ADDITIONAL MAIL NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2126, 16 December 1880, Page 3

ADDITIONAL MAIL NEWS.

We are indebted to the Dunedin “ Star ” for the following items BURNING OF A LUNATIC ASYLUM. A telegram from the Chicago “ Tribune’s ” St. Peter’s special, dated November 16th, says :—“ At half-past eight o’clock this evening it was announced that the Insane Asylum was on fire. Everybody was appalled _at the prospect of over 500 patients being turned out of doors on such a terrible night; still more at the disagreeable prospect of going more than a mile across a bleak prairie and facing a cutting wind. The sky in the direction of the Hospital was lighted up, and a dense volume of smoke rose over the scene and was carried across the river. The probabilities were that the whole structure, containing half a million dollars’ worth of property, would be destroyed. The acene of the conflagration was simply grand. The whole north wing of the structure was one sheet of flame. It was soon found that the fire was likely to prove serious. Dr. Bartlett, the superintendent, gave orders to have all the patiente released and cared for as well as possible, but before the fire was discovered one or two of the halls had become choked with smoke, and it was impossible to relieve all the patients. A number of them must have been burned alive. Some say fifty people perished. Tho fire originated in the north-west corner of the basement of the north wing. The origin of the fire is a mystery." A later telegram from 3t. Paul (Minn ) says : —“ Only one wing of the building was destroyed. The whole structure, which was ten j eare in course of erection, was only finished three years ago. It cost over half a million dollars. The reports as to the loss of life are indefinite and conflicting.” The following additional nows regarding the fire came to hand on tho 17th: —“ While the flames wore slowly progressing the matron of the female department made all haste to get the inmates out, and many of them ran ■shrieking in their nightclothes in the snow* drifts even burying themselves in the ■now. They had to be dragged into barns and sheds, where those near by wrapped them in blankets and shawls. Intense suffering could not, however, ho avoided, as they had to be taken about fifteen or twenty roods through the snow. Numbers are burned, and cannot be got at any way at the present time. Many are known to have wandered away in the intense excitement that prevailed. Several bodies have been taken out of some of the rooms and halls. Several persons were got out into the halls, but they would return to the flames. One room, occupied by two men, was broken into and one patient was dragged out, but the other was determined to return to'bis warm bed, and, when dragged out, insisted on waiting to be dressed. At some windows there were to be seen three or four men bagging to be saved from death, while the flames were bursting from the adjoining windows. One was dragged through a half open screen and was badly mangled. To get a complete list of the killed and hurt is not now among the possibilities. Dr. Bartlett, of the asylum, ■ays that there are not more than twelve lives lost, and probably as many more hurt and 1 ■offering from the bitter cold last night. Indeed, more people are believed to be hurt than dying from their burns. Other* say , that as many as twenty insane people either perished in the flameo or died of cold. 1 Even during the night so many patients disappeared that it cannot now be told who are dead and who ran away suffering, i Hundreds of the patients are as helpless as i children. The real damage to the hospital building will amount to 200,000d01. The central buildings and south wing are pre* 1 ■erred.’ A telegram dated the 17th to the “ Builetin,” from St. Peter’s, says the number of lives lost by the burning and freezing is - variously estimated from twenty to fifty. In the annexe wing for males many of the patients refused to leave the building. They went up and down the halls screaming and crying and acting like Bedlamites. They i were those who could not be coaxed nor forced out of the building, and they became the unhappy victims of tho flames. Others were i saved—some by laddera and some by leaping from the windows. Some were nearly nude; others shoeless and hatless ; and all wore exposed to the excessively cold night. Many poor demented and orazad inmates fled as if for their lives, and could not bo overtaken nor confined. Their sufferings in this frightful condition can be better imagined than described. The whole catastrophe is fearful to contemplate. It ia impossible to describe the scene. Inmates who escaped the flames were at large half clothed, and were to be seen in all directions flying in wild fright from those who attempted to save them. The air was bitterly cold, and the poor wretches with half-naked bodies and bleeding feet were flying about hiding in alleys and dark earners. The capital of the Panama Canal Company will be 300,000,000 fr., divided into 600,000 shares of 500 fr. each, 10,000 shores being reserved by statute for the original company, the concessions contributed by that company. M. Da Lesseps states that the contractors have sent in their estimates,. according to which the construction of the canal will not coat 500,000,000 fr. It is provided by a memo, signed on July 7th that a special American committee, sitting in Now York, shall represent the interests of the company in the United States. All that relates to tho observance of the neutrality of tho canal is settled by the law of concession of the Republic of Colombia. News of a very interesting character reaches the London society papers from Jersey concerning Mrs Langtrey. It is said that an event is expected to occur in her household shortly which will bring great joy to her thousands of admirers. Mrs Langtrey returned to Jersey some months since. The San Domingo Congress on November 6th passed a decree considering the proofs sufficient that the remains found in the cathedral on September 10th, 1877, are the remains of Christopher Columbus. A monument to enshrine them is to be erected at the Capitol. All American governments are solicited to contribute to the fund. The Government of San Domingo give 10,000dols. A Halifax telegram, dated November 12th, says : —Another accident is reported at Stellarton. Two hundred miners were imprisoned underground, eight more have been taken out in a dying state. The mine is on fire. The explosion was so terrible as to sweep across to the other side of the pit, killing all the men and horses within reach. Almost all the men on the north side will be saved, whilst all those at work on the south side have been lost. At least sixty are missing. Five men have been brought up and are likely to recover. Probably forty are shut up within the fallen cave in the south side. Ail who have come up are likely to live. A working party is down. There is not much hope for the safety of thirty or thirty-five men known to be in the mine. A telegram dated November 13tb, jaya ; “The pit has been flooded. No more bodies can be saved.”