The Dolores star., 1924-01-04
FIFTY INSANE ESCAPE WHEN
ooRMIToRY FOR TUBERcU-
LARS is DESTROYED
SCORE MAY Be DEAD
WOMAN ATTENDANT PERlSHES
IN HEROIC ATTEMPT TO
RESCUE INMATES

Chlcago.-Seventeen patients of the
Chicago State Hospital for Insane ut
Dunning are known 10 have been
burned to death or suffocated in II
fire which destroyed II frame struc-
ture used as dormitOry for tubercu-
lar patients IA few days ago. At least
three others are believed to have per-
ished.
one of the bodies removed from the
ruins of the building was that of Il
woman. 1t was first thought that
all of the patients had been removed
About 600 patients were in the build
ing when the fire started. About fifty
of the patients left the hospital
grounds during the confusion. Many
of them returned and others were
picked up by passing motorists and re-
turned to the asylum which consisted
Of seven buildings housing $500 pa
tlentS
The woman who perished was iden-
tilted by II son as Mrs. Mary
Carrick, an attendant, whose hus-
band, Elijt Carrick, and Il second
son, Lowell, II years old, are
also missing and We're partly identi-
fled by the son as among the bodies
recovered.
The only patient whose body was
partly identified was Michael Lcdwich,
%, Of Chicago.
Attendants said that possibly n
score had persisted but believed that
the number would be less than that.
The fire is supposed to have been
caused by an Ovcrheutcd boiler in
ward No. ; of the frame annex where
the flames first burst through into the
rooms where the men patients were
at the supper table.
Many of those killed are believed
to have been suffocated by the first
burst of flame or We're partly over
come and dropped while the guards
We're hurrying the others into driz-
zling rain to safety.
The building housed those only mild
ly insane and included many who were
about to be discharged from the instl-
tuition. When the fire was first no.
ticed by an attendant, Il gong was
sounded and the Institutions own fire
apparatus responded.
The patients were hurriedly formed
into lines and marched from the build
ing with little confusion. some of the
patients volunteering their services in
assisting others.
The patients were seated at supper
in the large dormitory comprising one
section of the story and half struc-
ture when the fire gong sounded, the
alarm being transmitted to about "A
dozen frame and brick dwellings COM
posing the institution.
The patients We're hurried from the
burning building and ut first it was
thought that all had been rescued
from the structure, known among the
patients as the death house" because
some sections Of it had been utilized
to house incurableS.
Inmates marched from the burning
building were hcrded through the rain
to an amusement building where a
Christmas entertainment was to have
been given for them tonight. There
first aid was rendered the injured,
many Of whom had been bruised and
hurt in the hurry from the building
or the scurry through the rain
With the arrival of city fire fighters
and apparatus, the fire was finally
controlled after three wards constl-
tuting one-half Of the building had
been destroyed. Fircmen estimated
the loss at 100000. Hospital officials.
however, said they believed it would
be less than this.