Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-05-08
MONTREAL HORROR.
DETAILS OF TIE INSANE ASYLUM HOL0-
CAUST.
Victims Number Anywhere From Twenty To
FiAy-Heroic Efforts Of the Attendants
To Save Their Oharges-An Evil
System-The Singer Fire.

Tongue, QUE, May The cores
pondent of the Associated Press had an
interview with Sister Therese De Jesus.
the SuperloresS Of the Asylum this morn
ing. She is remarkably clear-headed
woman and although at the time Of the
disaster she was confined to sick bed
I'm the infirmary she had so far recovered
that she has taken the direction OF af-
fairs in her own hands, with hcadquar-
ters at the st. Isadore convent near the
bank of ST. Lawrence just below
where the asylum stood. She places
the loss of life at certainly twenty and
possibly fifty. She expressed her de-
termination to at once rebuild the inStl-
tuition on the most approved scientific
plan. both as regards the treatment of
patients and with view TO prevent the
least possibility of the occurrence OF
yesterdays horror.
DENOUNCES TIE SYSTEM.
DIR. Duquete, government medical in
SpectOr. was next seen. He was asked
his opinion as to the present system OF
placing lunatics under the care OF th"
sisters. He replied that he was strong
ly opposed to such plan and would ask
the government to place curables and
furious lunatics in small institution
where they could have skilled treatment
by a staff Of specialists. The harmless
insane could, he said, be placed To
greater advantage under the care OF The
sisters. The ruins Of the asylum were
next visited. Nothing but heaps Of
smoking brick and mortar could be seen.
No vestige Of the dead can be traced. In
the rear Of the asylum are stables
where about 100 men patients were
quartered last night under the super
vision Of the Sisters and four Montreal
policemen. The scene is not one 10 bee
easily described, and surely not 10 be- as
easily forgotten. Lying on heaps OF
straw, Sicily and feeble lunatics were
to be seen, moaning, gibbering, sbriek-
ing, twisting and jumping. There were
more sturdy ones on the floor around
them. II made one shudder To pass
down between the two large hay mows
in which were confined the worst cases.
so fierce was the expression ON their
countcnanccs. IL was remarkable 10
see the GOODNESS with which the good
NlSltIS SuDlufu lilt IdNluEs Ah''i'N N'N
depressed and miniStcrcd 10 the wants
OF the sick.
SEVEN NUNS persisted.
One OF the attendants said that seven
lay nuns who did work about the in-
stitution perishcd in the llames. The
loss financially IS very great, being
placed as high as 81, 500, 900; insurance
$500, 600, placed with the Royal OF
England, which in turn has Sublet this
amount to eighteen other Canadian and
American companies. The procession
Of lunaticS 10 their new home was taken
up early this morning and IS yet In
progress. The whole length Of the road
is crowded with vehicles, and only
mounted riders have any chance.
THE DEATH LIST SWELLING.
As the full details OF the Tongue
Pointc asylum fire becomes known the
horror is intensified, and the sister is
derided who asserts that the number ol
dead does not exceed so. II is known
by the last report to the Quebec gov
crnmcnt that there were l,7sO Inmate,
instead Of 1. 300.