Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-05-08
HOLOCAUST.
An Insane Asylum Burned near Mon
treaI-One Hundred Lives Lost.
No water with which to Qusnch the Fiery
Demon-Ths Maniacs sport in the
Flamss-TerrIble scenes.

PoESrE, QUE, May ga long line Of gaunt
towers, blazing debris, shining in the wild eyes
OF naaniscs That Is ali one now sees OF the
Tongue Poente lunatic asylum, located ten
miles from Montreal, and which, with many
l;vss Was TODAY consumed by the
flames. The sights one witnessed before
this tragic scene are such as can never be for
gotten. Taking st all In all, nothing could ex-
coed the horror attending this terrible calamity,
considering the number OF the victims. the
terrible nature of their death and the manner
fate. What to spectators was q scene OF horror
was the lunatics' moment Of supreme glee, and
flames and waved their blazing limbs in turbu-
lent satisfaction at the ruin that
was about them Not Not until until tb s5e
maniac screams silerced. There were incar-
cerated in Tongue Poente 1900 lunatics,
tSsn Hospital. and now not more than iioo
are accounted for, but many escaped
INTO the feds and woods and the dead are ashes.
matter OF conjecture and can never be ascer-
tanned. since no other record Is kent than
that in the asylum books, and they
are also destroyed. Taking into consideration
the whole Of the evidence from the hremen, the
inmates the sisters in charge, bystanders and
personal observation, 1t is a conservative esti-
mate to saw that 100 victims met their death,
though some assert that the number is double
that stated, and others place 1t below this
The fire originated in the cupboard and was
the work OF 8 patient. At five minutes OF II
saying that the asylum was on fire and imploring
reels Started on their ten mile
they might IS well have remained at home for
in five minutes they exhausted the water sup
ply. The only thing that could save the build
Ing was the st. Lawrence river and 1t was half q
When the Associated Press reporter arrived
with the firemen the dome Of one tower had just
fallen. The flames were bursting everywhere.
Streams of water were brought to bear on the
flames and while they lasted some good was
and then the horror of the situation was
revealed. AS the heat increased the statues
fell from their places to the ground, and then
aloud that the saints had deserted them, indeed
Meantime beds, furniture and utensils OF every
description were being showered from the WIN
doFs, and stream of ill-elad men poured out OF
the eastern wing.
The sights in the grounds surrounding the in
stitution were horrible beyond description.
Hundreds OF lunatics, male and female. we're
grouped together gibbering and in a frenzied
condition. Nuns were making every effort to
control them and aiiay their fears, aud as rap
idly possible the poor creatures were re-
moved to places Of shelter in the neighborhood.
The fremen worked heroically and suc-
ceeded in rescuing many persons, IN many IN
stances at the risk of their own lives. Thou
sands OF persons hooksd to the scene
doctors and other attendants are beseiged with
anxious inquiries after friends ard relatives.
One of the doctors connected with the institu-
ton was seen this afternoon. and he said that
there was very little commotion among the in
mates when the alarm was given, and shat those
quietly; some, however, refused to leave
their cells and had TO be taken out by force.
Those who persisted were in the wards on the
top floor. Efforts to learn their names have SO
far proved futile, the rescued ere scattered
that no roll can be called
Not a. male patient was lost. Among the
women it was different. The less hopeless cases
were placed in the lower wards and they were
removed without dificultv, but from the upper
cured there came the widest screams as
they resisted the nuns who came beseeching
rnaniscs would be seen peerirg through the
bars grinning and jabbeFirg at the bright flames
that went up to the SKY. AS the heat be-
came more intense they would grasp the |
bars and remain there until the |
flames enveloped them. On the inside
Chief Benoit says it was such sight as nc fire.
man ever witnessed. In one ward he entered
were twenty-five patients, and at his approach |
they huddled together like pack OF beasts, en-
humanity sm mani He Seized the the nesresSa,
but said the chief: Il could no TaSrs
your horse He tugged at them until TAG fFh ?
darted into their garments and EMBODIED yfhem |
like a shroud of flames and then he escapedwith |
his life. The sisters worked with the persistency |
OF heroines, by turns imploring, beseeching and |
commanding the patients, and finally saving a /
very large number in view OF the inadequate |
ess, is broken-hearted and being present in ill
health her name may be added
tins. Drs. Boarque and Baraiet were
carried from the building unconscious and |
Whatever must be said of the management as
whole, the Individual exercised every power to
lessen the calamity, they had neglected to
avert.
A loud explosion was followed by n crash of
beams. The interior was giving way. The wild
faces sank from the windows aud the shrieks OF
the maniacs were lost in the general uproar.
One by one the walls toppled inward and fierce
blaze burst up from the newly added fuel that
rose to the sky and threw its glare to the St.
Lawrence 8 southern shore. and even tinged the |
crest OF Mount Royal ten miles distant. Then
it dipped down into the blackness and nothing
but afew brokentowers rem aimed rounding off the
mass ofdebris, under which are now not the bodies
but the ashes OF the hundreds of victims. BY !
his time it was o. clock and growing dark and
Tery cold. Spring rain had converted the place
INTO quagmire and only horsemen could get
sse., place @os. p phs@ y ghs
delicate, stood ankle deep in the mud,
the removal OF such furniture as
clad in scant garments. When re-
e2sed good many Of them leaped for joy and
bounded like deer across the fields to the woods |
Patients OF both sexes escaped, and though
Gordon of police was thrown round, not all
we're included and horribly suggestive tale
vas borne in by the inhabitants who were COM
ng through the woods 70 the scenes of the dis
Istcr. new dread has come upon the inhab-
tants from the presence OF so many escaped
unatics and they will count the mseives for
innate If they are not visited by a series of such
.rimes only mailman can devise.
The death roll is now estimated at fifty
although many more are missing, but are ex-
,ected to turn up. 1t is feared that seven nuns
iave been burned TO death, as three more
Ire missing. They. were not seen in
o give out their names at present. Among the
,atients who persisted was Sitter Lanais nun Of
he Sacred Heart convent at Ssulte Au Recol-
EFT She had been under treatment in the
Isylusn Tor some months.