Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-19
THE kANkAkEE aSNEUM FIRE.
Heroic Efforts TO Save the pcmenscd
and Enkcehied lnniates.

kANSAKEE, lII-, January 19.-While the flames
were at their height in the innnary fire yesterday
morning, Jack Coyne, an Old sailor from Chicago,
who WIS an inmate NJ the institution. mounted
ladder which had been raised Ia the north dOrrnir
tory. The undertaking seemed hopeless Deus
clouds or smoke rolled out of Ihe windows Tlis
west Wing. where the ilre was hIs seen, was sold
OF IRE with the wind blowing the Ilafnes Ike
blast 10 the interior OF the building. The stair,
way and the foor or the Eall had fallen. Coyne
trcpidly went through the window at the top og
his ladder. lie craWied along the floor. lying close
down. He eToped his way 10 the beds and pulled
their occupants down TO the floor and to the win.
dow, where a breath OF air sufficiently revived
Them SO that they could SO down the ladder unass
sisted. CoSne again returned into the dOrmitory.
where he picked his way 10 other beds and rescued
others Ia the same manner hus four times dlJ
he return. each time laden with human freight.
Al a window for an instant hand whs seen o.
move 1slesSly across the panes and then itS ownrr
sunk out Of sight, 0s the cornice aud root above
were falling, and rendered any Idea of help from
those below futile A patent named Holiihan,
who was considered only partially insane, on being
awakened, made rope out of his sheets and
blankets which he let out OF the window 10 the
steps 10y the side of The burning wing. HE then
crawled down The rOpe. after telling another in-
mate TO follow him. he reached toe steps safely.
hut the second one let 90 his hold when part way
down and fell and received serious injuries 4
third looked at the flames aud then the distance
beneath, and retreatec from the window. lie was
The last legislature made a small appropria-
ton 10 guard against IRE. but the amount large
enough only TO put IN the hydranis. number of
the friends or the deceased arrived on the lsio
trains. There have been preparations FOR bur
ial as Yet, but IL Is probable that there VIII
be but one funeral held over the
tire number. as there are 40 means of Identifying
the dead excepting as JAey came from the rufus,
laying Side by SIDE and I'm regular order, as they
retired. one singular fact. related 10y Dr. Bannis-
Ter, Is that most or the patients sleep With their
heads covered with bed clothing. According 10
this and the positions they were found In IN the
cellar. &c Is probable that they were sfnotherod.
None hut lnale patients were Ia the burned nirrn-
ary. The remains OF Thos. Hereley We're revercntly
laid IA coffin 10y his two brothers, senator Hereey
and Jno. +. Hereley, about a N.
The barning building, when wrapped In flames.
lighted up the country for miles around. The most
heroic efforts We're made To save the Inmates
owing 10 the enieeb.ed condition OF the ma
jority OF the Inmates and 10 the wild desires
OF Others foreman In the burning building the
OF rescue was extremely difficult In several ln-
stances the patients afte- having been taken out,
rushed back Into the names. Il. Eiter, patient,
who was demented by the rumpus, broke away
from his Keeper three times, and each time got
within the wall. but was captured, and finally
Dr Dewey, who was one OF the most ac-
tive or the rescuers, procured ladder and
assembled TO q window Of the compartment on the
second floor, In which .. Ellis dying paralytic,
confined. lie was not expected 10 live 81
hours. The doctor smashed In The glass. cutting
his hand severely. He was staggered 10y the breath
OF hot, black smoke which enNeopeG him. The
sufocating victim was unable 10 move, but moaned
piteOusiy for help The uoctor was pawerleSs- BE
could not enter without breaking the SASH and this
he found he was unable TO do. standing irresolute
he heard somebody at the next window appealing
for a savior Ellis. II rescued. could not by any
chance survive. and aware or this TACT the doctor
quickly descended To the ground, changed the po-
stion OF the ladder and making q second ascent.
crushed the glass and rescued the decrepit form OF
Isaac White, an inrm patient, sS years od. France
Lebarge, an attendant, after saving TWO refractory
patients came twice within an inch OF losing hls
own lie.
one OF the patients whom Lebarge rescued being
I'm nude condition the attendant rushed 10 his
room on the second 1O1r 10 procure pair OF pan
falcons for the sufferer. The fire beneath had
meanwhile burned the bottom OF the floor until
nothing but a crust renalned with the panta-
looms In his hand LcbaTle was cropping hs way
out OF the room when The shell OF flooring gave
way and he fell through. Fortunately he caught
himself by the elbows either side OF the apef-
tufe and still strong enough TO bear his weight he
lifted himself 10 his hands and knees and In that
manner crawled out through smoke anc flames 10
the main stairway. His clothes and hair were
snged but he miraculously escaped further injury.