Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-11-30
In BIackened Ruins.
THE MAIN BUILDING OF THE IDAHO
INSANE ASYLUM BURNED.
The Annex Stands the Test and Is Intact
I've Patients are known to have PERISH
ed and Five StIlI Missing.
Heroic Work Of the Superintendent and
Rmpioyes....Prompt Action by The
Beard or Directors. Etc.

Board OF Directors. Etc.
Sunday morning at go, an hour
when deep sleep had overtaken the
citizens Of Blackfoot, tired with the
labors of the day and evening before,
the alarm bells rang out upon the
stiffness of the hour and told to those
who were awakened that the Fiery
Fiend was at his destructive work in
their midst Hasty glances from
doors and windows revealed the fact
that the main building OF the Insane
Asylum was on fire and wild rush
OF the citizens of town was made TO
the rescue. Already the superinten-
dent and every employe, male and
female, were doing heroic work saw
ing the unfortunates Just where the
fire originated, whether in the base
ment, the cook room above, or in a
defective fue in that immediate por-
ton Of the building, Is not definitely
known, but as soon as discovered by
the night watchman in his rounds,
the alarm was given and the work of
arousing aud rcscuing the patients
began. When Il is understood that
the Asylum Is nearly 4 mile from the
town and that most of the work Of
saving lives and property from the
devouring flames had to be done by
those in charge before outside help
could reach them, it seems miracu-
lous that so many lives were saved.
The records show there were 81 pa
tienis, a. males and 20 females In the
institution at the time, and only two
OF this number are known TO have
perished while FIVE others are missing
with possibilities that two or three of
these IL not all fve perished.
To arouse the sane At the dead hours
OF night with the cry Of fire makes
them wild with excitement and fright
and many often perish because
they are made crazy with fright, but
TO arouse full building of insane
! some furiously wild and some helpless
as infants and take them down from
, second and third stories as was done
, In this case require self control and
deliberate efforts that are rarely wit
messed at great conHagrations
When the flames had done their
/, work and the walls had fallen in, the
patients were brought to town and
made as comfortable as possible; the
, females in the Methodist church and
the males in the Jail.
The people Of the Territory were
doubtless shocked when the first news
. Of the fire was borne over the wires,
. but THE News can rejoice with them
that the destruction was no greater to
: life and to property than it really
was. The original building was never
/ what Il should have been for an insti'
{ tution OF this kind, and was not only
dangerous from fire but dangerous
b from falling from the weight 1t car
9 ried ON the upper stories and from
9 heavy wind storms
The annex, of thirty rooms or more,
built under the immediate supervis,
ion OF DIR. Givens and just completed
! is practically fire proof and stood the
test almost unharmed. The surviving
natients have all been taken back in
( this building aud will soon be made
I as comfortable as before the fire.
: The board OF directors is present
! cooperating with Dr. Givens, and the
! ps;ople OF the Territory may rest as
sured that everything will be done
that can be done for the welfare OF
!. the poor untortunates-
= NOTES,
The people should insist that future
! buildings for the insane should be alb
Z solutely fire proof
! Superintendent Givens lost bis d''
7 ? plomas, library, and surgical instru'
ments,