BATTLE WITH LUNATICS.
mm DESPERATE STRUGGLE IX A BURNIXC. ASYLUM. EIGHT DEATHS. New York, August 1. Eight patients were burned to death in a fire which destroyed one of the main building* of the insane asylum at Hamilton. Ontario, early this morning. Seven of the eight victims met their death by rushing back into the flames in a frenzy of insane terror, while on their way in charge,of keepers to safety. The cightli victim was a paralytic who was unable to escape. There were 1800 patients in the building when the lire broke out. A large number were injured, as the rescuers were compelled to knock many of them into insensibility before they could bo carried out of the blazing building. The fire started in. ,the ward which contained the most dangerous maniacs. The alarm was immediately sounded, and the keepers first removed all the women safely. When tliey began to remove the men, the panic-stricken patients ran shrinking up and down the corridors, attempting to elude the keepers, who, they thought, wanted to kill them. The attendants, who were greatly outnumbered I>y the patients, worked heroically, endeavoring to stampede the mob in the direction of the exits as they might have stampeded a drove of frightened cattle. They gradually drove the majority of the patients out of the building, but many of the violently insane displayed great strength and became completely unmanageable. The sight of the flames and the smell of the smoke affected them like wild animals. They ran directly into rooms partly filled with smoke, and huddled together, grasping and uttering horrible cries. The keepers could not go after them, as it was necessary to drive the more passive patients down the three flights of stairs.
The asylum is situated at the top of a hill, and the firemen were some time in arriving. When they did appear they began immediately to assist in the work of rescue. Tlicy raised ladders to the windows, and then some time was wasted getting inside, for wire netting and iron ■bars had to be removed. When the firemen finally entered the building they were compelled to chase , the patients through the rooms, guided by the light of the (lames and the shrieks of the terrified maniacs. After catching the patients the firemen attempted to lead them to the windows, but the patients struggled .and showed almost superhuman strength. So much precious time was wasted that it became necessary to use force, and the firemen struck the patients over the head, rendering them insensible. Then they were carried to the windows and dropped into life nets below . More than twenty inmates were saved in this fashion. Meanwhile the maniacs outside kept up a continual screaming. They were taken to the other buildings and temporarily housed there Most of them were quivering with excitement, and all of them presented a pitiful spectacle. It is lielievod that three or four patients escaped during the excitement, and are now roaming over tin; countryside.
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Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 74, 18 September 1911, Page 2
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499BATTLE WITH LUNATICS. Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 74, 18 September 1911, Page 2
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