The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-05
INSANE ASYLUM FIRE
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS HOSPITAL AT
ANNA PARTLY DESTROYED.
All of the Six Hundred Inmates Res
cucd-OhiO Home for ImbcciIes
Near Columbus Burned.

ANNA ILL.,, JAM THE center building
and south wing of the Southern Illinos Hos
pital for the Insane were destroyed by fire
early this morning. The building contained
nearly six hundred patients, all of
whom escaped. None of the attendants
or patients had time to secure their cloth
ing and the snow and cold caused great
suffering while the patients were being
transferred to other quarters. Desperate
attemps al escape were made during the
progress of the fire and it was with great
difficulty that the poor creatures were con-
fined to their quarters. They were crowded
into a new building already nearly full.
The patients will be taken care of in the
best possible manner under the circum-
stances. The loss will exceed $500 600.
Terrible confusion prevailed during the
mre ana ~ IS marve a .hat many 4 ~ aS
O'Clock last night and was not under control
till near daylight The flames were. first
discovered near the roof of the main build
ing and cannot be accounted for. The asy-
um has its cwn water works, but for some
reason the system was ineffective In fight
ing the fire. The plugs seemed to have
frozen. special train ION the Illinois Cen
trail with three engines and crews arrived
from Carlo at q. m. and did good work
seven kittens saved by a Poodle.
NEW YORK, Jan. 4.TThere was an un-
usual incident at the Pitt-street tenement
house fire yesterday, AS the firemen burst
into one of the smolSe-begrimed rooms burst
extingushing the fire, Acting Chief O'Hearn
found a small poodle dog that had been
deserted by his mistress in the wild rush
for life His once white coat was begrimed
with SCOT and his little eyes watery with
the acrid vapor, but he appeared to be at
tending strictly to business He car
rying something in his mouth from the
hotter rooms in the rear TO the front. One
OF the fremen caught him and took from
ing small kittens had been left in
the kitchen, which was nearer the burning
stairway than the other, rooms and the
poodle with more than usual dog sense, had
carried every kitten to the front rooms.
The owner of the dog screamed with delight
when the wise brute was returned to her
dirty, but unframed.
Wing of an Ohio Asylum Burned.
COLUMBUS, o., Jan. 1.-THE south wing
Of the main building at the State Asylum
for Imbeces caught fire this evening and
was destroyed The inmates and children
We're al at supper at the time in another
norton. of the structure and none was in
jured. The city fire department responded,
but as it had a distance of three miles to
go the wing OF the building was almost
consumed 10y the time it arrived. The de-
partment, however. prevented the fire
spreading to other sections of the building.
No estimate of the loss has been given,
but immediate steps will be taken to re-
build. Governor Mckinley and State Audi
tor Poe drove out to inspect the loss. and.
soon have the repairs under way.
The loss viii be about $4,000. The origin
IS not known, though it is supposed to have
beer the work of a careless inmate.