AN ASYLUM ON FIRE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 107, 29 January 1908, Page 7

AN ASYLUM ON FIRE.

. OUTBREAK AT SUNNYSIDE. SHARP RIGHT WITH THE FLAMES. STOREROOM AND .BAKERY DAMAGED. (by telegraph— speciai. cohresfondent.) ' Chrlstcliurch, January 28. About two o'olock this morning a message was received at tho Firo Brigade station that thcro was a reflection in the sky towards Sunnysido Asylum. On ringing up tho institution Superintendent Smithfound that it was on fire, and he at onco proceeded thither in the motor ehomioal, followed by tho other chomicals arid steamers. On arrival it was found'that the staff of the Asylum hid'at once got two leads of water on' the fire, which was situated in a brick building adjoining tho main structure used as offices, storeroom, arid bakery. The Chemical engines, together with tho K'ater obtained from tho private supply, held the flames In. .check till tho steamers got to work. The fire,was at this time burning fiercely, though it Was mainly confined to tho storeroam, atid bakeryj whore it was first diseoveredt •, ROOF COLLAPSES. , After about art'hoUr!s work tlio fire was Extinguished, btit'not before, the roflf of the balicry had Collapsed and tho portions mentioned wore gutted, / tko fire could not, have Originated irt ahy part of tho buildings whero it could have bebti iilofo oaSily dealt with, off the brick Walls prevented It spreading to the patients' quartos, which adjoined. HowoVor, everything Was in readiness for tho removal of the inmates, biit whin Once tho Brigade wers at vwork it was apparent that,there Was practically no danger .of the other portions of the : institution. Catching

. The patients wore aroused when tho outbreak was discovered, and marshalled in the main halls in readiness to leavo the build-* ing, but the Are Was extinguished before .any serious danger 1 threatened. By this afternoon much of the debris had been removed, and clcaritig-up operations wore being actively proceeded with. Vs.TATEIffIEMT BY DR. COW. From, Dr. Gow, the Mcdical Suporintendant, it was learned that the fire was discovered by a convalescent inmate, who man--aged to convey the information to tho night attendants, and soon the whole staff were ati their appointed stations. In all four lines of ; hose were gbt out with groat promptitude, and an energetic attack was made on tho flames. Good provision has been made at Sunnyside for prevention, the water being pumped from a creek in the vicinity into mains that surround tho building. ' As to the ftctual' extent of the damslgo .Dr» (JbW could not give definite, .particulars; Tho major portion of-the damago was done to the storeroom,- which wad completely gutted, and a portion of tho roof fell in. The bakehouse was not injured. That the fire Was stopped jiist in time is: apparent from; the fact that the, flames had commanded to travel along the roof and ceiling of the passage way leading from the store-room, 0 td iTil th'<j ! ''- <t ~dirlirig;-i , "Tt-heneo' in 'all probability, 1 it had not becii checkcd,. it to the 'dormitories. nr ' , ''" - j As to tho probable Cause of the outbreak, : Dr,. Gow • Bttid. all tho indications pbiiited to the fire having originated fh tho roof, and possibly a spirit had been communicated

From ono of the chitntioys of the maid building to a bird's nest. '

AFTER THE FIRE. (D? ISIifiOEAPn—ME69, ASSOCIATION.) Oftristchurbh, January 28. Very considerable progress was made at thci Sunnysido Montal ' Hospital to-day in olearirtg up. after the d&mhgo Caused by fire and water at an early hour this morning.When the institution was .visited by a Press representative'this afternoon much'of the debris had been removed, and elearting-up operations wore being actively . proceeded with. From Dr. Gow, the Medical Superindent, it was learned that'the fire was discovered by a convalescent' inmate, who will be leaving the institution in' a few days. Tho window of the dormitory in which this patient was located was almost in a direct

line with the spot where the flames became apparent. Knowing that j the female night' attendants would bo up, the patient managed to convey tile information to them. Practically ilo dislocation of or interference with the internal economy and working of the institution has been occasioned by 'the fire, and matters 'wore going on as usual to-day. It was necessary, however, to obtain A supply of bread from town for thiß evening's meal. :