The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-01-04
FIRE AND PANIC.
Scenes of Horror in the IL
linois Southern Hospital
for the Insane.
NO LIVES LOST, HOWEVER
A Building Worth s35O,oOo De-
stroyed = How Patients
We're Saved.

ANNA, H., Jan. 4, 1S95.-The centre
section and the south wing of the Illinois
Southern Hospital for the Insane, COM
prising over half OF the entire building
were destroyed by FIRE at an early hour
this morning. All the patients, to the
number of 800, were, it is thought, safely
removed to the other buildings.
Some difficulty was experienced in maxi
ing the transfer, but there was no great
panic. 1t is reported that female at
tendant Ida Anderson, has been burn
ed, as no trace Of her can be found.
The loss wall amount to S350,000.
The fire was discovered at l140 P. M.
on the roof of the centre section of the
MIN hospital building and the danger
bell was rung to alarm the guards and
arouse the inmates. The fire spread SO
rapidly that the hospital employees in
stantly realized that it could not be con-
trolled by the meagre fire apparatus with
which the institution was supplied, and
while some of the guards rushed through
the halls and corridors unlocking doors
and opening windows others ran to the
village and summoned the local fire de-
partment. The hospital contained nearly
1,e0o inmates and the section which was
destroyed was occupied by over two
the building were located about three
hundred women and children and the
North wing of the building was set
apart for the men and at no time was
this section in danger. As soon as the
guards gave the alarm, the insane women
began screaming and rushing to the
farther corners of their cells, threw
themselves in heap on the floor or cot
md IN i ho mi tpd
efforts of several employees to convey
them to places of safety. They We're
gotten out safely, however, and were
grouped in the snow covered ground.
For few minutes they shivered in the
bitter cold air until they could be march
ed or carried to other buildings. The
villagers rushed to the assistance of
the asylum people and rendered valuable
aid in rescuing the sick and refractory
inmates
Several times some of the patients
broke away from their guards and at
tempted to rush back into the burning
building. They were quickly caught,
however, and in cases where they were
violent they were bound to other patti
ents by straps and ropes. A gentleman
was sent to Cairo, Ills, asking for the
help of the fire department Of that place.
A special train was quickly made up and
,,e,,ss department reached here at three
o'cTocs isss morning. The lines of hose
were soon laid and four big streams of
water poured ON the burning building.
The flames were quickly gotten under
control and the fire asas confined to the
centre section of the south wing build
ing. In this department were located
the quarters of the physicians and
other employees. In many cases the Of
ficials lost all their instruments and
personal effects. A close estimate of the
damage to the building places the loss
at s275, ,000 and it is believed this is fully
covered by insurance.
One of the female attendants, Miss
Ida Anderson, is reported missing and it
is feared she perished in the upper
dormitory. 1t is possible, however, that
she may be located at one of the houses
of the village, where many of the at
tendants We're carried on account of
being injured by burning clothing or
suffering from exposure on account of
the frightfulfy cold weather,