Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1895-07-31
FIRED BY LIGHTNING.
New Building of the Dane County
Asylum Burned to the
Ground.
INSANE INMATES ALL ESCAPE,
Supt Edwin Probably Fatally Injured
While Fighting the Flames
Newsy State Specials,

Madison, Wis, July 27.1[Special /
The new building at the Dane county in
sane asylum at Verona, completed about
a year ago, was burned to the ground
during the storm last night. Only the
walls are left standing. Fortunately
only a few patients were kept in this
portion of the asylum, and none of these
were injured. The only accident was
to Supt. Edwin, who was on the roof
lighting the fire when it went down, car
rying him with it. His arm was broken
and it is feared he was injured internal
ly. His condition today is reported criti-
cal: Most of the patients in the other
building were released in order to be
out CT danger, and four of these escaped.
The others assisted in fighting the fire.
The new building was about fifty feet
from the old structure which connected
the wards. The two parts were connect
ed by two Railways, and these were
chopped out and removed, so that the
flames We're prevented from reaching the
part where nearly all the patients were
confined. Between the two buildings
was d windmill, which was struck by
lightning and the fire is supposed to
have started from the bolt. Fortunate
~ the wind was blowing toward the I'M
occupied portion. Had it been the other
was terrible tragedy must have re-
suited as the fire occurred at midnight,
when all the patients were locked IN
their rooms
An alarm was sent to this city and an
engine and hose cart went to the scene
on special train, making the run OF
seven miles in eight minutes The build
ing was almost entirely consumed when
the fremen arrived and all they could do
was to extinguish the remains of the fire
and keep it from spreading. The build
ing cost the county about $4,000. No
insurance was carried so the loss is total
Spring Green, Wis, July 27.-LSpeclal.l
A heavy rain here last night insures an
average crop of corn and potatoes. 1t
was the heaviest rain for two years. The
wind blew down the barn of Orrin Lay
ton and the windmill of George Creasey.
Lightning struck the Chicago, Milwau-
kee 81 st. Paul bridge i'll three places,
but Jing little damage. A COW belong
ing to Frank Kritz was killed.
Emerald, Wis, July 27.-[Special.] i
A severe hail and rain storm accom-
panied by considerable wind passed just
north of this place yesterday afternoon,
only light portion of the storm strik
ing here, although hailstones fell as
large as marbles. The storm lasted about
fifteen minutes.
Prairie du Chen. Wis, July 27.-[Spe-
cial. THE drouth was broken in this sec
ton yesterday afternoon by a copious
rain. At Cassyille a Burlington railway
bridge was washed out and at Specht's
ferry the st. Paul track was washed out,
causing considerable delay to trains
Princeton, Wis, July 27.-[Special.1-
During. the thunder storm of yesterday
o. Buchholz, the assistant station agent.
was severely shocked while fixing the
ground wire of the telegraph instrument.
His hand was burned in several places
and his whole arm benumbed. He will
De Incapacltatad for work for some time