The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-05-14
AN AWFUL FATE {!
INMATES OF A QUEBEC INSANE
ASYLUM ROASTED ALIVE.
Two Hundred Maniacs Missing

Two Hundred Maniacs Missing.
LoNsuE PoINTE, QUE, May 6.-The
Government Insane Asylum at this place
was destroyed by fire to-day. There were
in the institution when the FIRE broke out
l,S00 lunatics. 1t is believed that two
hundred of these have Perished.
A long line of gaunt towers and mass
of blazing debris reflected in the wild
eyes Of the maniacs Is all that is left Of
the Iunatic asylum, and the horrible
sights that were witnessed during the de-
struction of the building will never be
forgotten by the spectators. though 20
the lunatics it was time of supreme
glee, and in their delight they disported
themselves amid flames and waved their
arms in turbulent satisfaction at the ruin
that was being wrought. Net until the
walls tumbIed over their heads were
their maniacal screams sileneed.
TWO HUSDRED MISSING.
There were incarcerated in the asylum
l.306 lunatics, for the place was more ike
prison than hospital, and this even
ing not more than 100 had been accoun-
ted for. But many had escaped into the
fields and woods. The number of dead
is now purely a matter Of conjecture, and
is not likely to ever be ascertained, since
no other record is kept than the asylum
books, and these were destroyed in the
fire. Taking into consideration ali the
evidence from fremen, halfsane inmates,
the Sisters in charge. bystanders and per
sonal.observation, it is a conservative es-
innate 70 say that 100 victims met their
deaths in the flames, although some as
sert that the number is 200.
No such calamity has fallen upon One
bee province in time out Of mind.
At Eve minutes before noon a telegram
was received in Montreal imploring as
sistance. The Mayor at once ordered en-
gines 10 be dispatched. One engine and
two reels were soon started, sud they
were quickly on the spot. But they
might as well have remained at home,
for in five minutes they had exhausted
the water supply. The fire started in the
second ward, on the women's side. in the
upper story, and its spread was hastened
by longitudinal ventilation shafts con-
nected with the towers. The flames soon
appeared blazing up through the roof in
the centre Of each tower. When the
firemen arrived the dome Of one tower
had Just fallen, and the flames were bust
ing out everywhere.
THE HORROR REVEALED.
Streams were laid on, and while they
lasted some good was done, but that was
for very briefspace, and then the hor-
ror of the situation was revealed. Mean
time beds, furniture and utensils were
being thrown from windows, and streams
of ill-clad men poured out Of the eastern /
wing, not one male patient being lost
Among the women it was different. The
less hopeless cases were treated in the
lower wards, and these persons were re-
moved without difficulty, but from the
upper wards, where the violent patients
were confined, there came the widest
screams as the unfortunates resisted the
efforts Of the nuns to aid them in making
their escape.
At the windows the maniacs could be
seen peering through the bars, grinning
and jabbering until they were enveloped
in the flames and compelled to release
their hold and drop back in the'caul-
dron.
When the fremen found they were
powerless 70 save the building they turn
ed their attention to the inmates and
burst in the doors with axes. Chief Ben
nett says it was such sight as no fire.
man ever before witnessed, In one ball
he entered there were % patients, and,
at his approach, they huddled and clasp
ed themselves together like a pack Of
beasts. He seized the nearest. But
said the chief, Il could no more separate /
the crowd than | could separate the parts
Of one body. He tugged at them until
the fire darted into their garments and
embodied them in shroud Of fame.
FOUR sIsTEEs PERISH.
One Of the Tertiary nuns, Marie, had
been asleep in the sick infrmary on the !
fifth floor, and to her rescue hurried three /
others They seized their companion /
and bore her in a blanket to the stair !
case, but there they were met by sheet |
of fame, and all four perished. Their /
names were: SOears Marie, Demoris,
Egilbert and Lumiene. None Of them I
was over 20 years of age. All came from
parishes below Quebec. The sisters
worked most heroically imploring be-
seeching and commanding patients and 4
despite the disadvantageous circum-
stances, succeeded in rescuing q large 1
number
Sister Therese, the Superioress. has
been in poor health, and It is feared that
to-day's shock may prove fatal TO her
Drs Bourque and BGrslet remained at
the work Of rescue until exhausted and
were carried out unconscious
The management Of the pauper insane
has been long-1tsnding shame 10 the