The record-union., 1891-12-28
Michigan Insane Asylum Burned
to the Ground.
TIE BUSINESS PORTION OF CHATTA.
NooGA DESTROYED.
"A Crank Visits Cornelius vanderbilt's
House, With the Avowed Intention
of Securing His Brain, But is Cap
tured by the Police Before He Ac-
complishes His Purpose.
Special to the REcoRp-UN1os.


PONTIAC (Mich.), Dec. ga fire was
discovered in the north wing of the East
ern Michigan Insane Asylum at ii O'Clock
yesterday morning. The flames spread
with lightning rapidity, and with the
limited facilities at hand the firemen We're
powerless. Fifteen minutes after the
first alarm was sounded the occupants of
the wing, 500 women, We're turned loose
Screaming frantically with terror, the
maniacs surged through the corridors,
where the air was already filed with
smoke. Flames were visible through it
ell, and the sight filled the de1nented
creatures with terror. Some ran like
wild animals, trampling their slower
companions in their efforts to escape.
Others were paralyzed with fear and
stood rooted to the spot with eyes staring
horribly into the roaring fire.
The attendants performed deeds of
heroisn III their endeavor to rescue the
helpless, rushing hither and thither.
Dragging hesitating ones from rooms.
lhey drove the insane women into the
open air.
a number of women who were in the
section of the building first destroyed
were severely burned while being re-
moved, but prompt attention ayerted any
serious consequences.
1t is difficult to obtain actual figures on
the loss. One of the Board of Trustees of
the asylum estimates that it is not less
than $500, 00O
GRAND RAPIDS (Mich.), Dec. ga
democrat Pontiac special says: The sit
ration at the burned insane ASYLUM inn
proved to-day. The inmates have found
Quarters IN neighboring asylum, cot
in Sal ga;
at the disposal of the asylum authorities.
The injured are greatly improved, and
search revealed but one inmate MISSING.
man named Steele, from Detroit. The
trustees will begin rebuilding at once.
BUSINESS HOUSES IN RUINS.
CHATTANOOGA tTenn.), Dec. 27.-Chat-
fanooga's most disastrous fire occurred
yesterday. originating in D. H. Leveman
d Co.'S great dry goods house on Market
street, corner Of Eighth. 1t spread with
astonishing rapidity, burning through
the elevator shaft and stairway and cut
ting off the escape of about thirty female
employees, who were rescued from the
windows with ladders by firemen. Two
OF the women fell from windows and
EEere somewhat injured, and third was
rescued in an almost suffocated condition.
The adjoining buildings were soon afiame.
the ire consuming over $500, 900 worth of
property in less than two hours.
Inc total loss is about S6O0, 600 with
about S500,00 insurance. The damage to
tle Times Building is slight, but the
building was almost entirely cleaned out.
Hundreds ofpeople were rushing through
II, carrying everything portable to places
of safety.
To-day the full extent of the destruc-
ton by yesterdays fire is apparent. The
principal retail business houses of Chat
tanooga are in ruins. In all nineteen
storerooms were destroyed with the
stories above them. AS soon as the losses
are adjusted the whole area will be re-
built with handsome structures. Mrs.
Hurst and Miss tombstone, who Jumped
from the thirdstory windows, are doing
well. They may recover. A Miss Stew
ems, employed on the third floor of Love-
mans, is reported missing.
FIRE AT BOSTON,
Boston, Dec. 27.-The most disastrous
fire which has visited this city since
Thanksgiving, 1889, occurred Tonight
burning a brick building at I33 to I4i
Federal street, and damaging it to an ex-
tent of SIPS, 900. The building was occu-
pied by Parker, Holmes IL Co., and Hos
1aer, Codding & Co., whose combined
loss is estimated at $225, 900. Fireman
I.ouchland fell from the second story.
sustaining fatal injuries. Several other
fremen were slightly injured. The
cause of the fire is unknown.