Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-02-14


no prospect Of saving them, although
the firemen then had the fire well in
hand, and all the other department
buildings were safe. The loss to the
property will amount to about $780,
900.
The six hundred and thirty inmates
who were burned out Of the various
wards were, as far as possible and as
soon as could be, provided for in the
outer wards and other parts OF the
almshouse. Many Of them, however,
escaped into the city and wandered
about the streets, where some were
captured by the police. and either re-
turned to the institution or locked up
in the station-houses. The bulk Of
them were taken to the hospital, and n
large number were placed in the clint
cal lecture-room Of the hospital. The
women were slowed about the hospital
as far as possible, and all were finally
cared for. Nine bodies were discov-
cred and placed in the dcad-room.
Only three Of those had apparently
died from burns received, the others
evidently having been sufiocated by
smoke.
DR.. Biddle, a member Of the hospital
committee having charge Of the insane
department, says that there were abso-
lptely no means Of subduing a fire.
There will be an investigation at once.
Ward NJ, in which the unfortunate
men met their deaths, was in charge Of
William Strain. young man, who had
his face singed before he could make his
escape. Mr.. Strain tells a terrible
story. He says: 1.-The rules of the in
stitution require all the inmates to re-
tire at o'clock every night. | had just
succeeded in getting the cighty-seven
men under my care to bed, and had
sat down to make out my usual report,
when somebody rushed into my apart
ment and shouted 'Fire!' In an in
slant the utmost confusion prevailed.
The smoke came rolling up the stair
way in volumes, and before we could
hardly realize our position the flames
burst in upon us.
1.-The flames spread with terrible ra-
pidity. tried to reach the cells where
there were nineteen of the most yio-
lent patients confined. | knew they
would be
ROASTED To DEATH
if the doors were not unlocked to let
them ont. My only thought was the
liberation Of those poor fellows. The
smoke and flames poured into the ward,
and before | had advanced far | was
driven back by the flames. 1t was i'm
possible for me to 60 another step for
ward, and so | had to fly for my own
life. barely got out alive. The right
side of my face and my moustache were
singed by the flames. | could hear the
poor fellows in the cells hallooing and
cursing like demons, for the fire was
upon them.
- The thought of their slowly being
roasted alive, coupled with their curses
and piercing cries for help, was terrible.
Oh God, never lived through such
frightful tortures of mind as that ex-
perienced during the few moments was
trying to grope my way out of the burn
ing building. | could hear their kick
ing and pounding but they might as
well have tried to get through a stone
wall, as the cells were constructed with
the especial view Of combining desperate
and violent patients therein. When |
reached the ground the other attendants
and myself organized the inmates into
fire-brigade. An astonishing thing
was the way in which the i'll
mates worked in carrying water
and trying to save some of the goods in
the building. They shouted and en-
couraged one another and were of yalua-
bic assistance in crying to fight the
flames during the early stages of the
confagration. But my thoughts were
all the time on the poor wretches whom
| knew were being consumed upon the
third floor. As soon as the iiremen ar
rived told the men Of Truck about
the occupants of the cells, and they
raised their ladders to the windows and
tore off the iron bars and rescued four
of them. | do not know who they were
or where they are. except one, John
Burke, who had his feet so badly burn
ed that he died afterwards"
Sergeant Moore, of the Third police
district. also had his arm injured.
Waterman Hanna said that he drove
six men out Of the wing bedroom in
Ward NJ. II drove them OUT he
SAYS. land then ran to call sixteen
and unlocked the door. Jacob Glass
man occupied it, and he wanted me to
leave him alone. | knew it was use
less to talk to him. so grabbed him
and hurried him out. When | was
passing through the bedroom from
which | had driven the six men only a
moment before | found that two of
them had returned to their beds, though
the fire was dropping down on them
from the ceiling. compelled them to
leave. and then helped to get about
thirty feeble men out of the infirmary."
The buildings were erected in 1880,
and they are only partially insured.
Uorsford's Bread Preparation
adds 10 per cent. to the value OF flour.
The eminent Baron Liebig, the greatest
chemist in the world, says: - 1t is GER
tain that the nutritive value of flour