The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-27
AN INSANE ASYLUM FIRE.
THE 1900 INMATES WILD WITH
FEAR on ExULTATrON.


of the Flames - The Mems Ward
Saved.
PONTIAC, MICH, Dec. 26.-Fire was dis
covered in the north wing of the Eastern
Michigan Insane Asylum this morning The
flames spread with fearful rapidity, and
with the limited facilities at hand the fire.
men were powerless. Fifteen minutes after
the first alarm was sounded the occupants
Of the wing-500 women-were
turned loose. Screaming frantically with
terror the maniacs surged through the
corridors. where the air was already filled
with smoke. Tongues Of flame were visible
through it all, and the sight filed the de-
mented creatures with terror. Some ran
like wild animals, tramping their slower
companions in their mad effort to escape,
Others were paralyzsd with fright and
stood rooted to the spot with eyes straining
horribly into the roaring fire.
HERoIsM OF TUE ATTENDANTS.
The attendants performed deeds Of hero
ism in the endeavor to rescue the helpless,
and, dragging the hesitating ones from their
rooms, they drove insane women into open
side they would break away and rush for
the building again. Supt. Burr and his
assistants on the medical staff gave drec.
tions for the removal of the inmates, and
by their excellent and valued labors, all, it
is believed, were rescued alive.
report is going about that
several women were seen at the windows
after the patients were supposed to be all
out They had torn every vestige Of cloth
ing from their persons and were laughing
hideous glee at the approach Of the flames.
When last seen. they were standing in the
midst Of sheets of fire, gesticulating wildly,
and with their long hair flying disheveled
about their faces. BY 1:15 o'clock the ena
tire wing of the building was wrapped
in flames. The attendants had done
all in their power and nothing
was lett but to try to save the rest of the
asylum from the flames Spectators declare
that they heard shrieks of anguish from the
awful pyres, as of demented victims yield
ing their lives TO the flames. But in the
confusion it was impossible to distinguish
the screams of the frightened maniacs with
out from the expiring outcry OF victims
within, il any there were.
REFusED TO ENTER oerTAeEs.
A strenuous effort was made to convey
the patients to the cottages for safe keeping
1t was utterly impossible. Some few of
them were induced to retire to shelter, but
q great majority of the 500 demented
women huddled together in the cold. pierc-
ing wind and gazsd with terror at the
burning building, Upon the first discovery
of the fire the Pontiac fire department was
notified. When the first stream was
turned upon the building the north wing
was seen TO be doomed, and every effort
was made to stop the fire at the center
A few minutes later the citizens Of Pom
tiac began to arrive on the scene, and soon
an army Of several hundred men was at
work. With this additional assistance the
women were forced TO retire from the
scene. Those who had run away into the
woods were brought back and placed in the
cottages. There were willing hands in
plenty, and the unfortunates were soon
made as comfortable as possible.
THE MEMS WARD.
The fear was that the fire would make its
way across to the south wing, where nearly
700 men were confined. Preparations were
Immediately made to remove the men If 1t
became necessary. Inside the south wing,
from the moment the flames came
in sight, the widest excitement prevailed.
Seven hundred crazy men tore about
the narrow confines of their rooms, yelling
like demons, not from fear, as it seemed
but rather with exultation. The fire filed
them with terrible ecstacy. A few appre-
ciated the danger, and their terror was
pitiful At o'clock the firemen were con-
tident that they had the flames under con-
troll
At that time the fire was fercest just over
the main entrance. The worst seemed to be
over. A few minutes later q steamer arrived
from Detroit, and the fire was conquered TO
to all appearances, although there was still
stubborn blaze In the center portion. The
preparations for the rescue
the insane men in the event
OF an emergency were not ebated.
WOMEN SEVERELY BURNED.
number of women who we're in the
building first destroyed were severely
burned, but prompt action averted serious
results. James Lyon, Fred Linton and an
other attendant, whose name was not
learned, had a narrow escape while fighting
the flames on the fourth Aoor. When the
flames were tapping their skins long lad
der was procured. and the men were res
cued just as they were on the point of falls
ing back into the raging furnace.
A number of other narrow
escapes occurred, and but few
OF the attendants escaped without severe
burns or other injuries. The building Of
the Eastern Michigan asylum is in smoul-
dering ruins. and nearly all the inmates
are huddled together like cattle in the sur
rounding cottages. No lives are known to
nave been lost, but scores of poor lunatics
who were forced to stand in the bitter cold
blizzard for hours before they could be
housed have suffered severely. Many, too,
1t Is believed, escaped to the woods during
tne excitement, and searching parties are
now out in quest of them. The loss will not
tall below 100000. The property was fully
Insured.
Christians In Peril.
TEHERAN, Dec. 26. The Persian clergy