Nashville, TN Insane Asylum Fire, Mar 1891

LUNATICS CREMATED.

SIX FALL VICTIMS OF THE TENNESSEE INSANE HOSPITAL FIRE.

Nashville, Tenn., March 16. -- The beautiful Central insane asylum, situated seven miles from this city, is almost a mass of ruins. Beneath it are the charred bodies of half a dozen of the unfortunate inmates. In the outhouses near by are huddled the poor, demented creatures who found an asylum in the grand old structure now laid in ashes.
The fire was discovered at 10:15 p.m. in the west wing, in which there were twenty-eight patients. Twenty-two of these were saved before escape was cut off. The other six met a fearful fate in the flames. The city was telephoned for aid, but Chief CARROLL, of the fire department, could not be found, and his subordinates refused to move without orders. Finally after two hours delay, the chief was found, and started for the scene of the disaster with two engines. In the meantime the west wing had collapsed. The fire had caught in the main building, and the inmates, made frantic, by their danger, were beginning to break from the guard and scatter like frightened animals over the surrounding country.
At 3:15 the inmates who had been huddled for several hours in the yard in front of the main building, were returned to the east wing. About twenty-five had escaped, the majority of whom were harmless. At this moment the west wing had become entirely demolished and about one half of the main building. The dangerous lunatics were kept locked all the time in the East wing and none of them were subjected to exposure or danger during the progress of the flames. It was reported at 3:30 a.m. that one of the women, an inmate of the asylum, had been drowned in the late on the lawn, but her name could not be leared. The fire was at the same time reported fully under control, and the inmates were comfortably housed and all was quiet. It is impossible as yet to give any estimates of the loss, though it will be heavy. The building was fully insured.

Waterloo Daily Courier Iowa 1891-03-16

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SIX LUNATICS CREMATED.

Nashville, March 14. -- This morning the Central Insane asylum, seven miles from this city, is in ruins, under which lie the scarred bodies of half a dozen inmates, while in the outhouses are huddled together those who escaped from the fire. The inmates who lost their lives were in the west wing.
Their names are:
J. S. JOHNS.
J. BURT DEXTER.
BLUE PRESTON.
JOHN KELLEY.
W. H. BASTRY.
B. F. HOLLOWELL.
A woman inmate, whose name is unknown, was drowned in a small lake on the grounds.
Soon after the fire was discovered last night the alarm was given and the four hundred inmates of the institution were thrown into commotion. All were removed but the six men who perished. The city was telephoned for aid, but the chief of the fire department could not be found and his subordinates refused to move without orders. Finally after two hours delay the chief was found, and he, with two engines left for the scene of the disaster. In the meantime the west wing had collapsed, and the inmates, made frantic by the danger, began to break from the guard and scatter over the surrounding country. The fire engines arrived on the scene at 2:15, and in a few minutes were playing streams on the main building. Previously a number of the inmates, servants and guards, by the use of buckets succeeded in holding the fire in check until the greater part of the unfortunates were rescued.
At 3:30 this morning the fire was under control and the inmates comfortably housed. It is impossible to give any estimate of the loss, though it will be heavy. The building was fully insured.

Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette Iowa 1891-03-14
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!