San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-19
B BODIES ARE
RECOVERED
ASYLUM FIRE
\ Remaining, Covered
With Ice, Probably
Cremated.
UNDER WAY
Eniacs Behave Calmly
/ When Flames En-
\ gulf Them.
'QUIRIES UNDER WAY
BY the Associated Press.

were under way today in the
|edy on Wards Island, little
ing rock in the swirling waters of
|,Hsu. Gate, where yesterday fire
|pt a ward of the Manhattan state
|lital for the insane. killing %
ents and three male attendants.
fneteen bodies had been recovered
Re dusk and removed to the city
Egue, but six more remained in the
covered ruins. These, it was
led, had been cremated, and Super
|hdent Marcus B. Heyman express
|foubt whether more than charred
rs ever would be recovered.
he blaze was believed to have been
led by a terrific blast in Hell
n. which broke the insulation on
Uric wiring, causing short cir
Curious Hush Prevails.
H curious hush pervaded the island
ing the night. The bedlam of cries
\ rawlings which ordinarily might
h been expected was entirely lack
Il The whole population of the
rs asylum presented a phlegmatic
\ after the day of sorrow, day
which the insane acted most sane
he one unit Of the 20 on the island
was attacked by flames housed
most violently insane-men of
fcidal tendencies who, at any
hent, might have leaped at the
iats of their rescuers. But leap
H did not. Not n single attack
q an attendant was reported.
IN investigation concluded last
IL by city detectives resulted in
fport to Detective Captain Carey
the fire in all probability had
4 caused by short circuit caused
fhe Hell Gate blasting.
funeral barge moved down the
II River shortly before midnight
lying to Bellevue morgue the nine
Il bodies that had been recovered.
Rnly five cases was Identification
fible,
World War Veterans Perish.
everal world war veterans perish
N the flames.
h fire many times as disastrous as
terdays may at any moment break
ION Wards Island, Superintendent
Trah said. The island has 70
rate structures, of which so are
to house patients. Of the entire
Der but two are fireproof, &C.
ling to Dr. Heyman, who asserts
he has vainly implored the leg
lure for additional funds with
En- to protect his charges from fire,
yesterdays blaze destroyed but A
OF the great building, which,
crowded as it is, sometimes shell
200. The building is so years
[he islands fire fighting force is
Fly inadequate, according to DR..
man. 1t has enough apparatus
a town of 5000 but tho trained
onnel is lacking.
ne island has among it's irhabi-
many recognized pyromaniacs
he peril in which inmates of the
|hd live has been brought TO the
|ntIon OF public officials in the
70 years by six other fires.
maniac whom the doctors prefer
ID be known simply as iJobn
was an outstanding hero of the
Deserter From Two Armies.
PIN Doe had always wanted n
pc role. Twice opportunity had
|ented itself, but he had weakened
was when he was sane.
is third chance came after his
II had snapped. This time be
|e good.
phn Doe is a man of giant build
eemed as If that huge frame must
4 the heart of lion.
hen the United States entered the
Eld War, John Doe got his first
Ice. He enlisted under the colors
Jncle Sam and went to the front
the plaudits of the home folks
Eng in his ears.
but in the trenches il was differ
The roar of shells, the pItter of
|hine gun bullets, took the heart
|0f him. He deserted.
ks-sthe fierce desire to be a hero,
Become a killer of men, returned,
be Joined the armies of the kaiser.
(sain under the shell fire his cour-
Ioozed. Once more he deserted,
Fhe war ended. John Doe returned
merica. Then reason fled.
finally John Doe landed in a ward
be state hospital for the insane.
omicidal mania. the doctors said.
dangerous man--the most danger
on the island" said the attend.
/. A specially sharp watch was
on John Doe, who evinced the
to kill.
lnday. with the flames cracking
Ind him, dense smoke binding his
John Doe was seen leading the
ker to safety.
This way. men; fire escape here"
laid qnietly. He was the calmest
in that hall of death.