The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-11-04
The Blair County AIunshouse Burn
ed Saturday.

A dispatch from Honidsysbu-g says that
late Saturday afternoon word was received
n that pace asking for assistance, as he
Blair County Alrnshouse Vas on FIRE. The
Pbqaix Fire Company promptly responded
The flames had sEidsatiy broken out in the
centre Of the building, and, owing to the
prevailing high wind. the great structure
was s0oa a mass Of flames
There were sixty-three pGnpers in the
building at the time, several Of them being
weak-minded. and in the fright and eOnfu-
SION that followed the first alarm one insane
patient perished in the flames, while halfa
dozen Others were badly burned The build
ing Ess situated on high ground, snd the
reservoir near BY was only half full, 50 the
hrensn could do little bat assist as much a.
possible the frenzied patients. some Of whom
struggled and fo1ght 10 make their way
back into the fire
One idiot, named Nettis Yongiing. afier
being carried screaming from her room, tore
away from her rescne- and hurried herself
into the flames. shrieking with insane de
light while her aesh was roasting. and tear
ing her clothing from her smoking body
until her strength gave way when she sank
down to . horrible death.
The entire force Of men about the plsce
we're working Al the time in the fields, and
hearing the alsrn rushed back, only 70 turn
their stIention 70 catching and holding the
iumates, all Of whom seemed insane from
excitement. Father Donnelly and Rev. Dr..
Sxsriz were the only able bodied men about
the place, and the firemen and citizens al
arrived only in time 10 prevent these two
brave men from being torn to pieces BY the
stronger mad women, who tried lime and
again to throw themselves back into the
flames from which they had been dragged
Mrs. Iongling was successful, and another
patient, Ms Flasher, was nearly 50. being
50 horribly burned before being dragged from
the flames that she will probably die
Poor Director A J. Mckee, while sfruz-
Cling With woman, was dragged into the
flames and 20 badly burned be will be Grip
pied for life. An insane man named Low
~ escsped into the mountains, howling with
JOY al sight Of the flames and his Gnexpect-
ed liberty. He was followed by yelling
gang Of men and boys, but the last seen Of
him he wss making into the wilds- No one
dared 10 stop the nsdmzn, and woman and
children aseing from the spparitioa Of half
clad maniac, pursued oy moo thai dared
not TO come too elOse. The man viii proc
ably de OF exposure unless he succeeds in
making shelter.
A bhnd patient. frightened, weak and half
mad, groped bis way out OF back room
that was died with flames and smoke, and
was found hours af,erward hiding in corn
crib, weakly muttsring that 3 mob had come
TO xiii him. he was taken 10 the city and
cared for.
While the madmen. pzupers and women
of the house were being carried 10 shelter
another scene ensued that was more shame
fal than anything that ever occurred in the
county. A mob Of men and boys from this
city and surrounding country gathered Al
the smouidering ruin and pillaged the
wreck. They dug their way into the cellar,
where they found kegs OF wine cider and
liquors intended for the patients, and
drunken carnival ensued that puts TO blush
the widest orgies Of the savsges- Half
burned goods were dragged from the black
eued heap. and a dozen fights took place
over some article Of more than ordinary
value. When the police finally arrived the
ghouls and drunken mob were driven from
the place, the police forming a Gordon, and
il meant broken head 10 break into the
line.
The inmates many Of them badly burned
or bruised in their struggles, are all in this
city to night and being well cared for By
physicians The women will spend the night
in thest Mary's Catholic schools, while the
men paupers are being cared for in the
Opera House by Colonel W. G. Murray
Post No. 81, G.. AR
The FIRE originated from defective hCe,
and as the building was far from any settled
community there was no hope Of saving it,
every attention being given to the inmates.
The estimated loss is between $4,000 and
5000 with about $1,000 insurance. The
county poor records were lost in the fire and
the County Auditors viii be unable to pass
upon the receipts and expenditures for this
year.