Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-05-07
MACS IN 4 FIRE
An Insane Asylum Near Mon,
treal Burned.
ONE HUNDRED INMATES PERISH
The Poor Unfortunatss Refused to h
Rescued BY the Firemen.

Rescued BY the Firemen.
Saveral Nurses Among the victims-A
Terrible sight Witnessed by Spectators.
Lunasics Escape to the woods-Ths
Fire Discovered by An Inmass from
vsrmont-Loss Over MILLION DollarA
MONTREAL, May IA calamity Of .
peculiarly appalling nature occurred at
Tongue Pointe, nine miles east of Mon
treal, in the destruction by FIRE Of the
insane asylum at that place.
A long line of gaunt towers and .
mass Of blazing debris are all that 10
left OF the institution, and the terrible
sights that were Witnessed during the
destruction Of the building will never
be forgotten by the spectators, though
to the lunatics II was time Of supreme
glee and in their delight they disported
Themselves amid the flames and waved
the ruin that was wrought. Not until
| the walls tumbled about their heads
were their maniacal screams silenoed.
The Horror OF the Situation.
The FIRE broke ont at II 80 q. M, and
30 minutes later telegram was resolved
| In Montreal imploring assistance. The
Mayor at once ordered engines to bs
| dispatched. One engine and two reels
were soon started, and they were
quickly on the spot. but they might ~
we'll have remained homo, for In i've
minutes they had exhausted the water
'u RR! ar. started in III. second ward
on the women's side of the upper story,
and its spread was hastened by longi-
tudinal ventilating shafts connected
| with the towers. The flames soon ap-
pearsd through the roof in the center
of each tower. When the hremen ar
rived one tower had fallen, and flames
we're spreading. ont everywhere.
Streams were laid on, and while they
lasted some good work was done, but
that was for a. very brief space, and
then the horror Of tho situation was
revealed.
| Resouing the Inmates
| At the windows the maniacs could be
seen peering through the bars, grinning
and jabbering until they were envel-
lease their hold and drop back into
the cauldron. When the fremen found
they were powerless to save the build
Ing they turned their attention to the
inmates and burst in the doors with
axes. Chief Bennett says 1t was such
sight as no hremen ever before wit
messed. In tho hall he entered there
|
they huddled and elasped themselves
together like q pack of beasts. He
seized the nearest, "But," said tho
chief, ST could no more separate tho
crowd than could separate the parts
of one body" He tugged at them un-
til the FIRE darted into their garments
and EMBODIED them in q shroud OF
fame.
Four Nuns Perish.
| Opo of< bo
had been asleep In the sick infirmary on
the fifth floor and to her rescue hurried
three others. They seized their COM
panion- and bore her in a blanket to the
staircase, but there they were met by q
sheet of fame and all four persisted.
Their names were: Soeurs Marie, De-
mouris, Egilbert and Lumiene. None of
came from parishes below Quebec. The
Sisters worked heroically. <ssA
Dazed With Horror.
To add to the horrors ofthe scene, the
rain was pouring down in torrents, and
the frightened inmates, dazed with hor-
ror, were huddled around in groups,
shuddering and moaning. The Sisters
and men connected with tho asylum
worked like heroes to rescue the in
mates from their terrible position.
Many Sister lost all thought of her
|
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.
The Death Roll.
The number of dead is now purely q
matter Of conjecture and 10 not likely
to ever be asoertsined, since no other
record is kept than the asylum books,
and these were destroyed in the fire.
Taking into consideration all the evil
dence from dremen, half-sane inmates,
the Skaters in charge, by-standers and
personal observation, it Is . oonserva-
tive estimate to say that 100 victims
met their death in the flames, although
some assert that tho number 10 200.
Discovered by = vermontsr.
The FIRE was first discovered by J. A.
AoKsnna of Burlington, VI, who only
entered tho asylum in the morning tor
treatment for loss of memory. He ives
one Of the first to notice the outbreak.
He was sitting In his room after be-
Ing examined. and felt the plaster on
the wall growing warm. He sprAng to
bis feet and ran out, shouting 'hre."
He became confused, and after being
nearly smothersd with smoke gained
the door.
Hundreds stnl Missing.
Hundreds who escaped from their
keepers to the woods are still missing.
Those who were removed In safety are
now in the various institutions
throughout the city. Seven nuns are
reported missing. Tho Government, 1t
is understood, will take steps toward
rebuilding the asylum At once.
The Burned Asylum.
The St. Jean de Dieu Asylum, com
monty called Tongue Pointe, was foun-
ded in 1878. The building consisted Of
tho main edidce and Of four smaller
buildings connected by wings and had
frontage Of $50 feet. Tho principal
building was six stories high, other
portions of tho building Ave.
The Sisters of Providence spent in
founding and organizing this institu-
| &in,a Al 1R2 600 of which ann G10Q NO0