A TERRIBLE FIRE.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 812, 29 January 1903, Page 2

A TERRIBLE FIRE.

FIFTY LIVES LOST. By Telegraph—Presß Association —Copyright London, Jan. 27. Tho fire at Colney Hatch Asylum started at 5.30 in tho morning iu au annexo containing 200 womon, who were still abed.

A high wind was blowing. The annexo was quickly a mass of flamos. The wutor pipe leading to an artesian well was under repairs, and tho water supply was scarce, Many fire brigades were in attendance. The asylum officials and attendants mado heroic efforts to savo tho patients, but experienced difficulty in getting the affrighted people to understand their peril. Many resisted attempts to rescue them. Numbers were overpowered in tho corridors. Two nurses perished. The latest report gives tho number of doaths at 50. GALLANT EFFORTS AT RESCUE. FRENZIED PATIENTS FIGHT THEIR RESCUERS.

SEVERAL NURSES INJURED.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Received 11.31 p.ni., Jau. 28. London, Jan. 28. Three hundred and thirty pauper cripples, a hundred of them quite bedridden, occupied a wooden annexe of the Colnoy Hatch Asylum, containing five wards, connected with tho main building by a corridor, which tho firemen demolished, thus confining the conliugrution to the annexo.

A nurso fiist discovered tho fire in the storeroom.

Tho flames spread with the greatest rapidity, despite the efforts of the asylum firemen, who woro soon aidod by 35 Lon- I don engines and 200 firemen.

Tho nursos and attendants of the whoio asylum made gallant efforts, and euccooded in rescuing 280 inmates, Dr Seward, tho medical superintendent, personally saving scores.

The worst occurred in ward No. 5, whoro suicidal patients wore housed, 35 out of 70 perishing. Sixteon perished in ward No. 4. Some patients woro quite calm, and others gleoful. Some patients were frenzied, and fought their rescuers, hiding under bods. One bit a uurso’s finger off. No nurses wero killed, though soveral wero injured.