Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-12-28
INSANE AsYLUN BURNED
And the Patients Danced With Glee at
Approaching Flames.

Pontiac, Mich Dee. s6.-rhs eastern
Michigan insane asylum Vas discovered 10
be on IRE ct II o'clcck this morning.
The flames broke cut in The nor,h wing
AID spread with fearful rapidity. With the
limited facilities q hand the nremen were
powsrleas.
Fifteen minutes after thu first alarm vas
sounded, the occupants OF the wing 500
womeu were turned looee. Screaming
frsnticaliy, the maniacs surged through the
corr:d ,fs, where the air was already hiled
With smoke. Tongues Of flame vsresvisible
through IL sll. and the eight filed The de-
msnged creatures vita terror. Some ran
like wild animals. tramplins their slower
companions in their mad efforts to escape.
Others we're parAiyzed with fright, and
stood rooted to the spot, with eyes starin 3
with herror.
The asse rdarts heYoicAlly endeayored to
rescns the helpless. Rushing hithef and
ihither, dragging the hesitaling ones from
their rooms they drove the insane women
into the open air. Some. when orce upon
the side, would break and rush for the
building sgain.
Sup,, Burr and his assistants on the med
icai staif gave directions for the removal Of
the inmates, and by their excellent and
valiant labors, all, il is believed, we're res
cued alive. though q report Is going
about that several women were seen
at the windows after the patients
were supposed to be all out. They
had torn Of every vsstise Of clothing ard
we're laughing in hideous slee Al the ap-
preaching of the flames. When last seen
they we're standing in the midst Of sheets Of
fire, ge.ticuiating wildly, and with their
long hair flying dishevelled about their
faces.
By IL Is the entire wing OF the building
wss wrapped in flames. The attendants had
done all IN their power, and uothiog was
left but to try to save the rest OF the asy lum.
Spectators declare they heard sbrieks OF
an guish from the demenied victims yielding
their lives 10 the # ,mes. hut in the confusion
II was impossible TO Distinguish the .creams
Of the frightened maniacs without from the
outcry OF those within, il any there was.
A strenuous effort was made to convey
the patients to the cottages for safe keep
ing. Ii was utterly impossible. few Of
them were induced to retire to ths shelter,
bus the great majority Of the 800 demeDted
women huldled together in the cold pierre
ing wind and aszsd wildly upon the fre.
Upon the flrH discovery Of fire the Pom
tisc FIRE department was notified. Wheo
the first stream Was turned upon she build
ing the north wing WAS seen 10 bs doomed.
No effort was made to stop the fire At the
centre.
A few minutes Ister citizen. Of Pontiac
began to arrive, and soon several hundred
men we're at work. With this addisionsi
assistance the women were forced to
retire from the scene. Those who hsd
run agsy into the woods we're brought
back and placed in the cottages. There
we're wiling hands in plenty, and the un-
fortunstes wers coon made IS Comfortable
as possible.
The fear wss that the fire would make
its way across TO the south wing where
nesrly 700 men were cohtaed. PrepArs-
lions we're made to remove the men if it
became nece saafy.
Ia the south wing, from the moment the
flames came in sight, The widest excite
menr prevailed. The men tore about their
rooms yelling like demons. not from fear,
IS il seemed, but rather from exalta,ion.
The fire filed them with terrible ecstacy.
A few appreciated the danger and their
terYof was pitiful,