Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-05-14
FIRE IN AN AIMS HOUSE.
One Hundred Inmates Caught i'm the
Burning Building.

one hundred Inmates Caught in the
Burning Building.
UTICA, N. Y, May S.-The Chenango
County poor house and asylum, located
at Preston, six miles west of Norwich,
were entirely consumed by fire last
night. The flames were discovered
about il. o'clock, in the north
wing of the poor house building,
where the idiots were kept. There
were no provisions ior' distinguishing
the flames. The keepers and neigh bors
gave their attention to getting out the
l25 paupers and insane, and let the
building burn. These were all rescued
but eleven idiots, who are missing. Six
bodies can be seen slo WHY burning. The
other five are supposed to be covered
up.
The poor-house' building was three
stories high, and built Of wood. The
insane asylum was also wooden build
ing, two stories high. and only sep
arated from the poor-house by drive
way. The property was estimated
worth $25 200, and is insured for $40, 900.
The Universalist and Baptist Churches
have been opened for the reception Of
the unfortunates.
The origin of the fire is unknown.
Yesterday afternoon a woman was in
the idiot department smoking. She put
her pipe in her pocket and was soon
enveloped in flames. and later died
from the effects of the burns. 1t is sup
posed that some Of the idiots got hold of
some matches. and, in playing with
them. set fire tc the building.
The names of the dead so far dis
covered are: Sarah Mills, Sarah Gal
lsgher. Sarah Bailey, Laura Grey, Della
Benedict, Deborah Dibble, Mary Ann
Dibble, Lucy Warren and Amelia At
wood.
All the departments in the institution
imagined that the rescue of the poor
creatures, many of them old and very
feeble, and others wild with fear and
terror, which added to their insane de-
lusions, was by no means an easy task.
The keepers and citizens worked
rs best they could to carry,
drive, drag and push the inmates out;
but the flames spread 30 rapidly that
there was little time, and the great won
der Is that SO many were rescued.
here was little system in the conduct
the effort to save life. People went
it haphazard, appalled, by the awful
ness of the cries and means of the in
mates, and the magnitude OF the catas-
trophe. Not one of those who worked
expected that so many would be saved,
rs it seemed that all could not be gotten
out.
This afternoon it is learned that two
women who were not idiots were
burned; but 30 difficult is it to obtain
correct information That the names of
all cannot yet be given. The clerk of
the board has wired the supervisors,
and called session OF the board to be
held to- night, in order that immediate
provisions can be made for caring for
the inmates. Coroner Fernalld has
summoned jury, and will hold an in-
quest,
Sheriff Kinney has sworn in large
number Of deputies, and is searching
tor missing paupers. The number of
dead may possibly reach thirteen, but
from the state of the ruins it is impos-
sible to state exactly. The most careful
count of the superintendent does not
shoV that more than thirteen were
burned.
Several of the inmates of different
department in the poorhouse, who es
capped to the hills and woods last night,
during the confusion, have been cap
tured. It is not at all probable that
over thirteen are burned, though be-
tween twenty and thirty are missing.