The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-05
-Four Story Dormitory Burned to the
Ground.
RESULTS ALMOST MIRACULOUS
one Husdred and Fifty Of the Host Vioeut
Insane In the Institution Removed by
Guards and Nurses Amid Screams,
Curses snd Violent Resistance.
Nurses Knocked Dawn by
Violent Talents.
tstan Correspondence.}

tstaf Correspondence3
WILLIAMSBURG. VA. Jan. 4'-one
patient dead, one missing and damage 70
the tower building of the Eastern state
Hospital of something like $4,000 summed
the results of the terrible fire there TINS
morning.
The dead man is Henry Driscoll, son OF
well-to-do farmer in Prince kdWaro
county. He was not burned to death,
,ut was suffocated His body was found
,bout O'Clock this afternoon Inc
clothing was considerably burned, but the
flesh was only slightly scorchcd- Inc
pnly inmate who escaped and has not
been recaptured is j. B. Dunnavant, of
T,hesterfield county. His mother lives IN
Manchester. Dunnavant got away In the
midst of the excitement. and the ofncefs
could not spare q guard to follow him, as
ell were required TO look after about one
hundred and fifty others, who were res
rued from the burning building Dunna-
want is harmless It is thought he Will
tre 70 make his way. back to Manchester.
A GREAT SURPRISE.
Tb. finding of DriscoiIs body was a
great surprise. He was brought out OF
his room when the other patients were
being taken from the doomed build
ing. and in some way got back into his
quarters unobserved. His father was
telegraphed tonight and asked what dis,
position should be made OF e@resnains.
Iriscoll was 42 years of age and had been
here i've years.
That only one life was lost and but one
patient escaped, seems almost miraculous.
rrhe fire was discovered about $50 o'clock
this morning in the attic of the great
tower building, and it is thought origi-
mated from q defective electric wire.
Many of the patients on each OF three
floors had not gotten out OF their warm
beds.
GREAT EXCITEMENT.
The excitement was intense, but cool
headed officers and attendants soon had
every inmate dressed and ready to es-
cape. When those on the. third floor es-
capped by the front, the burning floor in
the rear fell in with a terrible crash.
There were violent curses among these
patients. Guards were frequently knock
4i'@-@ 44SN1
TO be handled roughly before they could
be gotten out.
When the inmates had been gotten out
into the yard they were hurried across
the lawn to the music hall, and there
kept under close guard. They did not
give very much trouble, but behaved very
nicely under the circumstances.
The female patients occupy wards IN
buildings over on the other side of the
lawn They did not show as much excite
nent as il was feared they would. Their
nurses remained closely with them. No
hing remains of the building but the
walls.
TO REBUID
Some of these may be built upon again,
BUT Superintendent Foster and the mem
bers OF the Board of Directors here do
not think so. AS soon as twas seen
that the fire would result SC disastrously,
DR.. Foster telegraphed Captain Terrence
McCracken. of Fredericksburg. the chair
man Of the board. He came down this
evening. and with him was Judge G. Tay-
lor Garnett. OF Mathews. member of
.he Executive Committee. These gentle
men and Mr. H. d. Cole of this city, a
member OF the committee. were with DIR.
Foster tonight.
II was decided TO call a meeting of the
board for next Wednesday to decide upon
plans for the future care of the inmates
who are rendered homeless. In the mean
time the females have been crowded to-
gether in their rooms, and some of the
males occupy wards vacated by them.
Others OF those driven out by the fire are
euartered in Cameron Hall
SUPPLIES SENT DOWN.
A special coach was attached to the
train from Richmond. which arrived here
about 6:so o'clock. containing cots and
other furnishings for the temporary quar-
ters.
It has been long time since old Will
Iiamsburg has had day Of such excite
nent
The shrin whistle several times sounded
told the people that this was not the
usual call for breakfast Clouds OF
smoke were pouring out of the windows
IN the attic and everybody. old and
young. white and black. male and fe-
snaIe. went to the scene of the conna
grafton.
The IRE department did good work Tha
water supply was adequate but 1t was
one OF those fast burning fires that even
the Richmond department could not have
sxtingrished.
LIKE RICHMOND FIRES
IT was like the fires at the Jefferson
Hotel Meyers store and the Habliston
building: it spread throughout the en-
tire structure within very short space
of time after il was discovered. Great.
red tongues Of flames poured out of win
flows and doors. and finally broke through
the roof and seemed almost to lick tho
fky.s II became SO warm that at last the
nre-fghters had TO stand back, and the
whole population OF the ancient capital
stood hv and saw this. the Oldest of the
buildings OF the oldest asvlurr for the In
sane in this country. crumbie into ashes.
Tt was coon all over. though tonight
the IRE is still burning down on the lower
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