The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-12-27
Frightful Scenes at Conhagration Where At
tendants Had Difficulty in Keeping the Pa
tients from Rushing Into the Flames.
Two of the Excited Lunatics and a Nun.
Der of the Rescuers Severely Burned.
Loss Of 5000. 900 by Fire at Chattanooga. Tenn,
Where Several Business Blocks We're
Destroyed-Steel-W Works Gutted.
ASYLUM BURNED.
Institution for the Insane at Pontiac, Mich
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patch to the Democrat from Pontiac, Mich.
says: The main building of the Eastern
Michigan Insane Asylum is tonight q
smoldering mass of ruins. and nearly all
the eight hundred inmates, which it con-
tanned, are huddled together like cattle in
the surrounding asylum cottages Not one
life so far as known, has been lost. but
scores of the poor lunatics who were forced
to stand in the bitterly cold blizzard for
honrs before they could be housed, have
suffered severely. Many. too. it is believed.
have escaped to the woods during the ex-
element and searching parties are now out
Ill quest of them. The loss will not fall
below $500. 900.
The fire broke out just before II o'clock
A. NJ, in an attic In the women's depart
ment The cause is not definitely known.
but is is believed to have been q defective
fiue. Famed by the cold north wind.
which was blowing fercely. the flames
spread with great rapidlty. and before the
attendants were fully aware of the danger
the entire upper floor of the structure was
on fire. BY heroic work on the part of the
guards, however. every inmate in this part
of the building was taken out and efforts
were at once begun to check the flames
Aid was summoned from Pontiac, nearly
two miles distant, and the asylum depart
ment, which was regarded as very Efficient
at once began an unequal contest with the
fire. which gained steadily. increasing every
moment in intensity and extent until at
noon the entire north and east sections Of
the big building were In flames
Assistance was then requested from De-
troit and two of the city's steamers were
soon on the ground. The water facilities
were inadequate, however, and, in spite of
the strenuous efforts of the firemen, the
flames ate their way along the front of the
huge structure until it seemed as if the
entire .plant. hospital. chapel and all. were
doomed. Hundreds of people from Pontiac
and vicinity joined in the fight with the
flames at this juncture. By hard work a
small part of the south wing was saved.
and at 3 o'clock it was evident that the
remnants of the magnificent plant, COM
prising only the chapel. hospital and en-
gine-house would be saved.
RUSHED BACK INTO THE FLAMES.
Meantime the $50 attendants were having
great difficulty in guarding the 500 female
inmates who had been rescued from the
burning building. and only at the risk of
their lives saved several women who would
occasionally break from the covering
groups and make a mad dash for the flames.
One woman named Shelley, from Lexing-
ton, and JOHN Heman, a male patient from
Monroe, were seriously burned in this man.
ner. As soon as possib the half clothed
and freezing creatures were crowded
into the asylum cottages. but the
crush was so great that not all
could be accommodated, and scores of
them were forced to endure the bitter
cold wind for several hours until other
places could be prepared in which to con-
fine them. AS a whole, the greater part of
the vast body of inmates were exceptionally
quiet while the great conhagration was
roaring about them, and some of the less
violent patients worked hard and earnest
ly in endeavor to subdue it. A number
of the women who wero In the section of
the building first destroyed were severely
burned while being removed, but prompt
attention averted any serious consequences.
James Lyon, Frederick Linton and an
other attendant whose name could not be
learned, had a narrow escape whie fight
ing the flames on the fourth floor. I'm
known to them the fire surrounded the
spot at which the men were working. and
only when they found every avenue of es-
cape, except one small window, closed, did
they think of their safety. The vast crowd
of spectators saw the peril of the men. but
were poweress to help them. The fire ap-
paratus was in use on another section of
the building, and every moment brought
the fire nearer to them. When the flames
were almost circling the three men, q long
ladder was procured and they were rescued.
Anumber of other narrow escapes occurred.
and but few of the attendants escaped
without severe burns or other injuries.
1t is difficult to obtain accurate figures
on the loss. When the asylum was first
opened. in 1878. the total cost was S475.0O
Since then many additions and improve
menrs have been made, and w. G. Vim
ton. member of the board of trus-
tees of the asylum, estimates the to-
tai value OF the plant before the fire
at something over $500, 1000. Since the
entire main structure, with the excep-
tion of a small part of both wings. has been
destroyed. including most of Its contents,
the total loss cannot be less than S5OO,OOO.
Nothing definite is known about the insnr-
ance but 1t is believed TO nearly cover the
loss
OVER ONE THOUSAND INMATES.
At the beginning of this year the number
of patients in the ASYLUM was 975. of which
5i4 were females. Since then the number
has been increased to over one thousand.
The care of these required about two hun
dred employees. The inmates must, for sew
eral days at least suffer great hardships.
The kitchen is among the destroyed build
ings, and some time must elapse before the
culinary department can be re-established
and the lunatics properly fed. Nothing Is
definitely known to the rebuilding of
the burned structure. but instant action is
absolutely necessary.
Another dispatch says: Fifteen minutes
after the iirst alarm was sounded the oc-
cupants of the north wing-hve hundred
insane women-wero turned loose.
Screaming frantically with fright the
maniacs surged through the corridors
where the air was already filled with
smoke. Tongues of flames were visible
through it all, and the sight filled the de-
mented creatures with terror. Some ran
like wild animals. trampling their slower
companions in their mad effort TO escape.
Others were paralvzed with fear. and stood
rooted 10 the spot with eyes staring hor-
ridly into the roaring fire.
The attendants performed deeds OF hero
lam in the eudeayOr to rescue the helple6a