The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-01-02
The Michigan Insane Asylum Destroyed
by Fret Is Now a Heap
of Ashes.
The Maniacs Rush About Wild with
Terror Trying to Make
Their Escape.
A Horrible Din Was Created by the
Shrieks of the Demented In
mates-A Number Lost.
An Insane Asylum Burned.

Pontiac, Mich, Dec. pa fire was
discovered in the north wing of the east
ern Michigan insane asylum at II o'clock
this morning. The flames spread with
fearful rapidity and with the limited ia
c~ilities at hand the tiremen were power
less. Fifteen minutes after the first
alarm was sounded the occupants of the
~wing-J0O ~women-were turned loose.
They Immediately began screaming with
terror. 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 filed
the dcmentcd creatures with terror.
Some ran like wild animals. tramping
their slower companions in their mad eff
forts to escape. Others were paralyzed
with fear and stood rooted to the spot
with eyes staring horribly into the roar
ing fire. The attendants performed deeds
of heroism in their endeavOrs to rescue
the helpless. Rushing hither and thither
and dragging the hesitating ones from
their rooms they drove the insane women
into the open air. When some were
once on the outside they would break
away and rush for the building again.
Supt. Burr and his associates on the
medical staff gave directions for the re-
moval of the inmates and by their cy-
cellent and valiant labors all, it is be-
lIeved, were rescued alive.
A 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 their
clothing from their person and were
laughing in 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 dishevelled about their faces.
BY 1l:3O the entire north wing was
wrapped in 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 it was impossible to dis
tinguish the screams of the frightened
maniacs without from the despairlng
cutlery OF the victims within. if any there
were. \ strenuous effort was made to
convey the patients to a place of safety.
1t was utterly impossible. Some few of
them were induced TO retire to shelter,
but the great majority of the 800 de-
mented women huddled together in the
cold piercing wind and gazed with terror
upon the fire.
E Upon the first discovery of the fire the
Pontiac department was notified. a
single stream in place made the run of
three miles at a b%reakneck gate. 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 center. A few
minutes later citizens of Pontiac began
to arrive on the scene and soon an army
Of several hundred men were at work.
With added assistance the women were
forced to retire from the scene. Those
who had run away into the woods were
brought back and placed in cottages.
There were certainly willing hands in
plenty and the unfortunates were soon
made as comfortable as possible. The
fear was that the fire would make its
way across to the south wing where near
ly 700 men were confined. Preparations
were at once made to receive the men if
it became necessary. Inside the south
wing from the moment 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 filled them
with a terrible ecstacy. A few appre-
ciated the danger and their terror was
pitiful. At one o'clock the fireman were
confident that they had the flames under
control. At hat hour the fire was
~iiercest just over the main entrance.
The north entrance was a ruin. The
roof had fallen in and the worst
seemed to be over. A few minutes later
a steamer arrived from Detroit and Don
the fire was conquered, to all appear
ances. although there was still "a stub
born blaze in the central portion.