The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1903-01-31
LONDON HOLOCAUST
FIFTY INSANE WOMEN BURNED
TO DEATH-KEYS COULD NOT :
BE FOUND.

/ Marconi Flahses Compared to Gun
Fire-Mrs McKinley's Devo-
/ tion-Gold Mine two Miles
From Grants Pass
Other News.
| London, JAM. 27.-Half hun
dred insane patients were burned
to death by a fire at the Colney
Hatch Asylum this morning. The
outbreak occurred in the Jewish
wing Of the institution. The flames
/ spread with great rapidity and be.
fore they could be got under con-
troll five wooden buildings were gut
ted.
J All the efforts of the officials were
directed to removing the insane in
mates, but the latter became wild
| with excitement andso panic. strick-
en- that not only were they unable
to help themselves, but greatly inn
peded the operations of those trying
to save them.
There were nearly 600 women in
the burning annex at the time the
fire was discovered and most of
them were safely transferred to the
main building, which was unipiur-
ed. Some, however, escaped and
are still at large, rendering it diff
cult to obtain the exact number of
thoss burned to death.
The work of searching the ruins
continues. The officials admit that
about so bodies have been recovered,
but it is feared that the full extent
of,the disaster is not yet known.
All the victims were Iunatics. Their
charred remains presented a horri-
spectacle. The asylum was be-
seiged by anxious relatives and
friends Of the patients who arrived
from all quarters. Pitiable scenes
were witnessed as weeping men and
women left the premises after as.
certaining that relatives and friends
had perished in the flames.
The nurses had a terrible expert.
ence in trying to assist the insane
people who we're SO panic-stricken
that they had literally to be driven
to a place of safety.
The inhammable premises al
most Immediately became furn-I
ace. Nothing was left standing.
The corrugated iron roofs of the
dormitories and the bedeteads of
the patients were melted by the In
tense heat. Some Of the lunatics
were burned in their beds and the
charred remains Of others were
found huddled together in corners,
while groups Of partially consumed
bodies on the site of the corridors
showed that many persons lost their
lives and sacrificed those of others
in their frantic efforts to force q
passage through the flames to the
main building.
s The latest estimate places the
number at deaths at 80. All the
victims we're women.
The circumstances accompany
ing the destruction Of the insane
asylum at Colney Hatch have ex-
cited much indignation against the
authorities tits alleged that, in
addition. to the lack Of sufficient
water supply and of adequate fire
department, the complex system of
locks, requiring master keys, which
could not be found when wanted,
was responsible for the terrible
scenes enacted.
Wellaeet, Mass, Jan. 22.-Signof
Marconi finished his experimental
work at the wireless telegraph sta
tion here early this forenoon and
left for New York on the afternoon
train. Almost the entire popula.
tion of South Wellfeet was at the
station to see the inventor.
For the first time today Marconi
consented to take the newspaper
correspondents into the operating
room and explain the process by
which the Hertzian waves are start
ed on their way through ether.
The room is about thirty feet
square. Near the door is raised
platform upon which the operator
stands while sending. The key is
IN shelf and on the wall there is
switch which turns on or shuts
'ff the power from the dynamo. i
First sendings by the wireless
method were done by means of a (
wooden lever which operated pump Z
,andIe fashion. The new key de-
vised by Marconi, while several
ines larger than the regulation
elegraph key, is like it in many re- k
poets. It is about 10 inches in s
sngth, made Of brass, has gutta-l