DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AND LOSS OF LIFE AT THE LUNATIC ASYLUM, AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5147, 21 September 1877, Page 4

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AND LOSS OF LIFE AT THE LUNATIC ASYLUM, AUCKLAND.

Auckland, Thursday. Early this morning a’n extensive fire occurred at the Lunatic Asylum, which destroyed the whole of the left wing and the upper portions of the centre'of the main buildings. A female patient named Fortune was burned to death. The fire broke out in a shed at the back of the buildings, and communicated' to the upper part of the centre; then extended to the wing on the left side in approaching the main entrance. This section was occupied by the women and some of the worst patients.' There was very little water bn.’ Efforts were at once made to get out the patients, and with complete success, with the single exception mentioned. There was comparatively little confusion, the inmates behaving remarkably well considering the circumstances. Beyond a few cries, there may be said to have been no disturbance. The news was not known in town until half-past 5 o’clock, and some time elapsed before the locality could be discovered, many thinking it was in the town. The fire brigade at once started for the scene, the engine being drawn by four horses. On the arrival of the band engine it was fastened oh to the force-pump, and a flood of water thrown

on to the upstairs floor o£ the centre, with such, success as to prevent the fire from burning it through, ahd : thus preserving the right wing intact. Great excitement arose shortly after 6 o’clock upon , the discovery that a woman was still in the left wing. Owen Humphrey, of the fire brigade, broke in a window to get her out, but it was' found she had run to another window. After a few minutes’ intense. suspense, she .was rescued in 'safety. 1 Dr. Aicken employed himself actively in removing the! patients, and all the women were brought in to the hospital by 8 o’clock. The male inmates were located in the Immigration Barracks. A considerable amount of danger arose during the progress - of the -fire from the lead which ran off the roof, and from falling timbers. One of the inmates asserts that she set the asylum on fire because she was put to . sleep in the same compartment with a Maori woman. When the alarm was given by the nightwatchman, the Superintendent, Dr. Aicken, and Mrs. Longdill, the matron, at once opened all the dormitory doors, for the purpose' of rescuing the inmates. The fire was first discovered in the refractory cells, at the back of the building, which are built of wood. The cause of the outbreak was soon explained by one of the female patients named Mrs. Morrow confessing that she had set fire to a mattress, with the intention of burning down the place, the reason assigned by her being that she had been locked in the cell with a Maori woman. It was with much difficulty that all the dormitory doors could be opened, such was the bold the fire had got by that time, and some of the cells even had to be broken into from the back to rescue the inmates. The poor creatures were terror-stricken; many refused to quit the building and had to be dragged out by the warders. Thus 182 patients were safely got out. Of these 63 were females, who were taken out in their night-clothes and wrapped jn blankets. The scene on the lawn almost defied description. Many of the lunatics became refractory, and required much attention to prevent their effecting their escape or doing some mischief. The most unruly weie tied to the fence. The majority behaved quite rationally, many assisting greatly in the efforts to save their fellow inmates and to preserve order. Mrs. Fortune, who is believed to have been burned to death, was the wife of a baker at Napier, and the sister of the Rev. Father O’Reilly, of Coromandel. It is supposed that she and another patient, who was got out with great difficulty, had wandered hack into the building. The Asylum was insured by the Provincial Government for £IO,OOO (?) in the New Zealand Office, but the General Government had allowed the policy to lapse. The following telegrams were received by the Government ; —, ■ , : , ' :

“Auckland, September -JO, 9.10 a.m. “Beg to report destruction 1 of Lunatic Asylum by fire. The whole building, except the main entrance and doctor’s quarters, completely gutted. It is doubtful whether these will be saved, as the fire is still burning. As far as can be ascertained, no lives lost. 'Women have been taken to old hospital,' and men to Immigration Barracks. Police and keepers are exerting themselves to their utmost to keep them under control. Seine few patients have escaped, but the number cannot be ascertained yet. It is rumored that origin of fire was a female patient setting fire to a bed at three o’clock this morning. Will wire further particulars.” . “11.6 a.m. “The 1 charred body of an old woman has been found. Police have captured the escaped patients. None are now believed to be missing. The rumor appears to be correct that a female patient ignited the bed of-another. Government officers have requested the master of the Immigration Depot to provide necessary food until other arrangements are made.” FURTHER PARTICULARS. Three or four patients escaped during the fire. 'All were recaptured but two, whose whereabouts are known. There is no doubt now that .the charred remains found in the debris are those of Mrs. Fortune. The matron has expressed her opinion that the fire was caused by the wilful act of the unfortunate Mrs. Fortune. She states that yesterday some of the poor woman’s friends, came to see her, and on going away they told her (Mrs. Longdill) that Mrs. Fortune had taken some matches from the mantlepiece of the room and had secreted them on her person. They said they had tried to take them away, but could not find them. . The matron immediately went back* to the room where Mrs. Fortune was and asked her to give up the matches, but she would not, and then the matron searched her, but without finding any. It was evident that the matches had been, disturbed, for the box in which they were kept was open, and matches were strewed about the mantlepiece. The nurse searched Mrs. Fortune, hut could not find anything. The matron is still of opinion that Mrs. Fortune had the matches. She was one of the most cunning patients in the asylum, and it was very difficult to thwart her in any of her designs, which were often of a most mischievous character. The night watchman told the matron that when he burst into Mrs. Fortune’s cell she rushed out. She was seen outside the building some time after by Dr. Aicken and several others, but it is believed she must have got back into the cell and been burnt. Mrs. Morrow, one of the patients, came to the matron in the refectory after the fire and told her she had set fire to the building because they had put a big Maori in the same cell with her. She did not believe the woman’s statement. On being confronted by one of the reporters, Mrs. Morrow denied any knowledge of the origin of the fire, but two or three witnesses proved that she had made the statement referred to. The night nurse, who first observed the fire, says it began in Mrs. Fortune’s cell. Major Green telegraphed to the Government recommending the temporary removal of the patients to the quarantine station, the Immigration Barracks and the old - hospital being wholly unsuitable., The damage to the building is estimated at £SOOO. The main part of the building is injured, and also the greater part of the eastern wing, but only the front rooms of the second storey are injured severely. The back part of the addition to the original building is wholly untouched. In the centre portion of the asylum the second storey is completely gutted, but the floors have not fallen in, being fire-proof. A large portion of the brick wall, about 25ft. by 15ft., has fallen outwards. This is the only spot where the outside walls have given way. The root over the centre of the building has also fallen in, but only the front portion of the eastern wing roof has given way. The additions which were made to the building at the rear are all saved, with the exception of the lean-to, in which the fire originated. A number of the rooms were greatly flooded with water, but the damage by this means is very slight. "When the fire was discovered the furniture, bedding, he., were almost wholly removed from the buildings, but in the centre it was only, found possible to rescue a portion. Most of the furniture, he., in the eastern wing was also saved. On hearing that the lunatics were coming into the new hospital. Dr. Phalson ordered the instant removal of patients from the old into the new building, leaving the old one open for the lunatics. The removal was .expeditiously effected during the morning.