Winfield, KS Hospital Fire, July 1911

THOUSANDS ESCAPE IN HOSPITAL FIRE.

INSTITUTION FOR FEEBLE-MINDED AT WINFIELD, KANSAS, BURNS -- INMATES ARE SAVED.

Winfield, Kan., July 26. -- One thousand wards of the state inmates of the State Hospital for the Feeble-Minded, were saved in a fire which destroyed the main building of the institution, two miles from Winfield yesterday.
The inmates, 400 of whom are children, are herded under the eyes of their guards in the buildings not destroyed. State troops have been asked to rush tents.
Spiral chutes instead of fire escapes were used successfully in sending the feeble-minded children to the ground and all escaped safely. There was no panic, although, the wild screams of the insane at times threatened to cause such.
The main building, used as a dormitory, was totally destroyed. The fire was caused by defective insulation of electric light wires.

Trenton Evening Times New Jersey 1911-07-26
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!