St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-12-27
FASCINATED BY FIRE.
A Michigan Insane Asylum
Afflicted by a Disastrous
Calamity.
Hundreds of Female LunaticS
Fearfully Excited by the
Flames.
Many Restrained by Force in
EndeavorS to Court Ger
tain Death.
Terrible Suffering From EX-
poSure--LoSs Half a
Million.

Pontiac, Mich, Dec. 26.-Fire was
discovered in the north wing of the
Eastern Michigan insane asylum at II
O'Clock this morning. The flames spread
with fearful rapidity, and with the lin
tied facilities at hand the firemen
were powerless. Fifteen minutes after
the first alarm was sounded the Occu-
pants 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 filled the demented creatures with
terror. Some ran like wild animals,
trampling their slower companions in
their mad effort to escape. Others
were paralyzed with fright and stood
rooted to the spot with eyes staring hor-
Tidly into the roaring fire. The attend
ants performed deeds of heroism in the
endeavOr to rescue the helpless. Rush
ing hither and thther dragging the
hesitating ones from their rooms, they
drove the insane women into the open
air.
Fascinated by the Flames.
When some were once upon the out
side, they would break away and rush
for the building again. Supt. Burr and
his assistants on the medical staff gave
directions for the removal of the in
mates. and by their excellent and val
liant labOrS, all, it is believed, were res.
cued alive.
The 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 clothing
from their persons and were laughing
in hideOuS glee at the approach of the
flames. When last seen they we're
standing in the midst Of sheets of fire,
geSticuating wildly and with their long
hair flying disheveled about their faces.
By II 30 the entire north wing was
wrapped in flames. The attendants mad
done all that was in their power, and
nothing was left but 70 try to save the
rest of the asylum from the flames.
Spectators declare that they heard
shrieks of anguish from the awful pyre,
as of demented victims yielding their
lives to the flames, but in the confusion
1t was impossible to distinguish the
screams of the frightened maniacs with
out from the expiring cutlery of the
victims, if any there were.
A PitiabIe Sight.
n
the patients to the cottages for safe
keeping, but it was utterly impossible.
Some few of them were induced to
retire to the shelter, but the great ma
jority Of the 500 demented women hud-
died together in the cold, piercing wind
and gaZed with terror upon the fire.
Upon the first discovery of the fire
the Pontiac department was notified.
The single steamer in the place made
In Cf mil afo hroo f~,,o l.
gait. When the first stream was turned
upon the flames the north wing was
seen to be doomed, and every energy
was bent to stopping the fire at the CEN
Ter. A few minutes later citizens of
Pontiac began to arrive on the scene.
and soon an army of several hundred
men was at work. With the added as
sistance the women were forced to re-
tire 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 com
Portable as possible.
Madmen in Ecstacfes
The fear was that the fire would make
Its way across to the south wing, where
nearly 700 men were confined. Prepare
lions were at once made to release the
men if it became necessary. Inside the
south wing, from the moment the
flames came in sight, the widest excite
ment prevailed. The 700 crazy meu
tore about the narrow confines of theiI
rooms yelling like demons, not from
fear, as it seemed, but rather with eX
ultatlOn. The fire filled them with e
terrible ecstacy. A few appreciated
the danger, and their terror was pitiful
At o'clock the firemen were conf
dent that they had the flames under
control. At that hour the fire wa:
fiercest just over the main entrance
The north wing was ruin. The roo
had fallen in. The worst seemed to bt
over. A few minutes later, a steamer
arrived from Detroit and the fire fienC
was Conquered, to all appearances, al
though there was still a stubborn blaze
in the central portion. The prepare
tionS for the rescue of the insane mel
I'm the event Of an emergency were no
abated.
A curious incident in connection will
the fire was related of a patient WIFI
had long been considered dangerous
but under the excitement his reason Re
turned to him. and he offered his serv
ices in fighting the fire, which wer,
gladly accepted.