Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-12-27
IIID FLAME AND SMOKE
II Eastern Insane Asylum q ron-
tiac Destroyed by Fire.
DE1loIT FIREsEy TO TIE Rescue
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Io6fIAc. Mich. Dee. -. Fire broke
- in sns northern wing Of the stAts
esyium AZ ilssc this morning and wAs
eoon beyond the control of the lo4 81 de-
paxtment. Tbs damss we're famed BY
: strong breeze and II vas evident that
The entire structure would be destroyed
q additional help Was not obtained.
while the inmates we're being rescued
from the burEsng building help was
tslsgrsphed for TO Detroit and neigh
oorlag towns-
The SPECIAL assistance train from
Detroit. bringing . steamer, ladders
and hose. together with . number Of
experienced tiremen. made the run TO
the asyl,sm switch in Jnst 20 minutes.
The tran MAS run upou . Wild order
ard tne track Wa cleared tor IL The
ears were QUICKLY uaIoaded at the
asylum AIDING and the men were
speedily in acton. The north wing and
the central tower building were soon
,gone, and the hremen were Obliged TO
work directly against the hanlss run
nlng with the wiad south through the
south wing.
The water sysssx. 1asa sketsat-
PontIae's water system, direct pres
ssure Holly works, WAS quite inadequate
tor such = fire aud 50 great = distance
from the pumping works. IL WAS neccs-
sary 10 lay long lines of hose, but the
local firemen and citizens fought brave
ly ana did good work. The attendants
took charge OF the inmates and walked
them up and down the grounds 10 keep
them from freezing, and II was with
great difficulty that many were kept In
those portions OF the building where
the ire had not yet reached.
WiIliamDalton and Charles Fisher,
Citizens OF Pontiac. who were assisting
the flremen, had . narrow escape.
They assisted IN running line of hose
upon the roof aud were barely ahead
OF tue flames when the hose Was burned
or and their escape TO the ladders cut
OIL. While IN tnis perilous position
other ladders were run up barely IN
time tn save them.
Some OF the most violent patleute
were IN the north wing, where the fire
originated, and the attendants had
great difficulty In removing them, and
10 their aid. many would have per-
asned. Some were dragged through
the doors by sheer force and the at
tendants, male and female. worked
Ike beavcrs until their strength WAS
fairly exhausted. When some we're
lonce upon the outside they would
break away and uSh for the building
agxln. SUIT. Burr and his assistants
on the medical stsh gave directions for
the remOsal OF the inmates, and, by
their excellent and valiant labors. ali
we're rescued alive. The structure
stood upon high ground and
wholly unprotected from the wind was
m easy victim. The main buiiding
had the general s.aapo of . hollow
square. with tue relr open and several
wings extended back into the area.
Two Of tness wings were the hospitals,
whicS were only connected with long
end narrow halls.
ssskssg shelter for the inmates.
The firc originated IN the attic IN the
northwest corner OF the building, and
probably from . defective fiue. The
flames esept hrst through the upper
story, burning tho roof, ard gradually
crept down TO the lower floor. Had the
'fire started upon lower fioor the loss
of life would have been appalling. The
floors are OF pine and are tull of oil and
they added materially 10 the fury Of the
flames. Fully two-thirds vi the main
'Structure 10 IN ruins.
The water main from the city is only
eight inches n diameter and 1t does
slos supply sufiicient water 10 cope
with the flames, which are destined TO
Nske the south wing as they have the
north and central portions OF tue main
siructnre.
The buildings remaining will accom-
irfodatr 400 inmates with crowding, and
there is ne room in either the kaiama.
roo or Traverse City asylums for a
lsiagie one of the uuhoused patients.
There 10 talk that the 600 patients de-
pFlsed Of shelter will be taken ~ De-
Nait BY special tram.
On January 1. 1891, the numt,er ..
patents In the asylum was s15.- oil OF
wnou were male and 46f female. In
ing care of these 1i3 employees 10
psc-ssary. A boar OF six trustees, ap-
pointed oy ths goueTnor, manages the
snsts.urou. The present board 70 COM
posed OF W. q. Vlnton. Detroit; w. w.
t,.sckr 81 Iapeer, A. e.. BALDWIN, Pom
Siac: &. y. sawyer, Pontiac. j. A. Rem
Ick. Detroit. and Fred schmidt The
medical superintendent is DIR. Il. Burr.
Sae see staff. DIR. E. A. CHRISTIAN.
The asvlum wAs opened August l.,
ISIS. its first cost being S4s7 ,0oo. fhe
present value Of the plant 10 placed Al
SD. J.SiseeE.
The Essses were confined TO the three
secuons Of the north wiag and the al
mnsstering part of the main building
eontasnsag the Offices OF the supefin-
sendsut physicians, etc These are
wholly destroyed except the walls
wbica are stsll Standing. Inc l>ss will
BE Mrons ss5o.o0o. Al midnight the
frsmeA we're stiIl pisving upon The
susns. but sAey have lbs hfe conscletsly
under control. Tomorrow arrange
meats will be msie for the shelter os
al patients In other portions Of the
bus.ainga.
-FOUR rs7IsHgp ~ FIRE.