New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-01-03
LUNATICS DRIVEN WILD BYFLAMES
BURNING OF THE ESSEX COUNTY ASYLUM
PANIC AMONG THE PATIENTs-NEARLY TWO HOURS
FIGHTING TIE FIRE.

PANIC AMONG THE PATIENTs-NEARLY TWO HOURS
FIGHTING THE FIRE.
The Essex County Lunatic Asylum in South
Orange-ave Newark, was discovered to be fire In
OF the wings at $3.50 p yesterday. There 365
patients In the asylum and panic occurred that for
time threatened serious results The bu dng is
OF BRICK three stories aud French roof, with stone
trimmings. The front Is on South Orange-ave, where
the entire main building and the left wing recently
comp eted. wing leads TO the two rear wings
facing cemetery, and back Of the rear wing Is
spacious ward well protected. The building 10 well sup
piled with hose, the water being pumped by q donkey
engine from the asylum reservoir. Tho fire oc-
CURED in the top floor of the left front wing
the French roof The room was used as dormitory
and was occupied by thirty-ive male patients. Run
ming mp from the cellar cold air shaft passing
through end OF the room and boxed around with
wood. suddenly flames burst ont from the opening OF
this shaft from furnace, ana terror seized the occu-
pants Of the apartment. Attendant Michael Corbett
gave tho ALARM force Of keepers headed by super
inendcnt Hinckey rushed into the room Orders
quickly given, and while some seized the hose
and turned water the flames others addressed them
selves to getting the patients to place of safety Some
OF the patients went readily, while others resisted and
had to be carried out by main force. The fire
gained headway. and paaic quickly spread
among tho other dorntorics. Tho lunatlcs set
up shouts and yells that could be
whose attention mad been attracted by Tie unusual COM
motion IN the building
While set of men fought the fire force was set
to work by the superintendent to remove the balance or
the patients. The Keepers worked promptly and the
unatics marched, pushed and driven through the
cross halls into the wings and out into the yard
where they out OF sight and sound OF the FIRE. Hero
they became quetcd. over 300 were tnus huddled IN
the yard guarded by keepers and attendants. After
nghting the fire for fifteen or twenty minutes an alarm
sounded for the Fire Department and the steamers
quickly responded BY this time the IRE
had cnvelOped the entire dolmitOry amt
was consuming the roof The hremen were hampered
by lack OF watcr. There only a siXnch main and
effective could be thrown Tor twenty minutes.
When good stream OF water was obtained the top oor
OF the wing and the roof was mass OF tlame. when
the iremcn approached with ladders they were driven
back by the falling OF huge pieces OF slate that break
ing of from tho roof flew up tbe air like pop corn on
hot plate aud fell TO the ground. Bricks and other
debris fell thcky. but no fireman was injured.
Between tho centre wing aud the burning wing Is Il
dead brick wall while iron doors the communication
remen mounted the roof aud concentrated their efforts
at the pOu OF junction OF the two wnss and with sue
Tie burning fell In wrecking the FIRST and second
floors aud cutting them completely At five o'clock the
fire was under control Superintendent Hnckey mean
while turned his attention To the care of the patients.
ConYcyances called and seventy-iye OF them were
transferred TO the old asylum building IN Camden-st,
now used city hospital, while others were taken
away by their relatives. Later, however. the trans
fer OF patients WAS stopped ana tie superintendent
ordered the return or The patients nom the hospital
Two fremen slightly Injured by tine falling Of
the root. A TumOr WAS current last evening that u
humber OF patients were missing careful count was
made hy the authorities and all the lnmPtcs were
100000 I'm amounts ranging from $1,000 10 $4,000,
and II placed with Newark companies aud companies III
other cities careful estimate Of the total loss Dy fire
and water places II nj not over $4,000.