FIRE AT AUCKLAND LUNATIC ASYLUM.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 437, 21 September 1877, Page 4

FIRE AT AUCKLAND LUNATIC ASYLUM.

~;(By'iI&tEGEAFH,-PER PRESS AGENCY.) ■ -— -— —♦— —: —. Auckland, September 20. An extensive <ire occurred at the Lunatic Asylum, "Whau, at five o'clock this morning, which destroyed all the left;wing and upper portion of the centre of the main building. A female patient namad Fortune was burned to death. The tire broke out in a shed in the back part of the centre, then extending to the wing on the left side in its approach to the main entrance. This section was occupied by a woman and some of the worst patients. There was very little water, or prompt measures might have very much circumscribed the destruction. Efforts were at once made to get out the patients with complete' success, with the single exception noted above. There was comparatively little confusion, the inmates behaving remarkably well, considering that, the circumstances were calculated to excite their imaginations, and beyond a few cries there may be said to have been no disturbance. The news was not known in town till half-past five o'clock, and some time elapsed before the ioc.iiicy could be discovered. The Fire Brigade, under Inspector Hughes, at once started for the scene, the engine being drawn by four horses. On arixvalj the iiand-eagme was fastened on the forct-pump, and a flood of water thrown on the up-stairs and floor of the centre of the buikung, ■with such success as to prevent the lire from burning it through, and thus preserving the right wing iniact. Great excitement arose shortly after six o'clock, upon discovering that a woman was still in the left wing. Mr. Owen Humphrey, of the Fire Brigade, broke in the window to get her out, and then it was found she had run to another wind- w. After a few minutes of intense suspense, she was rescued in safety. Dr. Aiken employed himself actively in removing the patients, and all the women were brought into the Hospital by eight o'clock Tiie male inmates were located in L-e Immigrants' Barracks. A considerable amount t>f danger arose during the pr- gitss of the fire°from the lead running ■'•'. uhe roofs from the falling timber. One inmate asserts that she set the on the because she was put to sleep iu the same compartment with a Maori woman. .Later. The following are additional particulars of fire :—Whan ti;o alarm was by the night watchmen, the snperincei - dent, Dr. Aiken, and Mrs. Londil, matron, at once opened all the dormitory door.-s for the purpose of rescuing inmates. The fire was first discovered in tue refractory cell at the back of the building, and which is all built of wood. The cnuse of the outbreak was soon explained by one of the patients, named Mrs. Morrow, confessing that she herself set tire to her matlrass, 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 difficulty that all the dormitory doors could be opened, such was the hold the fire had got by tttat time, and even some of the cells had to be i.roken into from the back, to rescue the inmates. The poor creatures were terror-striken, and many refused to quit the building, and had to be dragged out by the warders. A hundred and eighty-two patients were safely got out. Of these sixty-three were females, who were taken out in their night clothes, and wiapped in blankets. The scene on the lawn almost defied description. Many of the lunatics became refractory, and required much attention to prevent escape or mischief. The most unruly were tied to the fence. The majority" behaved quite rationally, many assisting greatly in the efforts to save their fellow-inmates, and preserve order. Sirs. Fortune, who is believed to have been burned to death, was the wife of a baker at Rapier, and sister of Father O'KeiUy, of Coromandel. It is supposed that she, and the patient who was afterwards got out with great difficulty, had wandered back into the building. The Asylum was insured by the Provincial Government for LIO,OOO, in the New Zealand < -ffice, but the General Government allowed the policy to lapse.