Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-05-08
THE ASYLUM FIRE.
The Sister Superior Places the Loss at
Possibly Fifty.
The Scene Not One Easily Described and Not
Easily Forgutten-Depds OF Heruiam
in Saving the Inmates.

TONGUE PoINTE, P. o., May IA
correspondent of the Associated Press
has had an interview with Sister Therese
de- Jesus, the superioress of the asylum,
this morning. She Is remarkably clear
headed woman, and although at the
time of the disaster was confined to
her sick bed in the infirmary she
had SO far recovered that she has takeK
the direction of affairs in her own bands
with headquarters at St. Isadore con-
vent, near the bank of the st. Law
renee, Just below where the asylum
stood. She places the loss of life at
j certainly twenty, and possibly
\ nifty. She expressed her determine
tion to at once rebuild the institution on
the most approved scientific plans, both
as regards treatmetit OF patients and
with view to preventing the least pos
sibility of O recurrence of yesterdays
horror. DR.. DuqGette, government med
ical inspector, was next seen. He places
the loss of life at least sixty. On being:
asked his opinion as TO the present eye
Sem of placing lunatics under the care of
sisters, be replied that he was strongly
opposed TO such plan, and would ask
the government 10 place incurables and
furious lunatics in small institutions where
Sthav could have skilled treatment by a
staff of speoialists. Harmless insane per-
sons could, he said, be placed to a
greater advantage under care Of the sis
tiers.
The ruins of the asylum were next
visited. Nothing but heaps of smoking
brick could be seen, no vestlge of the
dead can be traced. In the rear are
stables where about 100 men pa
tients vera 'quartered last night
under the Supervision of the
Sisters and four Montreal policemen.
The scene is not one easily described and
surely not 10 be easily forgotten. Lying
on heaps of straw, siekly and feeble luz,
uatics were to be seen moaning, gibber-
ing, sbrieking, twisting and jumping.
There were more sturdy Ones on the floor
around them. 1t made one shudder to
pass down between the two large hay
mows on which were confined the worst
cases, so fierce was the expression on
their counteuances. it was remarkable
10 see the GOODNESS with which the good
sisters sQothed their rawlings, oheered
the depressed and ministered to the
wants of the sick.
The laundry was the next place visited.
ulH NOnuIFu 4NO bAiASIASl u3bsiAy
quiet persons, whose aid has been taken
advantage of in putting things in shape.
At the door OF the laundry was John
O'Rourke. This man worked with the
greatest heroism, and with the aid of his
brother James ana William Higgins,
saved twelve women, when all hope of
being able
TO SNATCH THEM FROM TIE FLAMES
had been abandoned by the other spec
tators. There were four overlapping
veraudas on the outside of the building.
Back of these hole was cut through the
floors of the verandas and he
ascended 10 the top one.
The verandes are bound with
iron He snatohed the passing women
through the hoie, handed them TO his
brother, who IN turn passed them to
Higgins and thus they were safely
lowered TO the ground. Irz o Rourke
gives the names of four who
were burned to death. Mrs!
KHly of Montreal, Mrs. Williams
OF Halifax, Montreal woman known as
Bridget, whose sirname was either
Malone or Mallory, and Miss Letournay
Of Maison Neuve, or HereheleEla.
The loss financially was very
great, being placed at 81, $780,
600. Insurance $500 900, placed
with the Royal OF England which
in turn hes sub-let this amount to
eighteen other Canadian and American
companies. AS one approaches LouEue
Poln the place is hardly recognizable.
Instend of the huge building that Lent
character to the village there remains
merely heap OF runs. The walls have
fallen 10 the level of the outhouses, and
the scene on the whole is one of barren
hess.
II is yet meralv a matter of speculation
rs TO the exact number OF dead, but the
general census of opinion is that it can-
not be fewer than 100, and per-
haps nearly double that amount. TIE
only natnes of the dead that can be
procured up to this time are
Sister Boutelleir, Sister J.nmine,
sister Victoria, Sister st. NTehols>and
I.ahAire, OF the Sacred Heart convent.
The latter was n patient in the violent
ward. The only other patients names
obtained are Mrs. Kelly, Miss Soullen
and Miss Therault, OF Montreal; Mrs.
williams, Halifax; Bridget Malone,
Montreal; Miss Lobournay Paison,
Nueve.
While much sympathy is felt and ex-
pressed for the sisters their methods of
administration excite only Indignation.
The Quebec government allowed them 81
for each patient and the seventeen years
this has been granted they have paid
thus far all debts of the convent.
All places of refuge around the asy-
lum are crowded with anxious seekers for
lost friends, but the nuns can give no
information. DR.. Dequette asserts that
the supposition is not correct that all the
men were saved. as some persisted.
The following are missing: Victoria
Beadry, Augustine LareauX. Camille
Marohmont, Delshne ArchambeRut
Marc St. Demos, Eli st. Louis and
Christine DENIES.