The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-05-21
LUNATICS CREMATED.
The Largest Insane Asylum il.
America Burned.
A Frightful Calamity in Which
Many Maniacs Perish.

struction by fire of the insane asylum at
that place, by which one hundred almost
certainly and possibly two hundred of the
inmates perished.
The famous provincial insane asylum,
which is known all over Canada and the
United States and which contained over 1900
inmates from every portion of the continent,
is mass of ruins. The buildings constitut-
ing the st. Jean de Dieu Asylum are at Lon
que Pointe, a small place about ten miles
from Montreal, fronting the River st.
Lawrence The asylum. which was
established by the Quebec Government in
1873 consisted of a main building and four
smaller buildings connected by wings, with a
total frontage of G30 feet. The buildings
were of brick and cut stone The principal
building was six stories high and the other
buildings five stories. The institution was
under the care of the Providence order Of
nuns.
About II 80 O'Clock in the morning smoke
was discovered entering the chaplain's room
In the centre building. The chaplain inn
mediately rushed out into the chapel and
made desperate effort to save whatever
retreat after being badly burned. In
the meantime, the fire, which is sup
posed TO have started in cupboard in the
top of the centre building, spread with
au1azing rapidity, and the buildings were in
en- Incredibly short space Of time enveloped
in flames
There were over 1900 inmates in the burn
ing building at the time. The scene was
well nigh indescribable. There were 163
Sisters III the asylum, and their first care
was for the unfortunate inmates. who were
unable to care for themselves. Many
of the inmates rushed from their
a..l tla ~
stories of the buildings to the grounds be-
meath, which were soon swarming with de-
mented people rushing wildly hither and
thither. In the background stood the vast
buildings almost entirely enveloped in flames,
which shot high into the skies.
Above the flames could be heard the
shrieks and moaus of many of the de nented
inmates who were being roasted to death in
the upper stories of the buildings. At inter
walls men and women would appear at the
windows linger for q moment amid the
smoke and flames, and then franticAlly
jump to the ground below or fall back into
the seething mass. Hundreds who had es
capped wandered aimlessly around the
grounds, some with nothing but their under
clothes on and with bare feet. A few who
had torn their garments off in their excite
ment were entirely naked.
To add to the horrors of the scene, the rain
was pouring down in torrents, and the
frightened inmates, dazed with horror were
huddled around in groups shuddering and
moaning. The Sisters and men connected
with the asylum worked like heroes to rescue
the inmates from their terrible position.
Many Sister lost all thought of herself, but,
filed with a noble heroism, rushed to the
cells of the inmates and literally dragged out
the inmates, who, in many cases, made
frantic by the flames, refused to move.
To prevent the inmates from escaping, the
large gates leading to the grounds were shut,
and were only opened to allow the Sisters to
pass out with groups of inmates, who were
removed to the st. 1sidore Convent, large
institution near by. Meanwhile the fire con-
tinued to burn with unabated fury, and it
soon became dangerous to approach within
twenty-five yards of the burning buildings.
The demented inmates, however, appeared
to be entirely oblivious of all danger. Half a
dozen of the more violent, frenzied by ex-
citement, rushed from their keepers and.
jumping under the tumbling walls, started
to yell at the top of their voices tearing
their hair, comforting their faces, and laugh
ing like witches at the ruin that was being
done They had to be removed by force.
While the flames were at their highest
many of the inmates still remained inside al
though the nuns and doctors had done every
thing in their power to get them out. The
flames seemed to have terrible fascination
stances, welcomed the horrible death that
awaited them. All hope of saving those in
the upper portions of the building was soon
abandoned. Most of the men were got out,
but many women, especially those in violent
wards, had to be left to their fate.
Many acts Of heroism were performed by
the nuns and doctors in trying to save the in
mates DR.. BowiQue, one Of the medical at
tendants, continued his efforts until he had
to be carried out half dead from smoke. As
soon as one body of rescuers was exhausted
there were others to take their places until at
least two-thirds Of the inmates had been reg
cued.
Asa rule the inmates were very quiet, and
many of them were assisting in packing up
the furniture that was being thrown from
the windows indiscriminately and without
regard to the heads Of the people below.
Several of the women were assisting others
to leave the grounds the more rational
ones being accommodated in house across
the road
One young girl in the midst of the drizzling
rain, thinly clad, sat at q piano in the
grounds and played soft music while the
terrible flames roared above her.
Chief BenSit accompanied by several Of
where frighful scene was witnessed.
= In the. violent ward We're seen twenty-five
women huddled together with their arms en-
twiued waiting for the flames to reach them.
The firenen tried to break their ranks, but
they resisted and the firemen had barely tim,
to escape with their lives. In another portion
OF the building several firemen had hair
breadth escape. They pushed open the door
Of one of the women's cells to rescue
- inmates when the door closed
pd them with click and they found
hselves; securely imprisoned by, q
ing lock. They were in room filled
Fiery side. Rushing to the window they
9Foke it to pieces, and shouted for help Lad
ders were raised, and the fremen descended
after several desperate attempts to save the
inmates. Among those who perished in the
flames were several Sisters who offered their
lives as an heroic sacrifice.
In the infirmary, on the fifth story, there
was sick nun, Sister Marie. Knowing her
helpless condition, three of the other nuns,
Sisters Denerise, Gilbert and Lumiere,
rushed to her assistance and bore her in
blanket to the staircase, but they were too
late. They were caught in the flames and all
persisted.
About half dozen women, who seemed to
be unusually violent, crossed the danger liue
and, during the fire. were yelling at the top
Of their voices, some tearing their hair, with
despair depicted in their faces and others
laughing hysterically at the ruin that was
being wrought.
At the windows maniac would bs seen
peering through the bars, grinning and jab-
bering at the bright flame that went up to
the sky. As the heat became moro intense
she would grasp the bars and remain there
until the flames enveloped her.
At 2P. n. the flames, after consuming the
main building, attacked the two outside
wings, and it became evident that nothing
but the outhouses could be saved Shortly
afterward the front wall of the main build.
Ens fell in and was followed by the back wall.