The Southern herald., 1892-02-26
Letter from Jackson.

Letter from Jackson.
JACKSON, Mss. Feb. Is, '92.
Editor Herald-Afler q pleasant
visit Of a few days, in Amits, I
arrived safely in Jackson yesterday
at s O'Clock p. N.
Early this morning the FIRE bells
gave the alarm Of IRE, and in a few
minutes it was known that the fire
was At the insane asylum. In a few
minutes all the fire companies, and
three or four thOusandpersons we're
on their way to the asylum. The
men worked heroically, many Of
them falling from exhaustion. Dr..
Mitchell, the superintendent came
very near being killed by a ladder
I falling on him. About two-thirds
Of the main building will be a total
/ loss; the building is still burning,
but it is thought the hremen have
+ it under their control. The build
/ ing was set on fire by one Of the
inmates who perished in the flames.
About twenty-five inmates are
missing; it is thought that they
escaped, but they also may bave
been burned. It is believed that
lit will take two hundred thousand
dollars to repair the building. The
legislature will have to make an
appropriation at once. The legis-
lature is not in session to-day, as a
great many members went to the
fire, thus breaking a quorum. /
have just returned from the fire,
and as it is time for the mail to go
out, will not be able TO give you
any legislative news this week.
JACKSON, MISS, Feb. 81, '92.
Editor Herald wrote you a
short letter Tuesday, 10th, just
after the fire at the asylum, but as
it was not in the paper l presume
it was lost, or received too late for
last weeks issue.
Referring again to the fire, dear
reader, imagine you see a large
four-story building on fire with the
flames leaping a hundred feet above,
with six hundred and twcnty-one
insane persons inside, who are not
conscious Of any danger, then you
have but faint idea of the grave
responsibility resting on the Super
intendent. But with his assistants
they were all removed to other
buildings, except the man who is
supposed to have set the building
on fire he was burned, and taken
out Of the debris late in the after
noon. Two of the inmates got
outside, but have been brought back
The legislature has appropriated
twenty-five thousand dollars tc
meet present emergencies. About
eighty Of the inmates have been
sent to the asylum at Meridian,
the others can be provided for here,
Nearly all of the furniture was lost
by being thrown from the windows
to the ground. A committee has
been appointed to ascertain the
amount Of damages, and they re,
port that it will take one hundred
and fifty thousand dollars $3.50, 900,
to rebuild and furnish as before
An amusing thing is said to have
occurred at the asylum. Mr.. Miller
member of theHouse, fromCopiah
was talking very loud and gesticu
lating wildly, and some Of tht
ladies, thinking he was a lunatic
requested some Of the managers, t.
have him confined, lest he nigh
hurt some one. Imagine their sur
prise when Miller informed then
be was legislator. Oh my, they
nearly tainted.
Another joke on the legislature
When Cleveland was invited t.
visit and address the Legislature, HI
replied, that he could stand thu
bull frogs and alligators of Louisiana
but he could not stand the Missis
Sippi Legislature. Hence, you see
we are for Hill for President
WhoOpee for the Legislature o
Mississippi, and David j. Hill o
, New York.
JACKSON, MIss., Feb. %, '02.
EditorHerald-As theLepislatur