The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1890-05-17

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books and 1t is also destroyed. Taking
into consideration the whole OF the evil
dence from the firemen, halfsane informa-
ton. the Sisters in charge, bystanders and
personal observation it isl conservative cs-
innate to say that fully fifty victims met
their death, though some assert that the
number is double that stated, and others
place it below this figure. The fire
STARTED IN THE SECOND WARD
on the woman's side in the upper story,
and as ventilation was carried OF by longi-
tudinal shalt connected with the towers the
flames soon appeared blazing up through
the roofin the center Of each tower. AT
Hive minutes Of - q Geographic message was
received in Montreal saying that the asy-
lum was On fire and imploring for assis-
lance. This could not be given without
consulting Mayor Canier, who was found
at the Banque Du Peuple, and he at once
ordered engines to be dispatched. One en-
sgine and two reels started on their ten-mile
run and were quickly on the spot, but they
might as we'll have remained at home, fol
IN five minutes they exhausted the waite,
supply. The only thing that could save
1.-THE save the building was the st. Lawrence
river, and it was half . mile distant. When
tho reporter arrived with the firemen the
dome Of one tower had just fallen and
flames were bursting everywhere. Streams
Of water were brought to bear on the flames,
and while they lasted some good was done,
but that was for 4 very brief space and then
the horror of the situation was revealed.
AZ the heat increased statues fell from their
inches to the ground and then the habitants
M-...k~~&nl *Hnrnun1rxnu orySrr 01np11 that Fl
1HE SAINTS A DESERTED THEM
indeed. Meantime the beds, furniture and
utensils Of every description were being
from the windows and q stream
of i'll clad men poured out of the eastern
wing. Not q male patient was lost. Among
the women it was different. ,The less hope.
less cases were placed in the lower wards,
.and they were removed without difficulty,
hut from the upper wards, were the violent
patients were secured, there came the Wild
est screams as they resisted the nuns, who
were beseechlng them to make their escape.
!, When the firemen found they were power.
less to save the building they turned their
attention to the inmates and
DURsT IN DOORS WITH AxU.
Inside. Chief Benoits says it was such a
sight as no. fireman ever witnessed. In one
ward that de entered were twenty-five pa
tients, and at his approach they huddled
together like q pack Of beasts, entwinins
their arms into one mass of humanity.
He seized the nearest but, said the
chief: az could no more separate tbs
crowd than ! could parts Of your
horse He tugged at them until the fire
darted into the garments and embodied them
like q shroud Of fame, and then he escaped
with his life. In another ward three fire.
men were nearly trapped to death. They
eqtered and the door, which had q spring
lock. closed behind them. As IS GUS
tomary there was no handle on the in
dde. Tho door resisted their axes
and they rushed to the windows,
lbut were driven back by the flames. The
schief, shspecHng their peril, sent aid to the
.othcr Side, ana the men were carried down
On ladders. The engineer Of the building
did good work in saving nino patients, and
every fireman made . record Of which h
may feel proud. On the first alarm the en-
sgtneer turned on the hose, but It was utter
~ useless, . tina fire leaped along thu
Wentiiating shaft to the towers and burned
IN adozen places Of once.