Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-01-22

KANKAKBR, ILL.,, Jan. 19.--While the
flames were at their hight in the in
Urinary fire, Jack Coyne, an old sailor
from Chicago who was an inmate Of the
| institution, mounted = ladder which had
been raised to the north domitcry. The
undertaking seemed hopeless. Denss
clouds Of smoke rolled ont Of the wirdows.
The west wing, where the fire was q st
seen was solid mass OF FIRE, with the
wind blowing the flames like blast to
| the interior Of the bnildipg. The stair.
way and the floor OF the hall had fallen.
| Coyne intrepidly went through the win.
| dow at the top Of his ladder. He orAwled
along the floor lying close down, where
he found he could escape the
densest part Of the smoke. He
CROPPED his way to the beds and pulled
their occupants down to the floor and
TO the window, where . breath Of air
sufficiently revived them 90 that they
tuld 90 down the ladder unassistsd.
Coyne again returned into the dormAtory
where he picked his road TO other beds
and rescued others In the same manner.
THUS four times did he return each time
laden with his human freight. With the
fourth one the smoke proved too
great for even the brave Coyne.
Standing in the window he
vainly called, as DR.. Dewey had done in
another part Of the south dormitory upon
the inmates to come to the window, but
his calls went wishout response. At 3
window near the flames for an instant
hand was seen to move nstlessly Aoross
the panes, and then its owner sank out o
sight and into death as the oornioe and
ROOT above were falling and rendered any
idea OF help from those below futile.
A patient named Holliham, who was
considered only partially insane, on being
awakened made Q rope Of his sheets and
blankets which he let out OF the window
to the steps by the size Of the burning
wing. He then crawled down the rope
after telling another to follow him. He
reached the steps safely but the second
one let 60 his hold when part way down
and fell and received serious injuries,
The third one looked at the flames and
then the distance beneath and rstreated
from the window. He WAS not seen
again and is among the lost.
The patients IS fast as they were taken
from the building we're conducted to
neighborin1 detached wards where the
todulb 6uu Ohcb WbN6 pbI6u AUI
and their wounds dressed and stimulants
administered. Nearly all Of the patients
saved their clothing which the night
before had been laid together by the side
Of their beds In the excitement they had
not forgotten II, but had taken In hand
full as they were told by the attendants
to run for lie. One or two Of the aick
ones were considerably shocked and It ie
probable they will die from the effects.
The remainder Of the rescued are said to
be doing we'll and no immediate danger
ia feared with them. II is certain, how
ever that the II burned, the mortality
list of the fire, will be increased ma.
teriAlly, as the old and ip6rm cared fol-
In the building will not be able in all
instances to survive the shock and sur.
rounding excitement.
One Of the attendants describes hor
ribla scene. He says as he looked into the
burning building he saw = number Of the
bodies lying on the girders burning, the
heads and feet dropping off and the
bodies finally going in the cellar below.
There were no means for putting ous fires
excepting the water works supply, bui
that was useless, rs there was no hose or
other apparatus. The last legislature
made . small appropriation to guard
against fire, but the amount was lsrg,
enough only to put in the hydrauts. A
number Of the friends OF the deceased
arrived on the late trains fully expectius
TO take the bodies hons
Francis Letarge, an ate7isr., Aitei
saving two refractory patients, cam
twice within an inch of losiug bis Uwp
life. ono5 when the flames ct the stair
way to the ground floor had ont of his
esoIps he broke through q window, Not
In the least dkunttd by this experience.
he forced his way through the binding
choking smoke TO the second
floor and carried ont Al iumatr
the latter being In nude
condition. Lebarge rushed to his room
on the second floor again to procure
pair Of pAntaloons for the sufferer. The
Are beneath had meanwhile burned the
bottom OF the floor until nothing but
crust remained. With the pantaloons II
his hand, LsbarRe was cropping his way
out Of the room when the shell OF flooring
gave way and he fell through. Forth
nAtely he caught himself by the
elbows on either side OF the aperture
and still strong enough to bear his weight
ne lifted himself to his hands and knees,
In that manner crawling out through the
smoke a-d enoircling flames to the msiu
stairway. HIS clothes aud hair were
singed, but he miraoulously esoGpet
further injury. Harry Brown, another
attendant, when surrounded by the fire
on the second floor, snAtched a couple o.
sheets from one Of the dormitory bsds,
tied them together and, fastening one end
to bed, slipped down to the ground.
The burned building was Of stone, two
stories high. It was 20 by 100 feet IL
Dimensions and was flmsily finished
L innIA La ruiAh harA nina Ii ian n.aaAoa