVE CULPABILITY.
superintendent Dewey stated that he
had asked the legislature two years ago
5orI2 500 to protect these detached wards
Eom fire; that $1,000 was allowed,
Ill of which was used IN
hains and hydrants; that the amount
has insufficient to answer the purpose.
6e suggested that the floor above the
NJ air furnace be changed, it being
hown in evidence that it was but four
inches from the outside and ten inches
rom the inside of the furnace to the
bine joists.
CAUSE AND EFFECT.
He gave two reasons for the great
humber of deaths: :,
First Patients were nearly all suffer
hgJfrom smoke before they could be
Second--Inability or unwillingness of
be insane patients to try and help. them
Ives.
THE REMAINS
the bodies, with but one exception,
NOT aggregate each but little more
hn handful of charred ashes. The
tire remains of ten of the
etims were spread on small table
b feet square.
Friends are arriving in search OF
& ones. The scenes on their arrival
re- very heartrending. kilograms
Mourning in from all parts OF the
e from parties asking as TO the
etv of their friends among the IN
ties OF the hospital. :.
he coroner's fury, which adjourned
Tn tomorrow, is investigating as to
ether the furnaces were defective.
a fact that there is no general alarm
Eween the various buildings of the
spital, or any system of water works
protect life and property there, ac.
UNITS largely for the very large loss oil
b.
H. w. Belden, aged so, of Galesburg,
of the victims, and the only one
~ Rremains presented even the sem
moe of a human body, was q promi-
~ man in his section of the state.
was on the second floor,
Is an invalid, and was unable to help
voaa1f