New-York tribune., 1891-12-27
FLAMES IN An ASYLUM.
FIVE HUNDRED TERRIFIED LUNATlCS.
DESTRUCTION OF THE woMEN's WING OF THF
MICHIGAN INSANE ASYLUM AT PoNIlAC-
UNcoNFIRMED RUMoRs OF LOSS OF LIFE.

DESTRUCTION OF THE wOMEN'S WING OF THE
MICHIGAN INSANE ASYLUM AT PONTIAC
JyNCoyFIRMED RUMORs OF LOSS OF LIFE.
Pontiac, Mich Dec. 26.-Fire was discovered In the
north wing Of the Eastern Michigan Insane Asylum
at IL O'Clock this morning. The flames spread rapidy'
and with the limited facilities at hand, the fremen
were powerless Fifteen minutes after the first alarm
was sounded the occupants of the wing, 500 women'
wore turned loose Screaming frantcaDy with ter
ror the maniacs surged through the corridors "ere
the air was already filled with smoke. lohsues o'
fame were visible through 1t ALL ana the sishV hicu
the demented creatures with terror. some ran hhe
wild animals, trampng their slower companions III
their mad effort to escape. Others were paranzed
with fright and stood rooted to the spot' VIII" eSe
staring into the roaring fire. The attendants per
formed deess Of herojsm I'm the endeavor to rescue tie
b.lnless Rushing hther and thther, dragging the
bositatinr ones from their rooms, they drove the III
soue women into the open air. Then some "ho "e'o
once on the outside would break away ana rush ioi
the building again. 4, -,
sunarntendent Burr and his assistants on the III oi-
cal staff gave directions for the removai Oh t'ie "
mates and by their labors all, 1t is believed, were
noscuoa alive But the report is heard that several
women were seen at the windows after the patients
were supposcd to be all out. They had torn every
vestige of clong from their bodies and were Laughing
at the arproach OF the flames. When last seen oneS
were standing In tn. midst of flames gesucuiau"e
u1ldIv and with their long hair flying disheveiien
al out their faces. At IL 10 the entre phluiis was
u,rapn.d in flames The attendants had done all In
their mower and nothing left but to Try 10 save
tbe rest. Of the asylum from the flames Spectators
Soc,ore that they heard shieks OF anguish from "e
aufuI nvre as of demented victims yielding their
lives 20 the hames but in the confusion IL was III
nossbe 10 distinguish the screams OF the rish'eo'
maniacs without from m Outcry OF Victims "'i''
IL any there were. a strenuous enort was h'auo ="
convey the patients to the cottages FOR saieheeps
IL was utterly impossible. some OF th'm "e'e M III
duced 70 retire for SHELTER but the great majority OF the
zoo demcnted women huddled together in tn cold.
piercing wind and gazed with terror upon the nre'
On the first discovery OF the fire the Pontiac Depart
ment was informed When the first stream was turned
upon the building the north wing was seen 10 oe
doomed and every effort made to stop the hre a'
the centre few minutes later residents OF fohuac
began to arrive the scene and soon an army oi
several bundled men was at work. with this additlona
assistance the women were forced to retire from 'ne
scene Those who had run away into the WOODS were
hroucht back and placed in the cottages There were
willing hands in plenty and the unfortunates were soon
made as comfortable as possible.
The fear wa, that the fire would make its way across
70 the south wing where nearly 700 men were confined
preparations were Immediately made to remove bhe
men {, Il became necessary. Inside the south wing
from the moment the danes came IN slght the "iue'
excitement prevailed The crazy men tore ABOUT uie
narrow confines Of their rooms, yelling Ike demons ho
from fear as IL seemed, but rather with exutauon
| The fire filled them with terrible ecstacy. le"
appreciated the danger and their terror was ptlul'
AT 1 O'Clock the iremen were confident they pan
the flames under control. At that time the fire was
Gercest lust over the entrance The north wing
,vas ruin The roof had fallen in. The worst seemed
| to he over few minutes later steamer arrived
from Detroit and the fire was conquered although tert
wos sill stubborn blaze in the central portion The
preparatons for the OF the insane men IN case
| - an emergency. however, were not abated.