The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1911-08-31
ASYLUM FOR THE FEEeIE.mINp
60 CHILDREN AT WINFIELD
Is eURNEo.
LITTLE ONES ARE ALL SAVED
Hundreds Of Children Ths, Were In
Peril Rush to Safety Through spI-
raj Fire Eseapes-cenfiasra
tion Brings Spectators From
Miles Around-Eleetrie
Wire the Cause.

Winfield, Kan.-Fire starting from
electric lisht wiring broke out about
IL p. m. in the main building Of the
State School for Feeble Minded Chill
dren on the bluffs three miles north.
east Of the city and by midnight the
main building Of the inE-.:utiOl was
destroyed. Fortunately the fire broke
out Just before the officers and attend
ants OF the school had retired for the
night. immediately fire signals we're
given and the children we're marched
out, although most OF them did not
have time TO stop for their clothing,
and escaped only In their night
clothes. In the main building which
was destroyed were the offices Of the
Institution, together with a dining hall,
and dormitory for many OF the least
afflicted boys. With the children from
| the burning building. the inmates from
the other menaced buildings were also
/ marched out upon a wide lawn 10 the
south, where they we're rounded up to
gether and held in a veritable herd. As
the leaping flames from the three
story structure lighted up the entire
I hilltop, these hundreds Of children hud
ding together on the grass, with the
attendants marching around them, pre-
sented a strange spectacle.
The Institution depended upon It's
own fire protection. and was not as
sisted by the Winfield department. The
institution men fought vaiiantly &C
save the building, but as the wateI
supply began 10 diminish the fgiht was
directed to saving the adjoining build
ings. The building where the fire
started was completely destroyed. only
the walls remaining.
The institutional work will be Sc
verely hampered by the burning of the
office with the records, as no time
would be diverted to saving property
when all of the attendants we're busted
with the children.
There are said TO be close 10 one
thousand children in the institution
Two doctors and a score Of attendants
are in attendance under the direction
OF Or. Clark, superintendent
This state institution has been built
about thirty years. The site is pie
turescue one. high on the bluffs above
the city 10 the northeast.
At 1:25 a. m. il was reported from
Winfield that the fire Is partially un
der control and that there had been
no loss Of life. Only one OF the build
ings, the main hall, is destroyed
though low water pressure made the
fight to save the others extremely diff
ficult.
The fire started from electric wires
IN the third floor OF the main building
in the northeast corner. The children
we're hurried out OF all the buildings
in as rapid manner as possible. Sc
far rs known no injuries Of any conse
uuence have been suffered.
A scene OF the utmost confusion
reigned for a time on the hill south OIL
the institution where perhaps a thou
sand children Of all ages. both sexe:
and both black and white were herdec
together. ,lsny Of them in scanty az
tire. Or. Clark said none Of the chill
dren we're hurt.
The fire broke out Just as the nurses
and attendants were going to bed. and
harry call was sent to all the biuld
ings 10 hurry the children out with ut
most speed. The exodus was perform
ed in a comparatively orderly mannel
and with much dispatch, and the biz
dormitories were soon emptied by th'
spiral escapes.
The fire department OF the institu
ton fought the flames with water from
the local wells The supply was verl
low.
Dr. Clark stated that none OF th'
children were hurt and none were los
in the flames. About two hundreC
children. all boys. were in the mali
building. which was used as a dormi
tory