The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-05-08
The ASYLUM FIRE.
Interview with the Mother Su-
perior Of the Institution.
THE HERolsM OF THE NUNS
And the Attendants In tho Build.
ing-IiDw Some OF tho Inmates
Wcro Rescued from n Fiery
Dcnth-The Loss OF Iiifc.

J
Dcnth-Thc Loss OF Life.
LoSour PolSrE, QuEnIc, May 7.-Th
correspondent OF the Associated Pres
had al interview with Sister There's
Do Jesus, the Superior OF the Asylum
this morning. She is remarkably clear
headed woman, and although at the tim
OF the disaster she was confined 10
sick bed in tho indrmary, she had 80 ia
recovered that she has taken the direc
tion Of affairs In her own hands, witt
headquarters at the St. Isado.e Convent
near the bank Of the St. Lawrence, JUS
below where the Asylum stood. Sht
places tho loss OF life at certainly twenty
and possibly fifty. She expressed hel
determination to ut once rebuild tho in
stitution on the most improved scientific
plan. both in regards to the treatment oil
patients and with view to prevent the
least possibility OF recurrence OF yes.
terday's horror. =
DR.. 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 the
sisters. He replied that he was strongly
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 staff Of specialists. The harmless
insane could, be said, be placed 10 great
er advantage under the care Of the
sisters.
RUINS OF THE ASYLUM. n
The ruins of the asylum were next
visited. Nothing but heaps Of smoking
bricks aud mortar could be seen. No
vestige ef the dead can be traced. In the
rear OF the asylum are stables, where
about 100 men patients were auartered
last night under the supervision OF the
sisters, and four Montreal policemen.
The scene is not one to be easily de-
scribed and surely not to be as easily
forgotten. Lying on heaps Of straw,
sickly, and feeble lunatics were to be
seen moaning, gibbering, shrieking,
twisting ndjumpipg. There were more
sturdy ones on the floor around them.
1t made one shudder to pass down be-
tween the two large hay mows in which
were confined the worst cases, so fierce
was the expression on their counter.
ances. 1t was remarkable to see the
GOODNESS with which the good sisters
soolhed the rayiDg, cheered the de-
pressed and ministered to the wants OF
the sick.
The laundry was the next place visit.
ed. There are confined here one hum
dred patients, mostly quiet persons,
whose aid had been taken advantage OF
in putting thing in shape. At the door
OF the laundry was John O'Rourke.
This man worked with the greatest
heroism, and with the aid OF his brother
James, and William Higgins, saved
twelve women from the furious ward
when all hope Of being allie to save them
from the flames had been abandoned by
other spectators. a.-;>
How THEY WE'RE SAVED,
Ihefe were iour overlapping yerandas
on the outside OF the building. Back OF
these were the rooms. O'Rourko cut
through the floors OF the yerandas and
ascended to the top OF one. These yer.
andas are barred with iron and resemble
the cages Of wild animals. O'Rourke
then passed the women, snatched from
the jaws Of death, through the hole in the
floor to his brother, who in turn passed
them to Higgins, and thus they were
safely lowered TO the ground.
Mr.. O'Rourke gives the names OF four
who were burned to death-AIrs. Kelly.
Of Montreal; Mrs. Williams, OF Halifax;
a Montreal woman, known as Bridget.
whose surname was either Malone or
Maloney, and q Miss Letournay., Of
Maisonenve, or Hochlpga.
One Of the attendants said that seven
lay nuns who did work about the insti-
tuition perished in the flames. The loss
financially is very great, being placed AZ
high as 81 100000; insurance s3OO,OO0;
placed with the Royal Of England,
which in turn has sub.let this amount
to sixteen other Canadian and American
companies. f0. r-a
AS one approaches Tongue Pointe, the
place is hardly recognizable. Instead
Of the huge building, massive if not i'm.
posing, that lent character to the village,
there remains merely heap of ruins.
The walls have fallen to the level Of the
outhouses anu the scene on the whole is
one OF barrenness. The procession Of
lunalics was taken up early this morn.
ing and is yet in progress. Tho whole
length Of the road is crowded with We.
hicles, and only mounted riders have
any chance. s.-.
- :, Tho Big Singer Fire. - -
ELIzAnETilpoRr, N. j., May 7.-The
entire western front Of the Singer Sew.
ing Machine factory, on First street, was
ga.ted by last nights fire. Tho flames
worked their way TO the main building,
extending aleng Trumbull street, clean.
ing out the stock-needle, finishing, ad.
jaating, inspecting and milling rooms.
The pattern department was also de.