Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-01-07
AN ASYLUM BURNS.
The Michigan Insane Asylum at
Pontiac is the Scene Of a
Frightful Disaster.
The North Wing Of the Structure is
Consumed by the Fire King
and the Maniacs Stampede.

Pontiac, Mich, Dec. 2G 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 limited facilities athand the firemen
were powerless. Fifteen minutes after
the first alarm was sounded the 90.
cupants of the wing, 500 women, were
turned loose. Screaming frantioally
with terror the maniacs
sURGED THROUGH THE CORRIDORS
where the air was already filled with
smoke. Tongues Of flames were visible
through the cell and the sight filled the
demented creatures with terror.
Some ran like wild animals,
trampling their slower companions in
their mad efforts to escape. Others,
paralyzed with fright, stood rooted to
the spot with eyes staring horribly into
the roaring fire. The attendants per-
formed deeds of heroism in their en-.
deavor to rescue the helpless. Rushing
hither and tither, dragging the perish.
ing ones from their rooms, they drove
the insane women into the open air.
When some were once upon the outside
they would break away and
RUSH FOR THE BUILDING AGAIN.
Superintendent Burr and his assist
ants on the medical staff gave directions
for the removal of the inmates, and by
their excellent and valiant labors all, it
is believed, were rescued alive. The re
port is going about that several women
were seen at windows after the patients
were supposed to be all out. They had
torn every vestigecf clothing from their
persons 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 flying disheveled about their faces.
BY 80 the entire north wing was
wrapped in flames. The attendants had
done all that was in their power, and
nothing was left but to try to save
the rest of the asylum from the flames
The spectators declare that they heard
shrieks of anguish from the awful fire,
but in the confusion it was impossible
to distinguish the screams of the fright
ened maniacs without from
THE EXPIRING oCToRY
of the victims within, if any there
were. A strenuous effort was made to
convey the patients to the cottages for
safe keeping. It was utterly impossi-
BILE. Some few of them were induced
to retire to shelter, but great majority
Of the 500 demented women huddled
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
the run of three miles at break neck
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
centre. A few minutes later the citi.
zens of Pontiac began to arrive on the
scene, and soon an army of several
hundred men was at work. With the
added assistance, the women were forced
to retire from the scene. Those who
had run away into the woods we're
brought back and placed in
the colleges There were willing
hands in plenty and the unfortunates
were soon made as comfortable as posi-.
BILE. The fear was that the fire would
make its way across to the south wing
where
NEARLY 700 MEN
were confined. Preparations were at
once made to rescue the mon if it be-
came 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, yell.
ing like demons, not from fear, as it
seemed but from exultation. The fire
filed them with terrible ectesy. Few
appreciated the danger and
THEIR TERROR WAS P1TIFUL.
At o'clock the fremen were conf
dent they had the flames under control.
At that hour the fire was fercest just
over the main entrance. The north
wing was ruined, the roof had fallen in.
The worse seemed to be over. A few
minutes later steamer arrived from
Detroit and the fire fend was. con.
quered to all appearances, although
there was still q stubborn blaze in the
central portion.
Preparations for the rescue of the in.
sane men in the event of an emergency
were not abated.
The massive main building of the