Year: 1863

consumed. The night was bitter cold,
and the wind was strong, but fortunately,
blew in direction favorable for saving
the buildings in the rear on the north
side. The engines were there as prompt
ly as the distance (half mile) would al
low, and did good service. The first thing
was to take the patients to place of safe
ty. They were removed as soon as pos :
sible to the building on the west side Of
the road, and to the centre Church in the
Village. A part of the furniture, stores,
clothing, bedding, &C., was removed from
the entire building, and every exertion
was made to stop the progress of the
flames. 1t was hoped at one time that
the centre might be saved, and strong ef-


forts were made to that effect but without
success. In consequence of the brick wall


and the iron doors leading from the Gen.


tire to the wing on the east, and by judi
ciously playing with the engines, the fire


was held at bay at the centre, and the


wings on the east, and by judiciously
playing with the engines, the fire was held


at bay at the centre, and the east wings


were saved with slight damage. 1t was a


difficult thing to convey the patients to


safe places, as mny of them are bereft of
reason, and were so much bereft of reason


and were SO much excited by the fire that


they were as likely to run to as from the


flames. Considering their number and


the circumstances of the case, we should


naturally expect that large number


would have perished in the flames, but it


has not been ascertained with certainty


that more than one perished. The loss of
property is great, but is covered by insu-


rance, we understand, to the amount of


something more than twenty eight thou


sand dollars. None of the property lost


was insured in this State, but in several


Insurance Companies in Massachusetts


and Connecticut.


Arrangements will very soon be made,


50 that the patients will again have COM


Portable quarters, and as soon as the


weather will permit we presume the build


ing destroyed will be rebuilt Several Of
the patients wandered away or ran away
during the fire, but most of them have
been recovered. Much credit is due to


the Fire Companies for their prompt and
efficient services and to our citizens gen.
orally who turned out on that inclement
night to save life and property.


: Many men and many women exposed
themselves that dreadful night to render
what assistance they could. We have
heard several persons speak Of the self


possession, cool, manner with which young
Rockwell, son of the Superintendent, gavt
information of the situation of things, anG
) instructions what should be done, ant


how his directions might be carried out


How the fire caught is not positively


known. 1t commenced in the basement
Q near one Of the furnaces, but whether
from some defect in the furnace or tn,
' chimney connected with it or some othe
: cause we are unable to say; but it is
s great calamity public and private, ant
4 Doctor Rockwell and his family and pa
t tients have the deep sympathy of man.
: friends in this sad misfortune. The peo
! pie of the Village freely sent supplies 0
f food to the patients until arrangement
i were made otherwise to furnish them, AM
$ on Sunday forenoon some of the churche
: in the Village omitted public religious ser
f vice for the performane Of pressing reli
: gious duty to the suffering.
d P.S. We learn since writing the abov
y that of the patients missing after the fir
s all but five have returned and two ofthos
n have been heard from; also that it is nc
n quite certain that even one perishcd i
y the Aames.-Phoenir.


o THE WAY THEY DO 1T.


c Col Tomnkins. who commanded {