Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-06-17
THE ANCIENT CAPITAL.
ABoUr THE ASYLUM FIRE,

sxss,msssxl.a Masrers- How the Patients
are sssermcdHs,s-Iae ARRANGEMENTS Tor
Exssssu lssins Fire.
tcpur~poneence the Rich nd Dispaich.l
WILLIAMSBURG, June l6, 1885.
The work Of getting affairs into sys-
tsma,ic shape again At The asylum has
been progressing steadily throughout
the week. Many Of the walls tali oil
which are unsafc) have been thrown
down, and the scattered records nave
been collected. The superintendent
and stewards Offices are in the rcom
in the rear Of the amusement han,
while the rest Of the building has been
converted into female ward. The
nstients have all been classified into
their respective wards, aud are quite
comfortable. Owing 10 the large halls
I'M All the new buildings the crowding
is not as great as would naturally be
expected, and II is being rapidly lessen
ed as the Easements arc fitted up for
the accommodation Of patients. One
Of the physicians said to ms yesterday
that the institution was already in
condition that would stand the test OF
a critical inspection favorably; re-
mark which took occasion to
examine into, and | can safely
SAY that the efforts made TO
peutralize the effects Of so terrible a
disaster have been ptompt and efficient
and the results accomplished most sat-
isfsctory. Nothing has yet been deter
mined as 10 the fate Of Miss Smith and
Miss Henning, who have been reported
rs missing. In the confusion and dark
ness they may have wandered off like
Mrs. Jeifreys and met their death, or as
they were both epileptics, and as the
sesIch-parties through the country
which succeeded in recovering the
male runaways failed'to find any trace
or tidings Of them, il may be that they
perished in the flames. No exhaustive
search has yet been made for evidence
of such . fact, nor can there be Until
All of the unsafe walls are thrown
down. But IL the remains should be
found it is highly probable that
they reentered the building, for
it Is pretty we'll settled that
every room in the whole Of the burnt
section was visited and its occupant
brought out, while many were caught
in the act OF reentering and brought
back. The portion Of the burnt, as
before stated, constituted the original
buildings that were put up some one
hundred and ten years ago, and were
far behind the requirements Of modern
science in the arrangements for light
and ventilation, and in other important
particulars, the centre building in par
ticular, was unstable, and required
fresh supports and braces every year.
The mere fact that many Of the walls
can be thrown entirely down by six
men with an eight-inch pine pole for
battering-ram shows what must have
been the precarious condition Of those
old buildings; and also, that they were
liable at any time to collapse from an
entirely different cause. As far back
rs 1867, under Dr.. Brewers admins
tration, the centre building settled so
much as to cause removal of the pa
tients until it could be strengthened by
extensive supports. When all this is
considered, the loss is not so great as
II had been generally estimated.
The insurance will cover the cost OF
erecting at least one fine building, and
with the Southwestern Asylum to re-
lieve the pressure, it is to be hoped
that IN due time the pioneer institution
Of its kind in America will be re-
stored on a scale worthy that of
q great public charity. At the time
Of the fire there were ACC inmates
in the Eastern Asylum. As the recent
conhagration here il matter Of great
public interest, involving matters which
are full Of usefulness for the guidance
Of future action in similar direction,
il would be well if its experience be
profted by and the resources of the in
stitution on the eth Of June, 1885.
for subduing fire be exam
med into. At no time has there
been anything like really serviceable
fire-apparatus there, unless the rude
hand-pump appliances of quarter Of a
century ago can be regarded as such.
At present large well is sunk in the
vicinity Of the engine-house, which is
supplied from stream in the neighbor-
ing meadow by means OF a force
pump Of fair power; from thence
the water is driven TO large tanks
situated in the tower building. at
an elevation Of some 90 or 100 feet.
Pipes conveyit from the tanks and give
an ample supply for daily use. Plugs
for hose attachment are placed at in
tervals, and. with some hundred of feet
Of mostly ancient hose, comprise the
water arrangements of the asylum.
This arrangement was made prior to
1873, and was considered by DR..
Brewer, who was superintendent
at that time to be sufficient for almost
any emergency, but as the institution
enlarged and new buildings were erect
ed it was apparent TO any thoughtful
observer that the means at hand for
subduing any extensive fire were en-
tirely inadequate. Although much of
the hose was defective, still there was
some that was perfectly sound and
strong, but after the various bathroom
connections had been turned on to wet
the blankets used in protecting cornices
and window frames ofthreatened build
ings, II was found that there was not
sufficient pressure to throw the water to
any seryiceable distance. The hose
seemed to be full Of water that did no,
have sufficient concentration Of power
behind TO eject 1t. Both the well and
the tanks were kept fall by the force
pumps. What might have been accom-
plished with suitable apparatus was
shown when the Richmond engine ar.
rived and turned its stream upon tn,
glowing debris. w.
PETERSBURG AND VICINITY