The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-02-23
A Frightful Holocaust.

One of the most frightful disasters on record
occurred at the Stafford County farm and insane
asylum near Dover, n. H., on Thursday evening
in which fOrtyOne of the fOrty-siX inmates in the
asylum persisted in the flames Owing to the
poorly constructed building and the helpless ma
ture OF the inmates, any assistance was out of
the question, despite the heroic efforts at rescue
made by the farm hands in and about the inSti-
tuition. AS soon as the alarm was given by
Waterman William Chevey, wild yells, shrieks,
and demOniac laughs, rang out on the midnight
air making the whole scene frightful to behold.
and of such spectacle as to be almost beyond
belief.
A reporter for the Boston Daily Adue,tser, in
an interview with Keeper DriscOll of the insti-
tuition, elected the following horrible details:
The raving wretches could be plainly seen
inside the burning building running to and fro
and every little while falling into the seething
abyss of flame behind them. The doors on the
ground floor were battered down by long beams
by those Oh the outside but no answering rush
met their efforts. The inmates were either
craZed by fear and had not presence of mind
enough to escape, or they had become over
powered by smoke and flame in such numbers
that all work of rescue was mOckery
Time after time men with wet clothes around
their faces would dash up to the doors of the red
hot cage. only to fall back with singed hair and
blistered skin. The awful scenes around the
building were beyond all belief. The chatterng
shreking, laughing maniacs fought and strug
gled at the windows with APPALLING ferOcity
Some cursed and swOre at those belOw,::whom
they believed to be their captorS. Others prayed
and from time to time could be heard hoarsely
shouting religious songs from the few who had
gone crazy on Biblical matters. The idiots jab-
Der was ended in a yell of mortal torture and
over everything was the terrible feeling that
nothing could be done.
Two of the female patients climbed out on the
roof of the building. They were urged to Jump
by the spectators. Shrieking, they Rugged each
other in their arms. Finally, just as the flames
approached that portion of the building, one
gave the other shove, throwing her backwards
into the flames. With a demOniacal laugh the
other sprang to the ground and, though badly
burned, was quickly captured by Supt. DriscOll.'
The news of this sad occurrence has created
much Indignation all over the country, as it
shows neglect of duty on the part of those who
are entrusted with the supervision of the poor
and feeble minded. This affair, following as it
does the one near Montreal, Can. and ST. Louis.
Mo-, will no doubt awaken the public mind to a
sense of their duty in the treatment and proper
care of persons of unSOund mind. Surely the
problem is one which calls for the best efforts of
humantarians in its solution, and the hearty CO.
operation of the general public, financially and
otherwise. The New Hampshire Senate adopted
a resolution yesterday ordering the board of
health to make thorough investigation as to
the cause of this disaster, and the people of the
country will anxiously await their report or
PODeT