New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-15
LUNATICS BURN TO DEATH.
DESTRUCTION OF A TENNESSEE INSANE
ASYLUM.
SIX OF THE INMATES FERsH-DELAY IN Sc
CURING FIREMEN RESULTS DIsAsTRoCsLY
ccyxrC AT TUE COMET. .GPATION


Nashville. Tenn. March li.-The beautiful
Central Insane Asylum, seven miles from tins ci'F'
is almost q mass of ruins this morning ana
beneath it arc the chaTrcd bodies OF half a dozen
OF the unfortunate inmates: in the outhouseS near
by are huddlcd the poor 1emcnted creatures VINO
found an asylum in the grand structure now lald
in ashes : and on tho lawn the long. parchcd trees,
dcnudcd of branch and foliage, stand, the spectral
trunks, with gaunt. OutStrctched arms marking
the spot where stood the massive binding, one
Of the most beautiful and attractive spots IN
Middle Tennessee At 10:lj last night Natch-
min Fitzhnrh discovered flames breaking through
the roof Of the western main wing Of the build
inc How il caught could tell, but "
reached from the ground through the second
and third stories and cut of the few rooms that
were behind it. In a moment the alarm was
given and the 400 inmates of the institution were
thrown into wild cOmmotion CONSERVATION was
depicted on each face as the gravity of the situa-
tion burst upon them. There were overweight
men in the wing when the fire caught and twenty
two of them were quickly removed 10 the main
hall. the other six being left TO their fate IN
the flames.
The city was telephoned TO for aid but Chief
Carrcl, of the Fire Department, could not he
found and his subordnates refused TO move with
out instructions. Finally after two hours delay
the chief was found. and he. with two engines,
started for the of the disaster In the mean
time the west wing had collapsed, the fire had
spread. and the inmates. made frantic by their
danger. were beginning 10 break from thelr
guards and scatter like frightened animals over
the surrounding country. The fire engines ar
rived on the scene at 2:l5. and in few mo-
mcnts stream Of water was playing on the main
building Previously the inmates of the asylum,
bo nd rls
service with buckets, and succeeded in holding
the fire in check to extent. Had 1t not
been for their work. the entire structure would
have been in flames before the arrival of the IRE
department. The unfortunate inmates lost Ill the
west wing were J. S Johns, of Rutherford County
j. Burt Dexter of Wilson: Blue Preston, of Can
non: John Kelly of Wayne: W. II. Bcastry, OF
Hickman, and b. F IIoowe, of Davidson.
The scene within the quadrangle i'll the rear
of the superintendent Office was all glare ana
confusion at l O'Clock, when an Associated Press
representative arrived. The flames in the west
wing were towering above the walls. and guards
were hurrying hithcr and thither y moment
later the inner wall of the burning building
fell in with crash, and clouds of sparks covered
the entire heavens. In another instant shower
OF cndcrs and charred fragments of wood fell
upon the roofs of the remaining buildings and
upon the stone-pavcd court. In the hall connect
ing the east and west wings. and in the corridors
Of the east wing the lunatics were huddled To-
;ether, men. women and bedclothes being 50 inter
mingled that il hard 10 distinguish between
them. They did not seem to comprehend the
awful situation and most of them were still
undrcssed. as they were when they were dragged
from the rooms of the building already in ashes.
Dr. Calendar sat in his Office With an expression
Of despar on his features. and drops of perspiTa-
tion stood upon his brow. CrouchlnS III the
corners were the figures Of inmates VINO perhaps
had a clearer apprehension of the pending danger
,han their companions. and had stolen IN, thlnk-
ing themselves safe with the superintendent by
midnight nothing remained for the men VINO
had fought so nobly 20 do but 10 stand aslde
and await the coming Of the engines from the clS.
\ rpnortpr about mile from the cOn1lagratlOn
met a couple of lunaIics in shirt sleeves trudglne
along the highway with their arms Locked aoOut
each others necks As they passed one OF them
cried OUT .,
The same pair were aterward seen Just within
the corporation line This time they were heard
10 say =" We are free we are free, nut don NOu
tell. don't Won tell Their arms were well
Locked ab6-it each others necks. Hiding IN the
shrubbery on the road were many who had escaped
when the sudden exodus was made from the WesU
wing Most of them only partially dressed
Ar 3:l5 the lunatics who bad been huddied for
several hours in the ward in front of the main
building were returned to the east wing. ABOUT
twenty five had escaped. the majority OF WHOM
were harmless The dangerous lunatics were
kept locked all the time in the east wing and none
of them were subjected 10 exposure or danger
during the progress of the flames. II was reported
that ono Of the women inmates Of the asylum had
hcen drowned in the lake on the lawn, but her
name could not he learned.
The building was fully insured.