Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-05-07

1t is reported that terrible scenes followed
the discovery of the fire. The attendants
were fighting with hundreds of violent in
sane persons who struggled, screamed
swore, and attempted 10 throw themselves
from the windows and roofs Il is now
said that fully i20 patients perished in the
flames. The building, which cost 81 ,0o0,-
oo0 is completely destroyed.
The disorder during the fire at Tongue
Pointe Lunatic Asylum was so great that
1t was impossible to obtain anything like
correct estimate of the killed this after
noon, and an accurate list ofthe lives lost
cannot be obtained this evening.
DIR. Borque, the physician of the hospital.
says he does not think the number killed
Will exceed fifty or sixty, but Dr. Burgess
OF the Protestant Insane ASYLUM, saws the
loss may reach larger number. He saws
state OF chaos exists and the sisters have
no means OF checking the registers, as
FRIENDS of the inmates are carrying them
on IN carriages, and the road to the city is
lined with cabs.
About ninety patients in the small cells,
many OF them rayiDg maniacs, some in
chains and fetters, had no means of eseape.
The IRE was discovered by ]. a. McKenna of
Burilngton, Vermont, who only entered
the asylum this morning for treatment for
the loss OF memory. he was sitting in the
room after being examined and felt the
plaster on the wall growing warm. He
sprang TO his feet and ran out. shouting
nre. he became confused after being
nearly smothered with smoke, but gained
the door, accompanied by ]. ]. Enright, of
Burlington.
MeKenna was quite rational, but greatly
terrified. He lost all his effects. The fire
broke out in the northwestern building.
and rushing up the elevator, attacked the
roof, from which it spread to the large GEN.
tral huiioing with incredible rapidity, con-
slderlng the solid character of the structure.
and swept everything before it.
Dense volumes of smoke burst through
the windows, and then the flames shot
through the roof high into the air, red
mass, and dyeing the sky for miles.
The smoke increased and the flames
burst through every barrier, and within an
hour the vast pile was doomed.
The roof OF the central building fell in
with loud report like cannon and the
heat grew desperate. The fierce glow could
be felt on the cheek from the high road at
the end of the long avenue
The walls toppled and fell, and only the
black ragged remains stood at O'Clock.
No power on earth could have checked the
fire.
There were 900 inmates in the building.
many bedridden. As fast as possible thew
were rushed to the western wing and hur.
ried down the stairs or out upon the
grounds.
There upon the wet grass they were hud-
died together under the cover of blankets
or went wandering through the grounds
with faces untouched by the horror of the
scene, or lying down sleeping with old
quilts for pillows, or humming airs which
breathed the spirit of happiness, or looking
up into the flames with misery stamped on
their pallied countenances, while around
them walls fell and roofs crashed.
More than thousand helpless creatures
were gathered together within the ipclos-
ure, guarded by only one man. One Young
girl, in the midst of the drizzling rain.
sat at piano in the grounds and
played music while the flames rose above
her. Those who saw the spectacle will
never forget it. Sub-chief Maud was
asked how many lives were lost. He said,
II don't know. | heard there were some
hundreds. Who can tell now?n
A fireman said: "T saw dozens strug-
Cling against those bars pointing to the
top windows in the rear of the central
building. They were blackened and
shrieking, but no help could reach them,
and they fell back into the flames"
Il saw a large number of men and
women clinging to the windows said the
fireman, "but nothing could be done. How
many perished no one knows. tried to
rescue two women but could not reach
them.' Seven men are known to be
among the victims.