The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-14
THE BURNED ALMSHOUSE.
The Number of Dead Now Said To Be Twenty
Eight-Many Maniacs at Large.

PHILADELPHIA, Feb 13.-The fire of lastni light
at the almshouse destroyed that portion of the
institution set apart for the insane. Of the 6S4
lunatics coufined there, many are missing, but it
is thought most of them have wandered away.
This morning two more charred bodies were
found in ward No 2. They had been roasted be-
yond all recognition. Several human forms can
be seen in the burning wreck in the cellar.
It is now thought twenty eight of the inmates
perished. That number of violent patients were
locked in cells on the third floor, and could not
be reached. Eight of them have been taken out
dead, and others have not been accounted for
There seems to be no doubt they are lost and
that their remains among the ruins.
During the night many insane persons were
found wandering in different parts of the city,
some nearly naked The poor creatures gener-
ally seemed unable to understand Shss situation
and IN some cases begged their eabtors piteously
not TO throw them into the river. Others seemed
to take it as great joke and laughed gleefuly
when the subject of the fire was mentioned.
Another came flying down South street, early
this morning, with manacle attached to his
wrist and few links of chain dangling from it.
He shrieked and laughed as he struck right and
left among the frightened people 1t was
found necessary to use violence and knock
him down before he could be secured
Another maniac caused a panic in a
street-car by. rushing in half half clad, with
his face scorched and blackened. It was soon
found that he was more frightened than those
who ran away. The report that the streets were
full OF escaped maniacs caused much alarm in
West Philadelphia, and strangers looked upon
each other with much dstruSt.
Firemen are still working at the ruins Thev
are weary and half frozen. Each mans helmet
and coat appears hard as armor. The search for
bodies continues steadily. There appears to have
been great deal Of unnecessary trouble caused
by rotten hose and a scarcity in the water sup
ply. TO remedy the latter, dozen brawny fire.
men chopped hole in the ice in the Schuykill
river, but when the hose was introduced the
mud nd grinding bits of ice split the leather,
and the attempt was failure.
The confusion about the ruins, the craftiness
OF the insane people in secreting themselves. the
promiscuous manner in which they are being
cared for, and the utter weariness of all those
who have had them in charge, prevent a correct
estimate being made of the loss of life and
property.
LATER Eleven bodies were found to day in the
ruins, which were removed to the dead house
and placed side by side with the bodies
of the seven suffocated and removed from
the building last night. The burned bodies
are horribly disfgured, some of them being
burned to crisp. After a days thorough
search the almshouse authorities are con-
vinced that these eighteen burned and suffocated
maniaes, all of whom occupied cells on the third
floor - ice building, are all that pershed, and
that all the other COG inmates were rescued, and
are now in custody in other departments of the
building.
The names Of the persons whose injuries are
considered OF a serious nature are as follows:
Jacob Glassman, aged fifty rescued by
watchman supposed to be dead at first,
and remained unconscious for over an
hcur Isaac O'Neil, thirty five, burned about the
body; Jose Munnan, a mild patient, partially
burned; Conrad Kayor, burned about the face
and arms; Samuel Aiken, fireman of engine
company No. 8, cut about the head and face,
caused by falling sky-lght, also suffering from
shock.
The guardians of the poor fully discussed to-
day, the methods for proper care of the insane
who were saved from the burned building, and
it was decided that the insane males should be
placed in the mems wards and the females
In the hospital department. Tomorrow 225
pauper females will be sent to the House of Cor
rection and seventyfve insane women
to the State asylum at Danville
This leaves about 265 insane women.
who will be transferred to the womens ward
Twenty five insane males will be sent to the
insane asylum at Norristown. This dis
position will provide for 80 insane
males and 265 insane females The violent male
patients are to be removed as soon as possible
to the two wards in the northwest wing Of the
insane department, which was not burned.