Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-26
SET THE ASYLUM ON FIRE.
An Incendiary I,mate OF the Mat
teawan Insane Hospital.

Fire started in the State Hospital for
the Criminal Insane, at Matteawan, N.
Y. in three or four places at 40 O'Clock
Friday afternoon. 1t started under the
dining-room and in the third hall north.
IL also started in the theatre. where
an entertainment WAS to have been
given to the inmates Friday night.
These were the principal places OF ORR
gin.
A pile OF combustible matter was found
in each place, showing that the attempt
was a deliberate one A straw bed had
been dragged under the dining-room and
set on fire. The floor, which was Of
Georgia pine. burned furiously.
When Superintendent Allison was noti-
fed he ordered the fire apparatus OF the
hospital TO be set at work. An alarm
was also given In Matteawan and at
Fishkill Landing, and the fire companies
responded promptly.
After two hours hard work the fire.
men subdued the flames, but one COM
pany remained at the scene all night.
Superintendent Allison says but for the
engine companies the buildings would
have been destroyed.
There was MUCH excitement among the
$40 inmates when the alarm was given.
The men were at once sent to their rooms
without waiting for supper. They all
went quietly, causing no trouble. Ar
rangements were made 10 remove the
women under guard TO a place OF safety.
but it was not necessary. No per-
son had to leave the building, and nobody
was hurt.
1t is believed the fire was started
by C. s. Mitchell, an inmate, who has
been there four years, having been sent
from Auburn. He Is 60 years old, and
has a mania for .ncendiarism. He has
been working lately around the kitchen.
He was searched. and matches were
found In his pocket There was also
found on him skeleton key, which he
had made.
The electric-llghts were not turned on,
the Superintendent fearing that IL they
were the inmates would become more
frightened and violent. The place was
in total darkness, excepS in the north
east corner. where the fire was raging.
and where the attendants carried lam
terms to aid the fremen i'm their
work. Little damage was done to the
theatre.
The Inmates attended a reception In
the theatre Thursday night Among those
who witnessed the dancing was Mrs.
Lizzie Halliday, the Sullivan county mur-
deress. There was to have been an en-
tertainment by the inmates Friday
night. IN which Michael Sliney, OF Brook
lyn. and owen Geoghan. OF the New
York life-convicts. were TO be star per-
formers.
This was the first fire that ever occurred
in the asylum.
One OF the flremen who worked hard
est to put out the flames was John Il.
Schlosser. the president Of the State Fire.
mems Association. OF Fishkill Landing.
LOSS NOT OVER 5000.
POUGHKEEPSIE. N. Y. January g.
The total damage done by the fire at
the Matteawan State Hospital for the
Criminal Insane last night win not ex-
ceed $l.000.
Charles f. Mitchell. the lunatic who
started the five fires. has made no state
ment, and DIR. Allison said this morn
ing that he might not talk at all. II
depends upon his mood. II was de-
Customary act. bat he Will be cared for
In the future. so that his deluslons win
not threaten the safety Of the institu-
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