Pontiac, MI Eastern Michigan Insane Asylum Fire, Dec 1891

BEDLAM AT A FIRE.

FLAMES IN THE EASTERN MICHIGAN INSANE ASYLUM.

MAD MEN AND WOMEN GO FRANTIC.

A FEW WITH TERROR, BUT MOST WITH EXULTATION -- SPECTATORS SCARCELY LESS EXCITED THAN THE LUNATICS -- A BLOOD CURDLING SIGHT IN THE FLAMES -- NONE OF THE INMATES LOST.

Pontiac, Mich., Dec. 28. -- Fire was discovered in the north wing of the Eastern Michigan Insane asylum at 11 o'clock Saturday morning. The flames spread with fearful rapidity, and with the limited facilities at hand the firemen were powerless. Fifteen minutes after the first alarm was sounded the occupants of the wing, 500 women, were turned loose. Screaming frantically with terror the maniacs surged through the corridors, where the air was already filled with smoke. The sight filled the demented creatures with terror. Some ran like wild animals, trampling their slower companions in their mad efforts to escape. Others were paralyzed with fear and stood staring into the roaring fire. The attendants performed deeds of heroism in the endeavor to rescue the helpless.

Naked Women At The Windows.
Rushing hither and thither, dragging the hesitating ones from their rooms, they drove the insane women into the open air. When some were once upon the outside they would break and rush for the building again. Several women were seen at the windows after the patients were supposed to be all out. They had torn every vestige of clothing from their persons and were laughing in hideous glee at the approach of the flames. They were standing in the midst of sheets of fire gesticulating wildly, with their long hair flying desheveled about their faces. By 11:30 o'clock the entire north wing was wrapped in flames. But in spite of the sight above referred to, all the inmates were rescued.

Spectators Were Much Excited.
Spectators declare they heard shrieks of anguish from the awful pyre, as of demented victims yielding their lives to the flames, but in the confusion it was impossible to distinguish the screams of the frightened maniacs without from the out cry of the victims within, if any there were.
A strenuous effort was made to convey the patients to the hospital for safe keeping. It was utterly impossible. Some few of them were induced to retire to the shelter, but the great majority of the 500 demented women were huddled together in the cold, piercing wind and gazed with terror upon the fire.

How The Fire Was Fought.
Upon the first discovery of the fire the Pontiac department was notified. The single steamer in the place made the run of three miles at a breakneck gate. When the first stream was turned upon the flames the north wing was seen to be doomed and every energy was bent to stopping the fire at the center. A few minutes later citizens of Pontiac began to arrive on the scene and soon an army of several hundred men were at work. With the added assistance the women were forced to retire from the scene. Those who had run away into the woods were brought back and placed in the cottages. There were willing hands in plenty and the unfortunates were soon made as comfortable as possible.
The fear was that the fire would make its way across to the south wing, where nearly 700 men were confined. Preparations were immediately made to remove the men if it bacame necessary. The 700 crazy men tore about the narrow confines of their rooms yelling like demons, not from fear as it seemed, but rather with exultation. A few appreciated the danger and their terror was pitiful. Pontiac's water system, the direct pressure Holly works, was quite inadequate for such a fire and at so great a distance (one and one-half miles) fromm the pumping works, it was necessary to lay long lines of hose. The water main from the city is only eight inches in diameter. The local firemen and citizens fought bravely, but ineffectively.
A call upon the Detroit fire department was made for assistance, and a special train bearing a steamer, ladders, and hose made the run to the asylum switch in twenty-nine minutes, a distance of twenty-six miles. The train was run upon a wild order and the track was cleared for it. The cars were quickly unloaded and the men speedily in action. They played against the fierce flames running with the wind south through the south wing. The north wing and the central lower building were already gone. The work of the trained men from Detroit counted little in the face of such a heat, and they could do nothing but save the cottages.
WILLIAM DALTON and CHARLES FISHER, citizens of Pontiac, distinguished themselves by their coolness and daring in assisting the firemen, and had extremely narrow escapes. They were slightly hurt by a falling wall, but helped to run a line of hose upon the roof. The flames suddenly cut off their escape to the ladder. While in this perilous positioin other ladders were run up barely in time to save them.
A curious incident in connection with the fire was related of a patient who has long been considered dangerous, but under the excitement his reason returned to him and he offered his service in fighting the fire, which was gladly accepted. The buildings were valued at $750,000.
The firemen ceased work on the insane asylum yesterday morning and not a spark remains in the ruins. Trustee SAWYER thinks $150,000 will cover the entire loss. The work of rebuilding will begin at once.

Logansport Pharos Indiana 1891-12-28
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!