The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-01-05
INSANE
ASYLUM
BURNED
Over 500 Female Patients
Forced TO Flee for Life During
Fire at Taunton.

Taunton, Mass, Jan. 5.--with a fierce
nre burning above their heads and
threatening TO destroy the building IN
which they were lodged. over 500 fe-
male patients at the Taunton Insane hos
pitaI were marched from the blazing
womans wing TO a place OF safety at
midnight last night. The THERMOMETERS
at the time stood at 10 below zero. The
transfer OF the patients TO the mems
ward was accomplished without any loss
OF life, injury TO a single person or un-
due excitement. So excellent WAS the
discipline at the institution that the
sleeping patients when aroused by the
nurses and attendants followed them un-
hesitatingly.
The fire broke out in the linen room
on the top floor OF the womans wing
shortly before midnight. Although the
whole building was OF freproof con-
struction, the flames caused a heavy loss
by spreading throughout the top floor
and menscing destruction OF the wing.
As soon as the fire broke out DIR. John
+. Brown. superintendent OF the hospital.
marshalled his nurses and attendants.
and the work of transferring the patients
was begun Some OF the women were
hysterical and excited, but all followed
the attendants biindly through the smoke
filled corridors, across the central por-
tion OF the building and into the mems
wing.
Among the patients transferred was
Jane Toppan. who was suspected of muir
der by poisoning and was adtudged in
sane and committed TO the hospital for
life
The normal capacity Of the hospital is
COO inmates but at the present time Ssz
patients are registered there. OF this
number over 500 were I'm the women's
wards. and so crowded was this portion
OF the building that many OF the patients
were obliged TO sleep on mattresses
which had been laid on the floors of
the wards and corridors.
LABORATORY DESTROYED.
1t is believed that the iamage TO the
building will exceed $4,000.
The fire was discovered by Miss NC
Clellan. the night supervisor, who smelled
smolc az she was making her tour OF in
spection through the corridors. she sum
moned Dr. Abbott who was in charge
OF the womens wards, and together they
loclted the fire in the linen room adJoin-
ing the bath room on the top floor. DIR.
Abbott and Miss Mcclellan tried 10 ex-
tingush the FIRE with blankets. but being
unable TO do So. notified tho officials.
Although over 500 patients were I'm the
womens wing only about 40 were In
wards T. and g. the wards which were
burned out.
There were a number OF bedroom pa
tierts i'm the burning wing and all had
10 be carried to tho infrm&ry. All the
nurses and attends nts exhibited wonder
ful self-possession and inspired the pa
tients hy their example OF coolness
The glare OF the fire lighted up the sky
for miles around. In the mems wing
almost every flicker OF flame was seen.
but mono 'f the inmates became violently
excited. The superintendent, DR. Brown.
1
called. "Out OF bed. boys" The patients
obeyed it instantly. and In a few minutes
the two wards were entirely cleared The
90 women who We're transferred from
the female wing were uuartered I'm these
two wards for the night. although some
went 10 the infrmary.
One or the most disastrous results OF
the ire was the a, structior OF the path
illogical laboratory. the autopsy room and
the library OF Or. Miller, the hospital
patholocist.