Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-05-08
FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
Additional Particulars Of the Canada
asylum Disaster.
EUROPEAN LABOR TROUBLES.
The Young Emperor of China, Like
the Gar of Russia, Fears
His Subjects.
EUROPEAN LABOR TROUBLES.
lsrEc1Al DISPATCHES TO TIE sroospusos.l
THAT TERRIBLE FIRE.
Over Ore Hundred Human Beings
Roasted Alive

MONTREAL, May 7th.-By the burning of
the insane asylum at Tongue Pointe It is
known over 100 souls perished, including
imbeoiles and sisters. The neighborhood of
the asylum IS overrun with lunatics. Like
dumb brutes, the flames possessed fearful
fascination for the poor creatures, and
many deliberately rushed into the flames.
The screams OF the inmates could plainly
be heard above the roar of the flames
Some tore their hair, others looked on
gleefully and clapped their hands. Maniacs
were hemmed in their cells by flames, and
watched the devouring element approach
with childish pleasure, and soon they
writhed in its grasp. All the building is
level with the ground. Many firemen were
injured trying to rescue the inmates. On
the statf were u sisters and 80 Law sisters
IA female keepers, 2S male keepers and 6
night guardians. Besides these, 242 were
employed. The total loss is estimated at
$500, 1000
The following inmates of the women's
violent ward were seen at the barred win
dows with the flames around them, and
are known to have perished: Mrs. Kelly,
of Montreal; Mrs. Williams, of Halifax a
Montreal woman known as Bridget Ma
honey; Mrs. Letournay, of Maisonnewoe.
None have been found. The disaster has
thrown several patients in critical condi-
tion. One, named Quinn, died yesterday,
while the fire was raging. Another, named
Desquesne, died in the evening. The last
rates of the church to-day were admins
tered to man named Lambreque.
Seven nuns are known to be among the
victims who were roasted to DEATH Their
names, as far as can be ascertained. are:
La Mere Lahia of the Sacred Heart, Sault
au Recollect. Sister Marie Gravelle, her
sister Julia, and two other nuns, named
Gilbert and Bouthelier, all from Quebec
Chief Bennett says it was such sight as
no one ever before witnessed. In one hall
were twenty-five patients, and at his ap-
proach they huddled and clasped them
selves together like pack of beasts. He
seized the nearest, but" said the chief, II
could no more separate that crowd than
could separate the parts of body" He
tugged at them till the fire seized their gar
ments and enfolded them III shroud of
flame.
The spring rains had converted the coun-
try into a quagmire, and only horsemen
could get from place to place. The poor
Sisters, most of them young and delicate,
stood ankle deep in mud, securing and
superintending the removal of such furni-
ture as had been saved.
The patients who were got out of the
building wandered about aimlessly. clad in
scanty garments. When released many of
them leaped for joy and bounded like deer
across the fields to the woods. Patients of
both sexes escaped and now another new
dread has come upon the inhabitants from
the presence of so many escaped lunatics,
and they will count themselves fortunate
if they are not visited by series of crimes
such as only madmen can devise.
According to statement furnished by
the Royal Commission of 1888, the Sisters
of the province spent in founding the in
stitution 81, ,1S2, 232 of which sum 500 900
was for the erection of buildings. These
buildings were surrounded by parterres
and kitchen gardens. A large farm was
attached to the establishment, which in
cluded large outhouses. The buildings
were insured for 100000. From the con-
struction of the building, there is doubt
in some minds as to whether it was in
tended for an asylum or blast furnace.
THE HORROR INTENSIFIED.
MONTREAL, May 7th-As the full details
of the Tongue Pointe Asylum fire becomes
known the horror is intensified, and the
Sister is derideo who asserts that the mum.
ber of dead does not exceed sixty. 1t is
known by the last report to the Quebec
Government that there were 1,7S0 inmates
instead of 300, and this much is certain.
that no one will ever know the number of
victims.
From collateral information obtained it
must be that there are $50 dead. If enough
material can be found an inquest will be
held. The firemen have left the ground,
and the heat is dying out of the ruins.
The Associated Press reporter was on
thespot all day with his horse fioundering
among the mud and ashes. A discharged
patient to-day affirmed that to all inquiries
sent by friends as to the progress the pa
tlents were making one stereotyped answer
was given, without any restrictions as to
Its accuracy: Your friends physical con.
dition is excellent, but mentally there is
no improvement"
1t is now known that many of the wards
were locked and in cases where the fire.
men did not break in the doors, whole
roomfuls perished miserably. The sight
OF the screaming wretches yesterday was
bad enough, but to-day there was sadder
spectacle in the weeping relatives seeking
in vain for some tidings of some member
of their family
Men coming up town tonight to dinner
were startled by seeing a lunatic parading
the streets rejoicing in his freedom and
menacing women till he was secured.
Paying patients Jared the best, but the
great loss was among those confined in the
upper stories and those imprisoned in the
dark basement cells
Fire Commissioner Perry characterizes
the buildings as a death-trap and dis
grace to civilized country A startling
report current tonight is that large num-
Der of male patients perished in the flames
while all of the women are thought to
have escaped. 1t absolutely impossible,
however. to add any new names to the list
of the dead. 1t will be weeks before the
nuns will be able to give anv informa atior.