Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-12-27
AN AWFUL FIRE.
THE STATE INSANE ASYLUM OF MICHIGAN
BURNED,
Hundreds of Female LunatcS Turned Out inN
the Freezing Weather Lightly Olad-fOr-
tanately None Were Burned - Hall
a Million Dollars Loss.

GRAND RAPIDS, MICH, December 20
| -Snecial 10 the Democrat from Pontiac'
Mich. saws: The massive main ouiiu-
ing OF the Eastern Michigan insane
Asylum is tonight smoulderine mass
of ruins, and nearly all the elgne huu
dred inmates which 1t contaiheu arc
huddled together like cattle In the sur
rounding asylum cottages.
Not one life so far as known has Deen
lost during the confagration which mas
RACED since 1920 this MORNING. ouV
scores of the poor lunatics who were
! forced TO stand in the bitterly colo oiiz-
gard for hours before they could De
housed. have suffered severely. Many
! too il is believed, have escaped 10 the
woods during the excitement, ana
searching parties are now out In quest
of them, ana ooo
The fire broke out just before elefeh
o'clock in the attic in the women ue-
partment. The cause is not dennltely
known. but it is believed to have been a
defective flue famed by the cold north
winds which was blowing tiercely. Inc
flames spread with great rapidity, ana
before the attendants were fully aware
Of the danger the entire upper MOOR VI
the structure was on 1re.
Nv heroic work on the part OF the
puards, however, every inmate In this
mart of the building was got out ana
efforts at once begun to check the flames.
Aid was summoned from Pontiac nearly
two miles distant. Assistance was re-
ouested from Detroit and two oil tnat
citv's steamers were soon on the ground.
Water facilities were inadequate, how
ever. and in spite OF the strenuous
efforts of the fremen, the flames ate
their way along the front OF the huge
structure until it seemed as If the entire
plant was doomed.
Meantime the $50 attendants were
having great difficulty in guarding the
900 female inmates who had been res
cued from the burning building. AS
soon as possible the half-clothed and
freezing creatures were crowded into
the asylum cottages, but the crush was
so great that not all could be accommo-
dated, and scores OF them were forced TO
endure the bitterly cold wind for several
hours until other places could be pre-
Dared in which to contine them. AS
whole, the greater part Of the vast body
of inmates were exceptionally quiet.
Nv $3.50 the fire was under control,
having been confined to the North wing
or female wards and the center OF the
administration building. The entire
South wing or mems ward escaped ana
fn
the inmates. The loss is placed at over
5000, 600 on the building, S15,50O will
cover loss on personal effects Of patients
and attendants. Another report places
the loss at $500, 900, although it is diff
cult TO obtain accurate figures. When
the asylum was first opened in 1878, the
total cost was S475,000. Since then
many additions and improvements nave
been made and the total value OF the
plant before the fire was placed at
something over 100000,
Since the entire main structure, with
the exception of small part OF both
wings, have been destroyed, including
the most OF its contents, the total loss
cannot be less than $500, 10000. Nothing
definite is known about the insurance,
but it is believed that this will nearly
cover the loss.
AT the beginning of the year the
number of patients in the asylum was
975, of whom 464 were females. Since
then the number has been increased to
something over 1000. The care of these
required about 200 employees. The in
mates must for several days at least
suffer great hcrdships.
The kitchen is among the destroyed
buildings, and some time must elapse
before the culinary department-can be
re-established and the lunatics properly
fed. Nothing is definitely known as to
any steps for the rebuilding Of the
burned structure, but instant action is
absolutely necessary.