New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-10
FORTY-FOUR LIVES LOST.
BURNING OF A COUNTY INSANE ASYLUM
ONLY FOUR sURyIvoRS-PRoMPT WORK OF THE
KEEPER OF THE AsYLUM-EFF0RTS TO
CHECK THE FLAMES TAMPERED
by A BLINDING SNOwsTOEM.

Dover. y. IT., Feb. o.-Thc County Insane Asy-
lum, four miles from here, was burned tonight
and forty-four lives were lost. When Watchman
William Chevey made his 10 o'clock trip into
the insane asylum ne found the fire coming out
Of the cell occupied by A. Lafamitain. woman,
and gave the alarm William Drscoll, tho
keeper. with his family. lived in the building.
and he at once broke the locks off the flfty-four
cells and tried 10 get the inmates out Then lie
oot ont his wife and two children. or the
forty-eieht inmates. only four escaped. Ihey
were William Twombly, Rose Sdndcrson. william
Davey and Frank Donshon. The latter walked
two miles in a binding snowstorm, with only
his shirt on. TO William IIornes house. where
he was taken care OF.
Scenes Of the widest excitement prevailed. The
inmates were utterly panic stricken by The signt
OF the fire. and in spite of all the efforts OF
the physicians. nurses and attendants. many OF
them became totally unmanagcablc. and danced
bowling and shrieking. about the flames.
Desperate efforts were made 10 save the nm
fortunates who were confined in 'h" burning
building. but 80 far a. many Of them were
concerned the efforts were unavaliing.
Those who we're burned were:
Robert D,onc. Salmon Falls, y. IT,. Mary Fohn-
tain. Great Falls: Frank Nutter, Ko"hcs'er ;
William Chcsley, Durham; Mrs. Roberts treat
Falls. and an cicht-year old child Lester Jones'
Pennington William Twombly. Barrinebn owen
Nalley. Great Falls Michael Casey. Dover: FRANK
Rowe Charles IAbhy, Great Falls; Frank rage
Rochester: William Files. Great Falls; Frank
Snrigoins Harry Kimball. Julia Kcil, Dover :
Mrs Mary LAWN, salmon Falls; Mrs. Mary
NcClintoci. Dover: Maggie White. Great ans
Ann Carr. Rollinsford; Mary Natter Koches-
,,r. Mary Maloncy, Dover. Lenia Ellis lioches,er
Mary Wilson, Lee; Maria Twindale, Milton Mhis'
Coro,ine RAFT. Dover Mrs. Ann Rothwell, Dover
Iiyyie Ellis. Great Falls; Catherine Haley, Dover
EI;yahetb Hickey, Comic; Mary Cogley Dover :
S.rob Sweet. Rochester, Sarah 1Iutchings, kate
Dufoo Diver: Sarah McClintOck, Great rails :
rorrv Slottery. Great Fails; Ann McDcrmott'
novor. Addie Otis, Great Falls, and six others
,,hoso names cannot be remembered by
,ho kooner whose books were burned IN the
buillng. .,...
Tho buildine was Of wood, 135x3G feet, TWO
s+or,es bich. with big yard on each side. IL was
built twenty years ago AMI cost Slo'ooo. on'
woman escaped TO the yard but was burhe' 10
death there The main building, In which were
over 90 Of the county poor, caught hrc' ou' was
saved nv the heroic efforts of the inmates VINO
carried nails of water and eXtinguishcd the flames
,Itbouch many were burned. The Dover fire de-
n,rtment was summoned, but, owing to the dis
tance the binding snowsorm and the icy roads,
!, took o. mi,,tcs for the department to get there
too late to be of service
The smoking ruins show the charred bodies
still lying on their beds. How the Dniidihe
caught fire is mystery.