FIRE IN A LUNATIC ASYLUM.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2044, 10 May 1890, Page 1

FIRE IN A LUNATIC ASYLUM.

PATIENTS ROASTED 1 TO DBATIL Montreal, May 6,. , A terrible calamity has occurred through the buruiug of a lunatic asylum at Tongue Point. No less than 150 of the unfortnnate inmates perished iu the flames. There were 1800 patients, and hundreds were paralysed by fear and resisted the attempts to rescue them, A number of firemen were injured.' :i May 7. The loss of life by the fire at the lunatic asylum at Tongue Point is not .•so serious as was at first reported, and it is now estimated that forty perished. The victims of. the Tongue Point fire were principally females confined in a wing set apart for violent patients; and they were slowly roasted tq death. Seven nuns were among those who lost their lives. Two remarkable incidents are mentioned in connection with the fire. One patient recovered the power of speech, and another recovered his reason, The fire was caused by a lunatic setting fire to a cupboard. Owing to want of water and appliances for giving the alarm the flames spread with great rapidity. May fi. During the confusion attendant on the fire about 250 of the lunatics escaped into the woods, and are still uncaptured. One horrible feature of the calamity was that a number of female patients were outraged by roughs. The damage is estimated at 1,000,000 dollars.