The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1890-05-10
ANOTHER HOLOCAUST.
Tongue Pointe Insane Asylum, Near
Montreal, Destroyed.

LOHSdS OiItS Lunullc ASYLUM, located
ten miles from Montreal. which, with
many lives, was to-day consumed 10y
flames. Fifteen minutes before Noon
the cry OF fire" was given. 1t origina-
ted in q cupboard and vas the work ola
patient.
From the construction OF the building
there Is doubt in some minds as &c
whether it was Intended for an asylum
or a blast furnace; in any case it served
the latter purpose admirably. 1t was
constructed OF brick. and was 900 fee,
long, running back from the r,ver hall
the distance. The main building oc-
cupled the center, and on each side
extended four wings SIX stories Ill
height. 10 the east were the men +
wards, ani to the west the women's
making sixty 10 ali. In the rear were
the englne-hOuse and the laundry and
store-rooms, all of which were saved
L he hre started IN the second ward, on
the woman 5 side, in the upper story,
and, as ventilation WAS carried on by a
longitudinal shaft connected with the
towers, the flames soon appeared biaZ-
ing through the root in the center oi
each tower.
There were incarcerated in Longe
PO!nte > luaatics, or tnat asylum
was prison more than hospital and
now not more than |, 40 are accounted Il
for; but many escaped into the fields
and woods. The number OF dead is Il
matter Of conjecture, and can never
be ascertalned, since no other record
ls kept than that in the asylum books,
and they are also destroyed. Tax
ing into conslderat on the whole of the
ev.dence from the tiremen, half-sane in
mates, the sisters i'll charge, bvsiandeTe
and personal observation, 1t is con
servatIve estimate to say that 100 vic-
TINS met tGelr death, though some as
sert that the number ls double
that stated, and others p'sce it
below this figure. Ever since Que
bee was province its management OF
these most helpless Of all creatures has
been its shame. They have been tarmed
out to the nuns at $l0O a head per year,
ana the sisters aim was to keep them
as frugallv as possible and with the least
possible outlay for permanent works or
repairs. While their most urgent bod
lily wants We're supplied, no attempt was
made at systematic medical treatment.
At ll:15 O'Clock telegrap phic message
was received in Montreal, saving that
the asylum was on fire and implorlng
assistance. OIe engine and two reels
started on their ten mile run, and were
quickly on the spot, but they might as
well have remained at home, foi in five
minute s they exhausted the water sup
ply. The only thing that could save
the building was the st. Lawrence r.N-
er, and it was half mile distant.
Not a male patient Was lost. Among
the women it was different. The less
hopeless cases We're plsced III tie low
er wards, and they were removed with
out difficulty, but from theupper wards,
where the violent patients were
secured, there came the widest
screams as they resisted the nuns
who were beseeching them to
make their escape. At the windows a
maniac would be seen peering through
the bars, grinning and iabbering ut the
bright flame that went up to the sky.
AS the heat became more intense she
would grasp the bars and remain there
until the flames enyeloped her.
When the iremen found they were
powerless to save the building they
turned their attention to the inmates
and burst open The doors with axes
Inside, Chlet Benoit says, II was such IL
sight as no fireman ever witnessed. In
one ward that he entered were twenty
IL u 1IlItIiiS. anu IilS dI VI cdtil liiNh
huddled together like q pack Of beasts,
entwining their arms into one mass of
humanity He seized the nearest, but,
said the chief, II could no more sepa-
rate the crowd than / could parts OF
yonr horse" He tugged at them until
the fire darted into their garments and
fame, and then he left them. In
another ward three fremen were
nearly trapped TO death. They
entered, and the door, which
had spring lock, closed behind them.
As is customary there was no handle
on the inside. The door resisted their
axes and they rushed TO the windows,
but were driven back by the flames.
The chief, suspecting their peril, sent
aid 10 the other side, and the men were
carried down on ladders.
The iremen say there was lack of
fire fighting facilities. Although appli-
ances were there they were utterly use
less. The institution had excellent
engines, ten good pumps and new boil
ers, but no connection existed between
the pumps and boilers.
The st. Jean de Dieu asylum. COM
monty called "Longue Pointe," WAS
founded IN 1873 The government be-
ing desirous of closing the It. Jean de
lberyilIe asylum and relieving the Beau
port asylum at Quebec, which was over
crowded, came to an understanding with
the Sisters Of Providence with the view
of establishing an asylum for idiots and
insane. The erection OF editices was
commenced the following year. and on
July Is, 1915, this asylum received Its
first patients.
The Hon. Premier MERCER has placed
the Montreal exhibition buildings at
the disposal OF the nuns, and tomorrow
the buildings will be stocked with pro-
visions.
The Sisters of Providence spent in
founding and organizing this institution
81 ,320, ,232, of which 10000 was
ing was insured hy the government
COMPANY. This sum had been reinsUreG
in eighteen local companies in sums
varying from $1,000 to go, eco. The IS
terhood OF Providence, VITO owned tie
building, and under whose management
the institution has always been, is the
largest of the many large Canadian re-
ligious communities, although only es-
fifty years ago. Its founder
was Madame Gamelln, widow of q
wealthy Montreal merchant, who en-
dowed the new sisterho0d.
sympathy Is felt for Sister Therese,
the lady superior Of the asylum. She
was seriously i'll during the winter with
Inflammation of the lungs and il was
feared for some time that she was dy-
ing. During last month she was slowly
recovering, but is still IN verv wea <
state Of health. Sister Thereses : two
principal assistants IL the management
OF the asylum were Sisters Charles and
Madelaine, the former sister OF Or.
Coulet, of toilette, ami the latter SIS
ter of Dir. Des jardins, OF s. Janvler.
With the exception of the medical de-
partment. consisting Of doctors. the
sisters retained complete control of all
the departments Of the asylum, even
the dispensation of necessary medicines
being done by trained sisters. The stad
WAS composed OF seventy-tT0 sisters
and ninety-two lav sisters.
The death-rou tonight Is now est
mated at fifty, although many moro ale
missing. bat are expected 10 be found
alive. 1t Is feared that seven tertiary
proc hove baaD bI7-pai tn death a-