The Portland daily press., 1885-01-19
SEVENTEEN MISSING.
An Illinois Insane Hospital Burned
to the Ground.
Thirteen Bodies Recovered, Burned
Beyond Recognition.

kANKAKxx, ILL.,, Jan. t8.-The South In
4rmary OF the illinois Eastern Hospital for the
Insane was burned this morning at 25 o'clock.
The fire originated in the furnace room and
had obtained strong beadway before discoy-
cred, and the woodwork OF the building being
of Southern pine, It burned very rapidly. The
building was occupied BY As patients. six at
tendaDts and one night watchman. Seventeen
patients III oil ats missing. Thirteen bodies
have already been recovered; burned Beyond
recognition. All Of the patients were infirm
and incursbls. The bedridden ones we're res
cued frst; and tSese who were able to help
themselves did not realize their danger ia tine
and they we're the ones who perished. The
attendants lost all their personal effects and
many narrowly escaped with their lives, one
ha wing to tie bedclothes together to eecapa
from window to the ground. There were no
facilities for putting ort fire, the State not
pose. The building was new one and cost
about BIG GOO. IL is a total lpss. The follow=
ing are the names Of those sho perished;
Henry Brown, Of Rock Island.
81. W, Belden, Of Galesburg.
George Bennett, OF Morris.
Joseph Colbert, Of Chi ,ago.
Orlando Ellis, Of Pontiac.
Y. W. 9aliAway, Of Nscoapin.
Ehos, HickeyI OF Springfield,
Mstlhs~ Hagus; OF OheBais6.
Z. Hsokner; OF Stevenson county.
Thomas Herley. Of Chicago:
John johnson. Of vsrmilion:
Michael Jordan, Of Chicag0.
J. Nathan, Of Chicago.
A. Runyard, Of Winnebsgo county.
Q. S.rotz. Of Chicago.
J. W. Tyler, Of Chicago.
=. Weymouth, Of Putoan1 county.
YhOmA9 Horl0y IL q A0n nf Stata Sanafnr
Herley.
The building destroyed was twc=story, stone
and brick, with no wood about it except the
foors and stsirways. It was completed last
insane inmates, % on the first foof and 90 on
the second. Attendants Brown and Rose and
the lsiteF's wife were sleeping on the secoud
floor, while attendants Reed and Williams
and fireman Lsrbsree slept on the first floor.
The butldins was heated by hot sir furnaces.
IL was IL degrees below zero when watebman
Cobb discovered smoke rising from the floor
Immediately over the furnace, and he at once
awoke tbs attendants. Smoke was then going
through the hot air foes and along the halls
and stairways TO all parts of the building. The
IRE spread 80 rapidly that all eff ,rts to save
the buildihg In the absence OF fire alarm to
snmrnon help and for want OF facilities to
qusnch the flames were found to be Ia vain,
Attendant Reed then began dragging and
carrying ont the patients. Many of the patients,
oiso osiy III suolI nlkut ciOtnee, rusn6d from
the bitter cold air back into the building, but
Rsed, at the risk OF his own life, struggled on
until 2i Of the "a patients were secured, when
he became exhansed and was carried away. Ou
she second floor attendant Rose and wife heard
The alarm and escaped down the stairway just
before it fell. Attendant Brown, sleeping on
the same foor, was awakened bv the smoke
and attempted to save tho patients in au ad-
Joining r0em, but tailed, and sliding down by
the aid OF . sheet from his window, Jumped to
the ground. Supt. K. 8. Dewey soon reached
the scene, and with ladders climbed to the
second story windows and was able to rescue
some OF the patients by this mesns.
Almost all the patients refused to cooperate
In the Efforts being made to save them and
~ers only rescued by being dragged from the
names and held from returning. A marvellous
escape was that Of an inmate who fell with
the second floor, striking on the burning debris
above the furnace and bounding through the
window to the ground uninjured.
The remains Of the bodies Of twelve patients
fragments and only to be identified by the loca-
tion In which they were found.
The remains OF the bodies with one exeep-
zion were represented by simply handful of
charrsd ashes. The entire remains of ten of
the victims were spread on Q small table two
feet square. Friends are arriving in search of
lost ones, aud the scenes on their arrival aud
viewing the charrsd remains are heartrending.
kilograms are pouring In from ell parts of the
State from persons asking as TO the safety of
their friends.
Tne coronsr's jury, which adjourned to tc-
morrow afternoon, 10 investigating as to
whether the furnaces were defective. The
fact that there 10 no general fire alarm between
tho various buildings of the hospital or any
system OF waterworks TO protect life aud prop
erty account In great measure for the large
loss Of life.