Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-10
FIRE HORRORS.
Continued from page ID

in the alley to alarm the inmates of the
building. Several hurried TO do this
but by tho time they reached the first
floor OF the building the flames had
been carried to the roof.
AS the cry of fire rang through the
building patients sprang from their
beds ana before they could be prevented
several had jumped from the windows
TO the pavement.
The ire department was on the scene
within a few minutes ana as the win
dows were filled with people shrieking
for help, the firemen devoted their first
efforts to save lives. While this was
the means of saving a large numper
Of people who were carried down the
ladders by the firemen. it gave the fire
such a Roadway that there was almost
| no chance for those on the upper floors
| to make their escape, and such of them
as were not suffOcated We're killed or
| badly injured by leaping from the win
doWs.
Alderman Kent was in room on the
| fifth floor with his attendant, w. A.
Waltles The alderman, who has been
| totally blind for many years, was in a
straight jacket and his hands We're
| manacled to a belt that passed around
| his waist
When the alarm of fire was sounded
| Wattles ran to investigate. He found
| the elevator shaft a mass of flames and
| ran back to help the alderman, who
was shouting like an insane person.
| He had CROPPED his way to the door and
| by the time his attendant had reached
| him, had fallen. overcome with smoke.
/ Wattles tried to drag him down the
| hall to place of safety, but Kent had
| become so crazed that it was almost
| impossible to do anything with him.
| Wattles was finally compelled to run
| for his life as the flames were already
scorching his clothing.
| He ran to window, across which
were iron bars. managed to tear two of
| these from their fastenings, and two
| other men who had followed him,
| climbed out on the sill. They were
seen by the firemen and the three men
were taken down. Wattles became
| crazed with excitement and sprang for
net which some men We're holding on
| the sidewalk and sustained injuries
which probably will cause his death.
Kent evidently died of suffocation.
| Three hours after the outbreak of the
| fire his body was found. one leg burned
| to Il crisp, and the head burned off.
Five persons received burns and in
| iuries that are likely to cause death,
while at least 10 others received minor
| injuries.
A scene that wrought to the pitch Of
madness the great crowd that had
gathered around the building was en-
Iuc cd .at n CT iTd
this window was a heavy wire screen,
and on the outside of the screen were
iron bars. Behind them were gather
ed Il crowd of men, numbering be-
tween % and 80. Escape in other di
rcctions was impossible and the one
chance for life for that crowd of men
lay through that window. So ficrcels
lid the prisoners pull at the screen
that tiny streams of blood trickled
from their fingers and hands and flow
ed over the window sill. A number Of
the men at the window were in straight
jackets and manacles and were the
widest of all in the frantic efforts to
| break the bars.
After almost being overtaken by the
flames and frantically pulling at the
screen and bars, one man made his es-
cape to a roof ana assisted others to a
place of safety.
Several were unable to get out of the
window, and persisted after being over
come ~ smoke.
Thrilling scenes of rescue were en-
acted in front of the building and i'll
the alley at the rear. The firemen
dragged out a score of men and women
who had been slightly overcome by
smoke.
About half a dozen sprang from win
dow5 on the fourth and third floors and
We're caught in nets without serious in
jury.
After the fire was over the police ar
rested William J. Lanaham, the engi-
neer. Lee Seymour. the fireman of the
building, ana j. p. Nagel, the inventor
of gasoline plant in use in the base
ment Of the institution. There are no
direct charges against the men, but
the police have the idea that the fire
may have originated from the misman-
cement of the gasoline plant and took
the men into custody
OF those who met death during the
fire. nearly all were overcome by
smoke and burned.
The burned building was Of brick
and valued at $4,000. It was insured
for half that amount.
The st. Lulxes Society. which has no
connection affiliation with st. Luke's
hospital is an institution for the curing
of persons addicted to the use of opium,
cocaine. tobacco or alcohol to excess.
June 10.-1 A. Mater midnight the
officials Of the institution gave out
list Of missing, which numbers Z. 1t is
not known that they are dead, but the
police have not been able to locate them
and it is known that they were in the
building when the fire broke out.
The names of nearly 40 persons suf-
fering from serious injuries have al
ready been learned.
The police also placed under arrest