The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-02-26
A BLAZING BEOLAM.
A Terrible Holocaust In a Phiiadelphi
Mad-House.


That portion of the Philadelphia almshouse
and the hospital set apart for the insane was
burned to the ground the other night From
twenty-five to forty insane patients, most OF
them in the "vlolent department" persisted IN
the flames, There were 6S4 insane persons in
the building, many of whom were rescued after
being almost sufiocated by tho smoke, Only
seven OF the bodies OF those who persisted were
brought out Of the burning building AT
o'clock Mrs, Umsted, the head nurse in the
department Tor the sane, discovered fire in tho
walls OF Wa,d Nj, which led from the first floor
to the top OF the building, She called her wo-
man assistants, and endeavored to put out ths
flames, as they appeared to be OF triillng mn
turc by dashing on them buckets OF water
A lew minutes work convinced the women
that this method of extinguishing the fire
would provo Intellectual. The watchmen from
the different buildings mustered with all posi-
bic speed toward the burning building and
turned on the hose. But the force OF the stream
was very feeble, and the wa,chmen soon saw
that they could not succeed in the combat with
the flames, and an alarm was sent out. The
orlcr was then given by Superintendent Smith
TO remove the 6S4 uniortunates to place Of
safety. By this time the smoke filled the long
corridors and filled the cells, arousing the pa
tlents to q sense of danger, they knew not
what. In II very short time the cells were I'M
looked, altl those OF the patients who were
well were told to flee for their lives, while the
attendants began to remove the sick Scores
oil these wretched beings, nearly sulfocatel by
the SIN Ike, which grew denser every moment,
were placed in blankets and on stretchers and
carried TO other buildin,s on the grounds.
Many ofthe other insane ones who had been
liberated from their ingeons, in order to give
them n chance for their lives, fled wildly out
OF the building, and Il large nu nber
escaped from the grounds and started
as swiftly as they were able in all
directions. Some OF them who ran off were
clad in nothing but their night cloth
ing and Others had only the additional
fire burned fierccr every moment. The
OF the insane department was mass of
flames, and step BY step the firemen were
driven back and 70 ced to leave many helpless
creatures in the evident ward TO the mercy
OF the flames. An immense crowd, attracted
by the fire from all parts of West
Philadelphia, watched the efforts of the fire.
men, and when the first nun, with dripping
helmet and smoking garments, appeared upon
the head of the ladder bearing in his arms
sick patient they cheered again and again with
mighty enthusiasm that animated the men
to increased exertions. The roar OF tho
flames sounded like the noise ,f Niagara, as
they developed the doomed building; but
when the flames at last reached the cells of the
miserable wretches who had been left, there
came out the fire cries and wild shrieks for
help that chilled the blood OF all. Vail after
wall of anguish tod the f.te of some poor
creature who was being burned to death in the
hearing of thousands OF spectators.
After day thorough search. the almshousc
authorities became convinced that Is burned
and sullocated members, all of whom occupied
cells GA the third floor of the building, are all
that perished and that all OF the other 666 in
mates were rescued and are now in custody in
the other buildings. lnvcstig ,tion has, as yet,
failed to show the slightest c.ew a, to the cause
of the fire.