The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-25
STARTED FIRES.
DiaboIical Doings Of an Inmate OF
Matteawan Insane Asylum.
PLANS CAREFULLY ARRANGED.
Mind Bent on Taking Human
Lives by Fire

PoUGHKEEPsIK, NY, Jan. Csc. 8. Nit
chell. a patient at Matteawan hospital for
the state insane, set fire TO that institution
In i've different places at 4 o'clock yester-
day Afternoon, and for a few hours the
buildings were threatened with destruo-
ton. Fire was at first discovered In the
cellar under the kitchen, which Is some
distance from where the patients are con-
fined.
No sooner were the efforts made TO ex-
tinguish tho flames h IL was discovered
that the north wing was also ablaze,
directly under where over 100 patients
were located. Smoke was fast filing the
buildings, and the patients were terror.
stricken, especially tho women.
The ~pyromaniac had made the most
careful preparations for the destruction Of
the buildings, as small piles of shavings
were found so systematically distributed
as to nave cnvclopcd the whole north
wing in flames, had n half-houris time
been lost after the first discovery OF the
blaze.
Meanwhile several scattering blazes
were discovered In various sections OF the
asylum. and soon the fires were beyond
the hospital attendants, even with their
excellent facilities in an emergency OF
that kind, and help was ummoned from
E1shkill Landing, about two miles dis
tant. The Beacon and Tompkins hose
companies arrived In a short time, and 1t
took the combined forces OF tho hospital
attaches and the others until o'clock
last evening 70 set the fire past the danger
point.
The men patients, n dozen or lore Of
xDhAs I'D 49,.
worked heroically, and IL was due In some
Instances TO their exertions that the ter
ror-stricken patients were assisted to a
phase Of safety.
DIR. Allison, tho superintendent, says
the men patients throughout the building
acted in a manner so cool and so courage
Gus as 90 antonish the doctors, who at first
feared n panic among the insane, with all
Of Its terrible consequences.
The building under which Mitchell
started the first blaze, end nearby which
he was captured soon afterward, in "A high
state Of excitement, was not damaged To
any great extent. 1t is a fireproof build
ing, and had the ~incendiary been satisfied
with starting a blaze in this place, the
patients in the wards would have known
nothing of the matter.
RIO wen IIanneus
But Immediately after having performed
this piece OF work he started of on tho
rounds of the northern wing, which 10
had encircled with infianmable material,
and applied the match as he went. 1t was
having 20 combat conliagrations that
seemed To spring up in every direction
hat caused the hospital SO much anxiety
and alarm.
Mitchell was sentenced from Oneida
county, IL years ago, for life imprison.
ment. His crime was burglary in tho
first degree, and q reputation for starting
fires which made him a terror. About
six years ago he started n fire in Auburn
prison, and shortly aftorward was de-
clared insane and committed to the
asylum. His mania had developed to such
an extent just before his imprisonment
that he believed his mission on earth was
to see TO IL that all men were burned. lie
was classed as a most dangerous pyro-
maniac when admitted to the hospital.
Soon after his admission, however, he
improved greatly, and for the past five
years has been going out with the work
ing gangs at the asylum. The hospital
officials believe that Mitchell has been
planning the destruction of the asylum
for several months past. He was caught
a short distance from one OF the fires
which he had just started, being at that
time in a frenzy, and was placed under
strict guard.
After tho outbreak, and when IL was
found that the total destruction OF the
asylum was threatened, attendants were
placed on duty In all of the departments
ready 60 remove the patients. Particular
attention vas paid 10 the female inmates,
who We're greatly excited, and who pleaded
with the keepers TO save them from the
flames. No one was injured, and most OF
the patients have overcome their fears.
DIR. Allison estimated the loss at about
$1,000. Mitchell. who since his capture
has been thoroughly searched and placed
In a cell, has been employed for the past
few weeks In the culinary department Of
the asylum, and was thus afforded an OPP
portunity 10 prepare for what he consid
cred his CHE great dirty IN life.
Hay State Legislature.