The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-02-14
IUNATICS ATLARGE.
people in Philadelphia Alarm
ed by Them.
HORRIBLE TALE OF THE FIRE.
r-r.ntv-eight Unfortunate Victims
supposed to Have Perished
in the Flames.
Details of the Terrible Disaster.

PHILADELPHIA, February 13.-The $50
inmates turned out of the various
yards were, as far as possible and as
soon as could be, provided for in a Sc
cnre mart of the aims house. Many of
them however, escaped into the city,
md wandered about the streets, where
a anT were captured by the police, and
oGi returned to the institution or
iocted up. The bulk of them were
t toTan To the hospital, and large num-
ber we're placed in the clinical lecture
~ soorn of the hospital The women were
S sfowed about the hospital as far as pos
s;ble and all were finally cared for.
Nine bodies were discovered and placed
in the dead room.
mr. Biddle, member of the hospital
committee. having charge of the depart
Dent saws there were absolutely no
means of subduing the fire. There will
he an investigation at once. A rumor
nreyailed at the aims house grounds
iata Tonight that some forty of the
most violent patients, confined on the
inner floor, all persisted. This rumor
e6IId not be traced to any authentic
source. and it is believed by the author
ities questioned in reference to it, that
the patients in the upper floor where all
rescued and will be accounted for in the
morning. or as soon as the prevailing
confusion and excitement subsidies. The
buildings we're erected in 1880 and were
only partially insured.
At 2.3Oa.m. the fremen had the fire
under control; that is, had the neigh
boring buildings protected and the fire
was allowed to spend its fury on the in
sane department of the building alone.
The total number of inmates of the
institution is placed at SIG. OF these
eighteen are known to have persisted. 1t
is also known, however, that there are
seVentyfve missing, but OF these there are
probably large number who have been
picked up in different parts of the city
by the policemen. Two were found near
the nineteenth district police station,
about three miles distant from the
scene of the fire. Two we're picked up
by fifth district officers and one in the
ninth district. In this way probably
many missing ones will be accounted
for, when all the police stations have re-
ported. The fire originated in the dry
ing room, which was used by laundry
women to dry bed clothing in cases of
emergency 1t had no direct connec-
ton with the laundry of the
institution. In it were often
piled heaps of soiled bedding
and old clothes. Three weeks ago,
Mrs. Ulmsteadt, housekeeper, discov-
cred fire in this place, but it was ex-
tinguished before any serious damage
was done. As there are neither stoves
nor fires in that part of the building, and
as none of the patients were seen in or
about the room, tine fire was attributed
to spontaneous combustion, generated
IN some clothes. The same cause is be-
leved to have brought about the dis
tressing con1agration tonight.
PHILADELPHIA, February 13.-The fire
OF last night at the almshouse entirely
destroyed that portion OF the institui.
ton set apart for the insane. OF 684
lunaacs confined there, many are miss
'ng, but 1t is thought most of them
wandered away. At 8 O'Clock this
morning two more charred bodies were
found in ward No. 9 They had beer
roasted beyond all recognition. Severa
human forms can be seen in the burning
wreck IN the cellar. 1t is now though
T @ellty-elght OF the inmates persisted
Lnat number Of violent patients wert
'cAed IN the cell on the third floor anC
Iouiu not be reached. Fight of then
nave been taken out and others hav
lsot Deen accounted for. There seems N
uo9Ol mat they are lost and their re
-ia,aS are among the ruins. During the
nishg many insane persons were fount
msaaerlng IN different parts of the city
solhe nearly naked. The poor creature
senefaily seemed unable to understan
Ut SITUATION, and in some cases begge,
tbe captors piteously, not to throw
I'm M INTO the river. Others SCENE
'' ~ axe lta grand joke and laughe
sLeeluily when the subject of the fir
Vas mentioned. Another came fiyin
uG ;T south street early this mornin
IN ma. nlahacle attached to his wrist an
H. rev INKS OF chain dangling from il
n naS shrleEed and laughed as he struc
uy ana lett among the frightene
pSJple. II was found necessary TO ms
o 'Oiei'Ge and knock him down before h
oouIu De secured. Another mad ma
ia" 'FI panic in street car by rusl
sn6-. w haiI clad, and with his fac
IN oV .i'i'1 ana blackened he sank GOVERN
ba SIe corner, 1t was soon found ths
rsr was more frightened than those VII
,~a l way; A report that the stree
- IGu oil escaped maniacs cause
strs Tm a.sr IN IN West Philadelphia an
mncPs NUGGETS rs looked upon each other wit
inc IL G ~ Firemen are still worI
bSSIf - f,6 ehe ruins. They are weary an
apns %9zeh, each mans helmet and CO.
f6rp fgSa H. as hard as armor, but scare
aDnaa s oouIes continues steadily. The
nee pearS 20 nave been great deal of III
and soay trouble caused by rotten no:
scarcity IN the water supply.