The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1890-05-10
ANOTHER HOLOCAUST.
Tongue Pointe Iussne Asylum, Near
Montreal, DESTROYED.

Longu9 Polnte Lunatlc Asylum, located
ten miles from Montreal, which, With
many nves, was to. day consumed by
names. Fifteen minutes before noon
the cry OF fire" was given. 1t origina-
ted IN d cupboard aud was the work ola
patient.
From the construction of the building
there Is doubt in some minds as to
whether II was intended for an asylum
or blast furnace; in any case it served
the latter purpose admirably. 1t was
constructed Of brick, and was 600 feet
long, running back from the r yer half
the distance. The main building oc-
cupled the center, and on each side
extended four wings six stories IN
height. To the east were the men s
wards, and TO the west the women's,
making sixty ia ali. In the rear were
the englne-nouse and the laundry and
store-rooms, all of which were saved.
The fire started in the second ward, on
the woman side, III the upper story,
and, as ventilation WAS carried on by
longitudinal shaft connected with the
towers, tie flames soon appeared blaZ-
ing through the root in the center OF
each tower.
There We're incaTcerated in Longe
Polnte !, o lunatlcs, or that asylum
was prison more than hospital, and
now not more than 100 are accounted
for; but many escaped into the fields
and woods. The number OF dead is
matter OF conjecture, and can never
be ascertalned, since no other record
is kept than that in the asylum books,
and they are also destroyed. Tax
ing into conslderat. on the whole Of the
evidence from the tiremen, half-sane IN
mates, the sisters In charge, bvsiandere
and personal observation, IT is q con-
serYauVe estimate to say that 100 VIC
TINS met their death, though some as
sert that the number is double
that stated, and others place it
below this figure. Ever since Que
bee was a province its management OF
these most helpless of al, creatures has
been It's shame. They have been iarned
out to the nuns at 500 head per year,
ana the sisters aim was to keep them
as frugally as possible ana with the least
possible outlay for permanent works or
repairs. While their most urgent bod
lily wants were supplied. no attempt was
made at systematic medical treatment.
At 1875 o'clock q telegraphic message
was received in Montreal, saving that
the asylum was on fire and ilnploring
assistance. Oae engine and two reels
started on their ten-mlle run, and were
quickly on the SPOT, but they might a5
well have remained at home, fol in five
minutes they exhausted the water sup
ply. The only thing that could save
the building was the st. Lawrence nv
er, and it was half q mile distant.
No! male patient was lost. Among
the women it was different. The less
hopeless cases were placed in tie low
er wards, and they were removed with
out difficulty, but from the upper wards,
where the violent patients were
secured, there came the widest
screams as they resisted the nuns
who were Deseeching them TO
make their escape. At the windows a
maniac would be seen peering through
the bars, grinning and jabbering at the
bright flame that went up to the sky.
AS the heat became more intense she
would grasp the bars and remain there
until the flames envelOped her.
When the fremen found they were
powerless to save the building they
turned their attention to the inmates
and burst open the doors with axes.
Inside, Chief Benoit says, it was such a
sight rs no fireman ever witnessed. In
one ward that he entered were twenty
five patients, and st his approach they
huddled together like pack of beasts,
entwining their arms into one mass of
humanity. He seized the nearest, but,
said the chief, Il could no more sepa-
rate the crowd than / could parts of
yonr horse" He tugged at them until
the fire darted into their garments and
enfolded them like a shroud of
flame, and then he LETT them. In
another ward three fremen were
nearly trapped to death. They
entered, and the door, which
had spring lock, closed behind them.
As is customary there was no handle
on the inside. The door resisted their
axes and they rushed to the windows,
but were driven back by the flames.
The chief, suspecting their peril, sent
aid to the other side, and the men were
carried down on ladders.
The fremen say there WAS lack Of
fre-ffhting facilities. Although appl-
anGes were there they were utterly use
less. The institution had excellent
engines ten good pumps and new boil
ers, but no connection existed between
the pumps and boilers.
The st. Jean de Dieu asylum, COM
monty called Tongue Pointe," was
founded IN 1878. The government be-
ing desirous of closing the st. Jean de
Iberyille asylum and relieving the Beau
port asylum at Quebec, which was over
crowded, came to an understanding with
the Sisters of Providence with the view
of establishing an asylum for idiots and
insane. The erection Of edifices was
commenced the following year, and On
July Is, 1915, this asylum received its
first patients.
The Hon. Premier Mercier has placed
the montreal exhibition buildings at
the disposal Of the nuns, and tomorrow
the buildings will be stocked with pro-
visions.
The Sisters of Providence spent in
founding and organizing this institution
81, ,320, ,232, of which 100000 Was
spent on the buildings. The build
for $500 coo. in the Roval Insurance
Company. This sum had been reinsured
in eighteen local companies in sums
varying from 50, 600 to SD, 600 The SIS
terhood Of Providence, VITO owned the
building, and under whose management
the institution has always been, Is the
largest of the many large Canadian re-
Hgious communities, although only es-
tabllshed fifty years ago. Its founder
was Madame Gamelin. widow OF
wealthy Montreal merchant, who en-
dowed the new sisterhOod.
sympathy is felt for Sister Therese,
the lady superior Of the asylum. She
was seriously Ill during the winter with
Inflammation Of the lungs and il was
feared for some time that shu was dy
ing. During last month she was slowly
recovering, but is still IN very weak
state of health. Sister Therese's two
principal assistants in the management
Of the asylum were Sisters Charles and
Madelaine, the former sister OF Or.
Coulet, of toilette, and the latter & sis
ter of DR.. Des Jardins, OF 81. Janyier.
With the exception of the medical de-
psrtment, consisting of doctors. the
sisters retained complete control OF ali
tie departments of the asylum, even
the dispensation Of necessary medicines
being done by trained sisters. The stad
was composed OF seventy-two sisters
and ninety-two lay sisters.
The death-roil tonight Is now essi-
mated at fifty, although many more are
missing, but are expected to be found
alive. 1t IS feared that seven tertiary
nuns have been burned to death, "a
four are known TO have perlshed and