The Red Cloud chief., 1902-10-03
FIRE AT ASYLUM
Lincoln Institution Placed in
Danger by Incendiary
MAIN STABLE DESTROYED


An lncendiary set fire to the main
stable or the state insane asylum at
Lincoln between the hours of 3 and
4 O'Clock Wednesday morning.
The building was completely Quilted
four state horses, three state calves and
a quantity Of private property burned,
estimated loss to the state, $4,000. No
insurance.
rms Is the sixth attempt to fire
a state institution in nineteen months
Three OF the efforts were successful.
February Is, 1901, the state peniten-
tlary was set atire and damaged to the
extent of $4,000.
September rs, 1901. the state insane
asylum at Norfolk was set aire and
$l5O,OOO damages sustained.
Loss to the state in nineteen months
by fires of ~incendiary origin, $4,000
an average loss of Sl6.3lj per month
during that time.
With utter disregard for property
loss. animal suffering and possible sac
rifice OF human life. some fiend We'd
nesday morning. between the hours of
3 and 4 o'clock, set fire to the main
stable at the state insane asylum south
west of the city.
Nothing but a shell of the building
a brick structure-remains standing.
three state horses. one state colt, three
state calves. n driving horse of Super
intendent Greene, the driving horse
and phaeton Of Assistant Superintend-
ent Hay, the horse and buggy Of Jonas
Holm. the coachman. two single bug
gies Of the state, the big carryall, 1,5OO
bushels of wheat and 1900 bushels of
oats were burned.
Superintendent Greene estimates the
loss to the state at 10000 without a
cent of insurance. No known clue to
the identity of the perpetrator of the
deed Is known to exist, although there
is no doubt as to the structure having
been set on fire.
Ex-Representative T.. J. Shellhorn of
University Place. night-watchman,
makes the rounds of all the buildings
except the main one, every hour. He
was at the barn between 2:i5 and 3
o'clock and all was well. Three-quar-
ters of an hour later he was attraced
thither by the fire and smoke pouring
out. He at once gave the alarm and
in a very few minutes between twenty
and thirty of the state empoyes were
working under direction of DR.. Greene.
The blaze had been started in the
haymOw at the north end of the build
ing. There was about half a ton of
timothy in the NOW, scattered along
the floor the full length of the build
ing. and therefore it took but a few
minutes for the fire to gain consider
able Roadway. 1t was absolutely be-
yond control when discovered.
Twelve of the work horses in the
basement were led out. Two colts. one
year and a half old, on the first floor,
were also saved.
On the second floor were the private
driving horses OF the superintendent,
DR.. Hay n the ~coachman, together
with a couple of state colts. DR..
Greene thought to save his pet mare,
a handsome bay with stainless pedi-
gree.
He rushed into a stall and dragged
forth. not his pet mare, but one of the
state colts. He hurried back to the
other stall, adjoining the one in the
corner on the west, and there found an
other state colt. This too he started
for the door. The flames by this time
were reaching down and licking at the
animal greedily. 1t was frightened and
refused to bulge. The doctor put one
shoulder to it and with a mighty
shove, sent him by main force out onto
the earth to safety.
Then he looked for his own pet ami
NAL; saw her shrinking timidly in her
stall to the north, the flames already
nipping her tanks, while she tugged at
the halter that held her to the I'M
The doctor started to her rescue, but
was driven back by the fury of the
flames, with hair and whiskers scorched
and lungs filled with smoke.
II was not long after the first alarm
that every inmate of the asylum was
aroused, so that IL the flames should
spread to the buildings, they could get
away safely. They became somewhat
excited. but were quieted by the attend
ant.